Povetkin punishes Rahman

Alexander Povetkin: straightforward victory

Alexander Povetkin retained his WBA heavyweight title with a swift stoppage win over Hasim Rahman in Hamburg.

Rahman is a former two-time world champion, but he was well past his best against the Russian and this unsatisfactory contest was quickly halted by a Povetkin barrage in the second round.

Povetkin wobbled the American with his first genuine punch in the opener and the 39-year-old challenger only offered up some tentative jabs in response.

But Rahman's hopes of a third title were crushed in the second as Povetkin trapped him on the ropes and unloaded punches until the referee waved it off.

This defeat should bring a sad end to the career of Rahman, who famously dethroned Lennox Lewis back in 2001, while Povetkin steps closer to a unification clash with one of the Klitschko brothers.

On the undercard, English light-middleweight Mark Thompson appeared to be the victim of a premature fifth-round stoppage after he started well against the highly-rated Jack Culcay.