Abraham knocks out Ayala to retain IBF middleweight belt, wants Pavlik

Arthur Abraham knocked out American Elvin Ayala with a 12th-round uppercut on Saturday and successfully defended his IBF middleweight title for the seventh time.

The victory paved the way for the unbeaten German to keep a scheduled bout in New York on June 7 against an undetermined boxer. He is ranked second to Kelly Pavlik among the world's middleweights by the IBO.

Abraham knocked down Ayala (18-3, with one draw and eight knockouts) in the fifth _ the first time the American had been off his feet in his career _ and followed with a barrage of punches in the subsequent three rounds.

Apparently unable to land the knockout blow, Abraham seemed to …