By Nikolai Baklanov

Krasnodar, Russia - WBO middleweight champion Dmitry Pirog (19-0, 15 KOs) retained his title with a tenth round stoppage of mandatory challenger Gennady Martirosyan  (22-3, 11 KOs). It was a thrilling but ultimately one-sided fight, and the first ever all-Russian title encounter in boxing history. The challenger's corner rejected Gennady's vicitmization by waving off the fight after the end of the tenth round. Martirosyan, depsite his sad ending, never went down and has every right to be proud of his performance. Pirog further solidified his claim of being an elite middleweight .