By Chris Williamson, photos by Lawrence Lustig

WBA and WBO number one contender Alexander Povetkin sickeningly knocked out Liverpool’s David Price in the fifth round of the chief supporting bout here at Cardiff’s Principality stadium.

It was a fifth defeat for Price and a fourth at the hands of a fighter who has at some stage tested positive for Performance Enhancing Drugs (PED’s).

Price had a decent first round, landing several jabs while the Russian bobbed and weaved menacingly, throwing hooks.

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The template set continued in the second with Price landing his jab and a couple of hard right hands, Povetkin answering by hurting Price with hooks to head and body.

The fourth was a sensational round as Price was dropped by a heavy left hook before turning the tables with a copycat in the very same round, Povetkin only held up by the ropes.

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The end of a dramatic fight came in the fifth as Povetkin landed a hard right hand which led to the scouser freezing, his hands falling beside his body and offering the Russian a free shot, a vicious left hook.

The crowd gasped but the stricken Price made a quick recovery.

Povetkin (now 34-1) now looks likely to challenge the winner of Joshua vs Parker.

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