Lebedev knocks out Cox in second round

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MOSCOW, April 4 AP – Denis Lebedev has retained his interim WBA cruiserweight title by knocking out challenger Shawn Cox of Barbados in the second round at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall.

The 32-year-old Russian earned his 18th career knockout and improved to 25-1.

Cheered on by the home crowd on Wednesday, Lebedev unloaded a series of lefts and rights in the first round and continued to dominate in the second.

Four heavy lefts almost sent Cox into the ropes, and Lebedev then finished him off with a hook to the head that sent the challenger to the canvas, unable to get up.

Lebedev took a left to the chin in the first round, but his victory never seemed in doubt after that.

“Sometimes it happens like this,” Lebedev said of his quick win. “But in fact, I’ve allowed him one shot and a very dangerous one. I was lucky to stay concentrated.”

It was Lebedev’s third straight victory in Moscow. The Russian knocked out Roy Jones Jr last May and beat James Toney in November.

His only career defeat was a controversial points loss against Marco Huck in a title bout in Germany in 2010.

Publisher: AAPNewswire

05 Apr 8:28 AM