MONTREAL — Local star Jean Pascal stopped Italy's Silvio Branco in the 10th round to retain the WBC light heavyweight title tonight.

Pascal (24-1), from Laval, knocked down the 43-year-old Branco (59-10-2) once in seventh and twice more in the 10th before the Italian's corner threw in the towel to put an end to the one-sided bout.

The 26-year-old Pascal won the title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Montreal-based Adrian Diaconu on June 19.