MOSCOW (AP) — Alexander Povetkin stopped Andrzej Wawrzyk by a technical knockout at 2:29 of the third round Friday to retain his WBA heavyweight title.
The 33-year-old Russian, making is fourth successful title defense, improved to 26-0 with 18 knockouts after flooring Wawrzyk in the second round and again in the third with a right to the head. The referee allowed Wawrzyk to continue before stopping the bout with 31 seconds left in the round.
Povetkin, who outpointed Ruslan Chagaev in August 2011 for the then-vacant title, will next face WBA “super champion” Wladimir Klitschko in September.
It was the first loss for Wawrzyk, who fell to 27-1.
