<text>  Russias Sergey Kovalev stopped Canadas Jean Pascal early in the eighth round Saturday night to retain his three world light heavyweight titles. The large Bell Centre crowd booed when referee Luis Pabon stopped the fight, with the dazed Pascal 29-3-1 against the ropes from a series of blows from Kovalev 27-0-1. And the Canadian wasnt happy with the stoppage, immediately calling for a rematch after the bout was stopped, insisting: I was still in the fight. Sergey Kovalev retained his three world light heavyweight titles after victory over Jean Pascal . Kovalevs arm is lifted aloft by the fight referee after stopping Pascal in the eighth round . Russian Kovalev retained his WBA, WBO and IBF titles during the bout in Montreal . Kovalev right lands a right to the head of Canadian Pascal during the light heavyweight bout . The Russian Kovalev left lands a left to Pascals body during the unified bout in Montreal . The fight was the first time that Pascal right had been stopped in his career . Kovalev looked to have won seven of the eight rounds in the scheduled 12-round bout. How I started I didnt like, said Kovalev. But after the fourth round I got control of Jean and what you saw -- I got him with a good right hand and he lost. Kovalev retained his WBA, WBO and IBF titles. Pascal, the former WBC champion from Montreal, was stopped for the first time in his career. Kovalev left hands a head shot on Pascal with his right during the fight at the Bell Centre . Kovalev right gets a punch with his right to the head of Pascal as his opponent tries to avoid it . Canadian Pascal right lands a body shot on Kovalev during their championship bout . Pascal looks dazed in his corner as he is given a pep talk during the fight at the Bell Centre . Pascal gets the standing count from the referee after falling in the third round of the fight . 