Sergey Kovalev successfully defends title

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Sergey Kovalev successfully defended his WBO light-heavyweight title Saturday night, stopping Cedric Agnew in the seventh round at Boardwalk Hall’s Adrian Phillips Ballroom.

Kovalev improved to 24-0-1 with his 24th knockout, ending the bout with a powerful left jab to Agnew’s liver. Agnew (26-1) dropped to one knee in pain and remained there for several minutes after referee Samuel Viruet completed his 10-count at 58 seconds of the seventh.

Kovalev had two other knockdowns in the scheduled 12-round fight. He sent Agnew to the canvas with a left hook to the jaw in the second and dropped him again with a body shot in the sixth.

Kovalev did have to overcome some adversity, suffering cuts above both eyes from a head butt in the fourth and an elbow in the sixth.