Ukrainian Kotelnik wins WBA light-welterweight title

LONDON, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's Andreas Kotelnik won the WBA light-welterweight title by stopping champion Gavin Rees in the final round of his title defense bout on Saturday.

The Welshman was caught with a right hand with less than a minute remaining of the 12th round and stumbled to the canvas. It was his first defeat in 28 professional contests.

Rees won the opening two rounds in front of his home fans in Cardiff with a flurry of attacks.

Germany-based Kotelnik, a lightweight silver medallist at the Sydney Olympics, upped his workrate in the next two rounds, catching Rees with straight rights and left jabs.

Rees was bloodied around the nose for much of the fight and appeared to be close to defeat in the sixth.