Quebec City - Adonis Stevenson retained his World Boxing Council light heavyweight world title on Saturday with a sixth-round technical knockout of Liverpool's Tony Bellew. Stevenson dropped Bellew in the sixth with a heavy left to the jaw. Bellew beat the count, but Stevenson landed another left that sent the challenger staggering into a corner. The champion was unloading again on the defenseless Bellew when referee Michael Griffin called a halt at 1:50 of the round. Stevenson improved to 23-1 with 20 knockouts.  Bellew, who turned 31 on Saturday, fell to 20-2 with one draw and 12 knockouts.

In the co-feature, WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev of Russia remained unbeaten with a second-round knockout of Ukrainian Ismayl Sillakh. Kovalev burnished his own burgeoning reputation as a knockout artist, sending Sillakh sprawling twice in round two. Sillakh got off the deck after the first knockdown, but Kovalev promptly landed another massive right hand that spelled the end for Sillakh at 52 seconds of the second round. Kovalev improved to 23-0 with one draw and 21 knockouts.