Sunday 27 September 2015 07:48, UK
Deontay Wilder successfully defended his WBC heavyweight title with an 11th round stoppage of brave Johann Duhaupas in Alabama.
Wilder secured his 34th career knockout and improved his record to 35-0 when a flurry of punches landing on Duhaupas' head forced the referee to stop what had soon turned into a one-sided bout.
Duhaupas suffered a cut on the bridge of his nose in the first round, and after that Wilder worked almost exclusively on the Frenchman's face and head.
But despite the barrage - Wilder landing 326 punches to 98 by Duhaupas - the challenger remained on his feet, wobbling in the fifth but managing to stay upright.
However that changed in the 11th, a round after Wilder set up his stoppage by having Duhaupas in serious trouble with a series of power punches.
Wilder stepped up his work-rate even further, and with Duhaupas unable to stem the tide of punches heading in his direction, the fight was waved off.
The American revealed he had increased respect for Duhaupas after his display, as he said: "We both got banged up, but he got it worse than I did.
"When you're fighting for a world title, it brings a different beast, a different animal out of fighters, and they bring their all.
"When you have guys who want what you have, they're going to give it their all. You have to give him the credit. He did an excellent job, and he definitely has my respect.
"Each and every fight, I prove a little bit more of what people don't know about me. Of course I can take a punch. Of course I can box. And I can fight inside, too. A lot of people don't know that. I displayed a lot tonight.
"There are no limits to what I can do. I'd like to thank (Duhaupas) for giving me the opportunity to show that. Without his toughness and his ability to keep coming, I wouldn't have been able to display what I did tonight."
