Growing more popular with each fight, Frank Buglioni (12-0, 9 KOs) retained his WBO European super-middleweight championship by stopping Gaetano Nespro (21-10-1, 3 KOs) in round five at the Copper Box Arena in London, UK.
Buglioni, 24, who captured the title last year, pressed Nespro from the opening bell.
His fellow Italian, the shorter fighter by four inches, tried to counter, but missed most of his punches.
Nespro, 34, told the media before the fight that he would outbox his younger opponent. He tried, but Buglioni was more effective in spurts. Nespro attempted to use the ring, but Bugolioni stayed close. In round four, Buglioni floored him with a right hand. He confidently went for the knockout, but ran into a counter punch.
Buglioni connected with another hard right in opening seconds of round five. He seemed determine to end matters. A few seconds later, while Nespro tried to escape near the ropes a long left hook put him down for a count of seven.
Nespro pulled himself up, but a right hand off the temple knocked him down again.
The referee took one look at the stricken Nespro and waved the fight off.
