IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham overcame a slow start to retain his title with an 11th-round stoppage of Khoren Gevor.
Abraham defends title with 11th-round KO
IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham overcame a slow start to retain his title with an 11th-round stoppage of Khoren Gevor.
Abraham, the German-based Armenian, failed to get into stride early on at Berlin's Max Schmeling Halle as Gevor dominated.
However, the fight was turned on its head in the seventh when a big right rocked Gevor back - allowing 'King Arthur' to take control.
Repeated blows shook Gevor, however the finish came in the 11th when an upper cut sent the challenger to the canvas for the first time in his career.
Punished
And Abraham, who now moves to 24-0, admitted: "He's a warrior, he showed that.
"But anybody that wants my title has to be punished."
Gevor's trainer Fritz Smudek was left to rue the big shot in the seventh which turned the fight.
He said: "I thought of throwing in the towel, but he wanted to show people.
"He made one big mistake. After that big shot, he tried to slug it out."
