SYDNEY, Aug 7: Indonesia’s Chris John stopped Australian Tommy Browne to retain his World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight title on Sunday. John dominated the fight and was ahead by seven points on two of the three judges’ cards and five points on the other.

The Australian was cut under the left eye in the third round and took plenty of punishment in the ninth round. South African referee Stanley Christodoulou went over to the Australian fighter’s corner at the end of the round.

He suggested the corner stop the fight to spare their fighter further punishment. It was John’s third successful title defence after winning the WBA division interim title off Colombia’s Oscar Leon in Sept 2003.—AFP