Russia’s Kovalev Knocks Out Ukraine’s Shabranskyy In Second Round

Russian boxer Sergey Kovalev (file photo)

Russian boxer Sergei Kovalev scored a second-round knockout against Ukraine's Vyacheslav Shabranskyy to retake the WBO light-heavyweight title.

Kovalev hit Shabranskyy with a series of right hands to end the match two minutes and 26 seconds into the second round to take victory in New York’s Madison Square Garden on November 25.

The 34-year-old Kovalev knocked Shabranskyy to the floor twice in the first round and once more in the second.

The Russian -- known as "The Krusher" -- improved his record to 31-2-1 with 27 knockouts. The 30-year-old Shabranskyy fell to 19-2.

Russia's Bakhram Murtazaliev scored a fifth-round knockout of Carlos Galvan from Colombia in their super-welterweight match. Murtazaliev is now 11-0 with nine knockouts.

Based on reporting by AP, TASS, and The Sporting News