Undefeated Lucian Bute stopped mandatory challenger Jesse Brinkley in the ninth round Friday night to defend his IBF super-middleweight title.
Bute, who improved to 27-0 by controlling the bout from the opening bell, connected with a debilitating left uppercut to the body of the Nevada fighter at 2:48 of the ninth in front of 11,682 fans at the Bell Centre.
Brinkley dropped onto the canvas for the third and final time as referee Sam Williams jumped in quickly and stopped the fight. Brinkley, who went down from body shots in the fifth and eighth rounds, stayed down long after the fight was over, needing to be helped to a stool by his corner and ring physicians.
It was Bute's 22nd knockout and his sixth successful defense since capturing the belt from Alejando Berrio in October 2007.
