ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner stopped Gavin Rees in the fifth round to defend his title and remain undefeated Saturday night.
Broner (26-0, 22 KOs) scored two knockdowns in the bout. The Cincinnati native ended the fight with a powerful left hook to the body that forced Rees (37-2-1, 19 KOs) to take a knee in the fifth.
Rees, a native of Newport, Wales, got to his feet, but Broner landed a series of body shots and combinations that drove Rees into a corner and prompted his trainer, Gary Lockett, to wave a white towel. Referee Earl Brown halted the fight at 2 minutes, 59 seconds into the round.
Both fighters weighed 150 pounds on HBO's unofficial scales on Saturday after making the 135-pound lightweight limit Friday afternoon. Broner weighed 134 and Rees checked in at 134½ .
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