Andreas Kotelnik (29-2-1, 13 KOs) secured the WBA 140 pound title in Cardiff this evening stopping the previously unbeaten champion Gavin Rees (27-1, 13 KOs) in the twelfth and final round. In an absorbing fight, the former Olympic silver medalist from the Ukraine Kotelnik showed superior boxing skills and power in the second half of the fight. The 30-year-old Kotelnik hurt Rees with a strong right hook in the final minute and he wobbled and held on but fell to the floor as the referee tried to break them. It was obvious as he rose he was in trouble and after a final flurry, referee Luis Pabon halted the fight with just 26 seconds remaining and a stoppage time of 2:34 of the twelfth and final round. In the early stages, Rees took the fight to Kotelnik but the former amateur who won 135 of 150 amateur fights always landed the more effective and telling punches. Rees landed some good body shots in the middle rounds but the Ukranian from the Universum stable always seemed to have the superior boxing ability and power.