There was a good show at the Sparkassen Arena in Kiel last night with IBF Middleweight Champion Arthur Abraham putting in a dramatic finish to knockout big-hearted American visitor Elvin Ayala in the twelfth and final round to retain his title for the seventh time.

Ayala showed good boxing skills in the early going but began to absorb withering fire by the middle rounds when the champion began to close distance and fine range.

Abraham landed a picture perfect right hand in the fifth to canvas the challenger but could not improve upon his work to end the bout at that time. Ayala battled back but simply didn't have the power to keep Abraham off.

The durable American made Abraham work but had to soak up ever increasing amounts of punishment as the contest went into the championship rounds.

By the final frame, Ayala had little left and was belted out by an Abraham uppercut at 2:32 of the twelfth to end the fight.

With the win, Abraham raises his record to 26-0 (21) while Ayala loses the third of his last six contests to drop to 18-3-1 (8).

Also seeing action was ex-WBC Cruiserweight titlist Wayne Braithwaite, 23-3 (19), who had to climb off the floor in the first to upset highly touted young Cuban prospect Yoan Pablo Hernandez, 14-1 (8), via third round stoppage.

Danish super middle Mads Larsen, 50-2 (37), won the fifth straight bout of his comeback by outpointing former world light middleweight title challenger Ross Thompson, 26-12-2 (16), over eight.

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Boxing News Tags: Arthur Abraham, Elvin Ayala, German Boxing, Mads Larsen, Ross Thompson, Wayne Braithwaite, Yoan Pablo Hernandez