Kashtanov retains interim WBA title

Stanyslav Kashtanov of Ukraine knocked out Jaime Barboza of Costa Rica in the 10th round Saturday to retain his interim WBA super middleweight belt in front of a hometown crowd.

Barboza fell to the canvas following a stunning right hook and had to remove his mouth guard to spit blood as the referee reached the 10 count 2 minutes, 40 seconds into the 10th.

Kashtanov improved to 31-1 with 17 knockouts. Barboza fell to 18-8 with 8 KOs.

Kashtanov took the title in November last year by beating Server Yemurlayev of Ukraine by unanimous decision, and this was his first title defense.

The 29-year-old Ukrainian first knocked the 35-year-old Barboza to the canvas with a series of body blows near the end of the seventh round.