MANILA, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao beat his Mexican challenger Jorge Solis Sunday in a heavily anticipated match in San Antonio, Texas, defending his World Boxing Council (WBC) international super featherwight crown.

Regarded as the best boxer of the year 2006, Pacquiao knocked out Solis in Round 8 after stepping up his attacks in the Round 7 following a cut over his left eye in Round 6.

Pacquiao, who is also campaigning for the congress at home, upgraded to 43-3-1 with 35 wins inside the distance while Solis downgraded to 32-1-2. This is the first time Solis was defeated in his boxing career.

Local television network GMA News said the cut over the left eye of Pacquiao signaled the start of the fall of Solis, contender to his WBC international super featherweight title.

Even before the event, local media largely expected him to win at the Alamodome in San Antonio, where he surprised the boxing world and carved a niche for himself by beating Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera on Nov. 15, 2003 in the 11th round.