WBA light-heavyweight champion Juergen Braehmer retains belt

Juergen Braehmer beat Eduard Gutknecht for the second time to retain his WBA light-heavyweight title in Neubrandenburg.

The 37-year-old (48-2-KO35) secured a comfortable points decision against his German compatriot, whom he had previously beaten back in 2013 as part of an unbeaten run stretching back to late 2008.

Braehmer dominated the first round, most of his good work coming from distance, but Gutknecht caught the champion with a decent shot in the second, briefly putting him on the back foot.

Gutknecht (29-4-1-KO12) continued his work rate in the third and fourth, living up to his 'Energy Eddy' nickname, although Braehmer was rarely troubled by the punches he managed to land.

Braehmer established his superiority in the middle rounds, soon getting back into his rhythm when caught by the challenger, who did trouble him again in the seventh, when Braehmer had to use the ropes to escape.

Gutknecht had visibly slowed by the opening of the eighth round, clearly hurt by coming into the fight off a shorter training camp than would have been ideal.

Braehmer was caught early in the ninth, although he complained an awkward cut which appeared above his left eye was caused by Gutknecht's head - replays showed that to be the case.

Despite the cut, Braehmer continued to find the target with his dangerous jab, and Gutknecht's hopeless cause was further hit in the 10th when he was deducted a point for hitting while holding on to the back his opponent's head.

And Braehmer was able to coast through the final two rounds with a points victory already seeming to be in the bag, confirmed when the cards came out 116-111, 116-111, 118-110 in the champion's favour.

"It was fine for the first six rounds, I was clearly in control, but then from the sixth or seventh I felt a pain in my left hand and you know how it is, you don't want to take any risks. The opponent senses that too," said Braehmer.