Adrien Broner retained his WBC lightweight title with a fifth-round stoppage of game and surprisingly competitive Gavin Rees in Atlantic City, N.J., on Saturday.

Broner (25-0, 21 knockouts) started slow, which allowed his Welsh challenger to take the first two rounds with a quick jab, sporadic lateral movement and a busy body attack. But once the 23-year-old Ohioan stepped up his aggression and punch output in round three, Rees (37-2-1, 18 KOs) found himself in a world of pain.

Broner scored a knockdown with a right uppercut in the fourth round and dropped Rees again with a hook to the body in the fifth round, which prompted Rees’ trainer Gary Lockett to step onto the ring apron waving a towell.

Referee Earl Brown stopped the fight at 2:59 of the fifth.

A full ringside fight report from Joe Santoliquito will be posted shortly.

Photo / Al Bello-Golden Boy Promotions-Gettyimages