Boxer Adrien Broner (L) from Cincinnati, Ohio connects to the head of Gavin Rees from Newport, Wales during their WBC Lightweight title bout in Atlantic City, New Jersey February 16, 2013. Photo by Tim Shaffer, Reuters.

MANILA, Philippines – Undefeated American Adrien Broner retained the World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight championship with a fifth-round stoppage of Gavin Rees in Atlantic City, New Jersey Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

Rees went down in the fourth round and again in the fifth as Broner peppered him with body punches. The knockdown in the fifth round proved to be the final straw as Rees' trainer threw in the towel with one second to go.

"I knew he was going to come to fight. He's a world-class fighter. I had to see how much gas was left in that Toyota. He kept coming through every shot like it was his best shot. I knew he would pay," Broner told Boxing Scene after the fight. 

Rees took the first two rounds by keeping close to Broner, but the American started to get his rhythm in the third round.

In the fourth round, Broner landed a huge right uppercut that sent Rees sprawling to the canvas. Rees got back up and fought bravely, but he only sustained more punishment as Broner connected on more shots.

The fifth round featured more of the same as Broner landed regularly on Rees' body and head, eventually leading Gary Lockett, Rees' trainer, to throw in the towel.

"I made a lot of mistakes, and I believe I have a better skill set than that," Rees told Boxing Scene. "He hits incredibly hard for a lightweight. I knew he hit hard, but the power just stunned me."

"In the third and fourth rounds, he really began to land his shots, and I got reckless and that was pretty much the end of the fight," he added.

Rees said he disagreed with his trainer's decision to stop the fight. "He knew I would have gone on until I was knocked out," he said.

Broner hiked his record to 26 wins, with 22 coming by way of knockout. Rees sustained his second loss against 37 wins and one draw.