Ukraine's Gvozdyk released from hospital after Beterbiev beating

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Gvozdyk was released from a US hospital on Sunday, two days after suffering a concussion from a beating he absorbed in a light heavyweight title unification fight in Philadelphia.

The 32-year-old former Olympic bronze medal winner was taken to hospital in a ambulance, where trainer Teddy Atlas said he was treated for a concussion and checked out for a more serious brain injury.

Gvozdyk was knocked down three times in the 10th round in a two-belt title fight against Artur Beterbiev that extended the Canada-based Russian's remarkable knockout streak.

With 11 seconds left in the 10th, referee Gary Rosato put a halt to the fight, which was the first time two undefeated champions met to unify world titles in light heavyweight division history.

Atlas said Gvozdyk was complaining about a pain in the back of his head when he was on the way to the hospital. Multiple tests proved negative for bleeding on the brain.

"All is clear. No brain (bleed) or anything .... we needed to be sure," Atlas told American sports broadcaster ESPN.

Gvozdyk's hospital stay comes less than a week since US boxer Patrick Day fell into a coma and died after being knocked out Saturday in a fight in Chicago. Day was honored with a 10-bell salute prior to the Beterbiev-Gvozdyk main event.

Beterbiev improved to 15-0 with 15 knockouts, successfully defending his 175-pound International Boxing Federation belt and snatching Gvozdyk's World Boxing Council title.

Beterbiev is the only major boxing champion to have knocked out all of his opponents.

Gvozdyk was ahead on two of the three judges scorecards, but you couldn't tell from the final two rounds, which were completely dominated by the much fresher, mauling Beterbiev, who entered the fight as a slight underdog.

Beterbiev showed in the final round why he is considered one of boxing's most devastating punchers.

Looking the fresher of the two, Beterbiev scored the first knockdown in the 10th with a flicking left to the side of the face.

He knocked Gvozdyk down again 30 seconds later and finished the Ukrainian with a vicious overhand right.

Gvozdyk had been warned by Rosato after the second knockdown that the fight would be stopped if there was one more.

When Gvozdyk took a knee after absorbing the right, Rosato had no choice but to stop the bout.

Beterbiev's next fight will be a mandatory defence against another undefeated fighter, China's Meng Fanlong, who is 16-0 with 10 knockouts.

Promoter Bob Arum wants to hold that fight early next year in China around the time of the Chinese New Year.

© 2019 AFP