Kovalev retains WBO light heavyweight title with TKO victory

Atlantic City, NJ (SportsNetwork.com) – Sergey Kovalev retained his WBO light heavyweight title after defeating Blake Caparello by technical knockout in the second round on Saturday night.

With just over a minute remaining in the first round, Kovalev (25-0-1) kept Caparello in the corner with a variety of punches, but the Australian maneuvered out of trouble with a few low jabs to the stomach of Kovalev. Caparello (19-1) then connected with a left cross to the right temple of Kovalev that dropped the Russian for only the second time in his career.

Replay showed Caparello stepping on the foot of Kovalev as he struck him with another jab to the head that could have caused the knockdown.

Kovalev, who piled up 26 punches to just seven for his opponent over two rounds, answered in the second with an abundance of pressure, forcing a stoppage after three knockdowns of Caparello.

The round began with Kovalev popping Caparello with a straight right hand to the gut that dropped him for the first time. The champion then continued to make it difficult for the challenger, overpowering his opponent into the corner and putting him on the canvas with a left-hand jab and right-hand hook.

Caparello rose to his feet once again, but Kovalev left no doubt, peppering Caparello with another flurry of punches that forced referee Sparkle Lee to stop the fight.

Categorized in: Boxing