Chagaev pounds Pianeta in one

WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev (34-2-1, 21 KOs) stopped Francesco Pianeta (31-2-1, 17 KOs) in the first round on Saturday night at the GETEC Arena in Magdeburg, Germany.

Chagaev sent the Italian-born German to the canvas twice with hard left hooks before the referee waved off the bout at 2:57 of the first round.

The Uzbekistan-born fighter, known as “White Tyson”, was making the first defence of his second reign after winning the vacant title by beating American Fres Oquendo on points last July.

Wladimir Klitschko holds the 'super' version of the WBA belt and has previously beat both fighters - Chagaev in June 2009, and Pianeta in May 2013.

Next Chagaev, 37, is set to face Oquendo in a rematch and then undefeated Australian Lucas Browne.