Alexander Povetkin (29-1, 21 KOs) ran through Mike Perez (21-2-1, 13 KOs) to score a dominant first-round knockout in Moscow, Russia.
Povetkin, 35, is now the mandatory challenger for Deontay Wilder‘s WBC title.
Perez, 29, was dropped early with a short right hand and was badly hurt.
The Cuban southpaw rose to his feet, but was still wobbly. Perez was quickly knocked down again, and the fight was immediately stopped.
Povetkin, a native of Russia, is now up for a second title shot after losing a unanimous decision to Wladimir Klitschko in 2013.
