BOXING

• Abraham KOs Ayala in 12th to retain IBF middleweight title

  
  

  Kiel, Germany (Sports Network) - Germany's Arthur Abraham retained his IBF middleweight title by knocking out American Elvin Ayala in the 12th round on Saturday.

  Abraham (26-0, 21 KOs), nicknamed "King Arthur", was just that as he knocked down Ayala in the fifth round. Then in the 12th, the champion landed a big left uppercut which took down the challenger again. The fight was then ruled a KO with 28 seconds left in the round.

  The 28-year-old Abraham made the seventh successful defense of his title he won with a fifth-round knockout of Nigerian Kingsley Ikeke in December of 2005.

  This was the first title fight for the 27-year-old Ayala (18-3-1).

  03/29 19:56:12 ET