Wilder stops Duhaupas to retain WBC heavyweight title

Unbeaten Deontay Wilder battered French challenger Johann Duhaupas en route to an 11th-round technical knockout to retain his World Boxing Council heavyweight world title.

In front of his home state fans in Birmingham, Alabama, Wilder displayed his fierce power as he took his record to 35-0 with 34 wins inside the distance.

It was the dominant performance expected against the French journeyman, a 34-year-old fighting in the United States for the first time in his first world title bid.

But Duhaupas showed why he had never before been stopped inside the distance as he absorbed a tremendous amount of punishment.

Duhaupas was still on his feet, his face bloodied and bruised, when referee Jack Reiss called a halt 55 seconds into the 11th round -- as Wilder let go with yet another barrage.

Duhaupas had shown no sign he was intimidated by the US knockout artist, moving forward from the opening bell.