Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tony Bellew in the eighth round to retain his IBF, WBO, WBA and WBC Cruiserweight Championships at the Manchester Arena.
The 35-year-old Brit seemed to be doing very well before the bout was stopped, according to the judges' scorecards.
Russia's Yury Koptsev had both boxers drawing at 67-67, while the UK's Steve Gray and Mexico's Alejandro Lopez had Bellew ahead at 66-67 and 65-68 respectively.
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"He is just so hard and so awkward," Bellew told BBC Radio 5 Live (via BBC Sport) after the match.
"He is big and he overpowers you. I tried my best and he is probably the best cruiserweight that ever lived.
"It is heartbreaking because I gave it everything I had. Heavyweights stay away, he takes a great shot and I don't even know if I hurt him."
It was also the former WBC Cruiserweight Champion's final fight in boxing, as he said that "I have been doing this for 20 years, and it is over."
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SPORTbible reported yesterday that the Liverpool-born boxer had suggested that there was the possibility that he could fight in the UFC.
"Could I see myself doing anything in that world, that realm? Yeah. 'Cause I love it so much," he told Oddschecker and William Hill.
"I must admit I do love MMA, I do love the UFC and the way they've built it -- it's a fantastic brand. Dana White has done an unbelievable job growing the UFC to what he has.
"It's now a billion dollar organisation, it was bought for over four billion by IMG, and they're a mega organisation.
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"That's all down to Dana White and the Fertitta brothers."
For Usyk, the future looks positive. It is expected that the 31-year-old Ukrainian boxer will be eying up a move to the heavyweight division and setting up a fight with Anthony Joshua.
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Should AJ face Usyk next?
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Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Boxing News, Boxing, Oleksandr Usyk, Tony Bellew
