Lennox Lewis of Britain has retained his World Boxing Council heavyweight title after defeating the American Shannon Briggs in Atlantic City.

The referee stopped the fight one minute 45 seconds into the fifth round of their scheduled 12-round bout. Briggs had been knocked down three times before falling again, trying to aim a left hook at his opponent.

Lewis sent Briggs down twice in the fourth and again with a combination in the fifth round. Briggs got up but was caught by Lewis in a corner.

Briggs pounded to a corner

"I had a good defence and he couldn't go through me," said Lewis. "I wasn't 100%. I would grade myself at 80%. As long as I came out the victor, that's all I care about. I was pretty satisfied."

Both fighters were breathing hard after a furious early pace. Lewis was staggered twice in the first round but recovered and outpunched Briggs from then on.

Lewis, now 33-1 with 27 triumphs inside the distance, said he still hopes to face International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association champion Evander Holyfield for a unified title.

"Hopefully this gives him the type of courage he needs to come and fight me. I'm confident he will," Lewis said.

British defeat

Earlier, England's Herol Graham was beaten by the American Charles Brewer in the tenth round of their International Boxing Federation super-middleweight title fight.

Brewer keeps his super-middleweight title

The referee stopped the bout after Graham was caught against the ropes by Brewer and pounded 14 times without an answer.

Graham told reporters: "It was a close fight. I can't complain. I'm disappointed, but not overly disappointed. I think I would have had him if it had gone 12 rounds."

Brewer went down twice, spraining his right ankle the first time, but recovered to stop Graham taking the title.
 

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