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Klitschko retains heavyweight crown

08/07/2007

Wladimir Klitschko retained his IBF and IBO heavyweight titles against Lamon Brewster with a technical knockout in Cologne.

Brewster failed to come out of his corner at the start of the seventh round, handing Klitschko revenge for his 2004 defeat to the American.

It was Brewster's first fight for 15 months after having surgery on a detached retina suffered during his loss to Sergei Liakhovich.

Klitschko was in his third bout in eight months since reclaiming the world title from Chris Byrd in April last year and the champion's superior fitness levels proved decisive.

The Ukrainian fighter was in the ascendancy throughout the fight and dominated his opponent with his jab.

Having laid the foundations Klitschko was able to pick off Brewster with combinations relatively easily as the bout progressed.

In the sixth round the 31-year-old landed a series of left-right combinations which shook Brewster. The American made it to the end of the round but his corner pulled him out while he was on his chair.

Klitschko was delighted to have beaten Brewster and exorcised the defeat he suffered in 2004.

He said: "I saw all of his punches coming. I had waited for this fight so long. The loss in 2004 really hurt. I was at the very bottom of my career but I came back."

Brewster admitted that he had been beaten by the better fighter, adding: "I did my best, but he was on his game."

Klitschko's record is now 49 wins from 52 fights with three losses while Brewster suffered the fourth defeat of his career.

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