NEW YORK – Gary Antuanne Russell’s knockout streak continued in very controversial fashion Saturday night.

Rances Barthelemy had given the hard-hitting Russell the toughest test of his pro career, but Russell dropped him with a right hook barely 30 seconds into the sixth round. Cuba’s Barthelemy fell to his side, but he easily beat referee Shada Murdaugh’s count and appeared to answer Murdaugh’s commands more than sufficiently enough to continue.

Murdaugh still waved an end to their 10-round, 140-pound bout at 50 seconds of the sixth round on the Danny Garcia-Jose Benavidez Jr. undercard at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The 26-year-old Russell, a southpaw from Capitol Heights, Maryland, has won each of his 16 professional fights by knockout. The 36-year-old Barthelemy (29-2-1, 15 KOs, 1 NC), a two-division champion, lost inside the distance for the first time in his 13-year, 32-fight career.

“I know he wanted to continue, but the doctor and the referee was doing their job,” Russell told Showtime’s Jim Gray in the ring. “If they woulda let the fight continue, I’m pretty sure later on down the road, or later in the rounds, the same outcome woulda been had.”

Judges Kevin Morgan (49-46), Robin Taylor (49-46) and John McKaie (48-47) had Russell ahead at the time of the stoppage.

Orlando Cuellar, Barthelemy’s trainer, told Gray in the ring that his fighter was robbed of an opportunity to pull off an upset against Russell, who was listed as a 14-1 favorite by Caesars Sportsbook.

“No, no, they shouldn’t have stopped the fight,” Barthelemy said. “I mean, this is not the first time I’ve fallen and gotten up. It was a good shot – I’m not denying that, but he should’ve not stopped the fight.”

Before the abrupt conclusion of their fight in the sixth round, Russell and Barthelemy traded hard shots to the head and body for much of a competitive, rough fifth round.

A left hand by Barthelemy got Russell’s attention approximately 1:10 into the fourth round. Barthelemy blasted Russell with another left hand that made him take an awkward step several seconds before the fourth round ended.

Barthelemy stayed true to what he said before their bout and came at Russell during the first round. His right cross rocked Russell and knocked him into the ropes with about 45 seconds to go in the opening round.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.