Arthur Abraham retained his WBO super-middleweight title by defeating Paul Smith on points in Berlin on Saturday night. In his second victory over the Englishman, the German veteran won by two scores of 117-111 and one of 116-112,

Abraham again dominated in the face of a spirited challenge from Smith, who had been angered after losing their first bout in September last year in Kiel. There was no doubt about the result of the rematch.

The Armenia-born Abraham seemed comfortable taking Smith's punches and was more effective with his own, delivering punishing barrages that the Liverpudlian did well to weather.

"It was a tough fight. He fought to the end, and he took a lot of hard punches. Respect to him," Abraham said.

Abraham was able to pound his way through with right-left combinations. Smith repelled with counterpunches, but Abraham's superior strength was apparent, despite a lull in the sixth round.

The WBO has ordered a final eliminator between Felix Sturm and Robert Stieglitz, who previously fought to a draw.

"I told my coach that I needed a break in the sixth," Abraham joked. "My next opponent will be Robert Stieglitz or Felix Sturm. Let's see what management comes up with."

The 35-year-old improved his professional record to 42-4, including 28 knockouts in making the third defence of the belt he won back from Stieglitz on a split decision in March last year. Smith dropped to 35-5, with 20 knockouts.

Abraham, 34, has fought in 20 “world” title bouts and held the IBF middleweight belt before winning the WBO super-middleweight belt when he beat Stieglitz, who had stopped him in four rounds in their first fight in 2013.