Rising contender Christian Mbilli retained his World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas super middleweight title by knocking out Nadjib Mohammedi with a hard-hitting left hook to the face in the fifth round on Saturday at the Casino de Montreal.

Mbilli (21-0, 19 KOs) had already placed several power shots in this round to the detriment of Mohammedi (44-8, 27 KOs). At 2:45 of the fifth round, he landed a punch that Mohammedi could not avoid and the reaction was instantaneous. His eyes rolled into their sockets and the Frenchman sagged onto his back, straight as a board. His head also violently hit the canvas. Referee Steve St-Germain immediately signaled a quick end to hostilities.

Mohammedi was never able to get going in this fight, even though he was able to avoid the worst for most of the first four rounds.

But the protege of Marc Ramsay had the upper hand from the start. In the second round he hit Mohammedi on the head with three big left hooks, one of which seemed to rattle the Frenchman.

In the fourth, Mbilli served a solid left hook to the face of Mohammedi, who appeared to be saved by the ropes. This sequence set the table for the fifth round, from which Mohammedi could not escape.

Also on the card, Russian boxer Artem Oganesyan (13-0, 11 KOs) picked up a win over Dutchman Stephen Danyo (20-5-3, 7 KOs) to claim the vacant North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super middleweight title.

Danyo was forced to retire in the fifth round after referee Alain Villeneuve twice asked the doctor to speak with the Dutchman, who seemed unable to put weight on his right leg. Danyo actually showed up to the ring with a knee brace.

Seconds before the officials put an end to the contest, Danyo had found himself on the ground, letting out a cry of pain. He appeared to twist his knee in a move to avoid the punch.