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Klitschko retains heavyweight titles

13/07/2008

Wladimir Klitschko has retained the IBF and WBO heavyweight world titles after beating American challenger Tony Thompson in Hamburg.

The Ukrainian knocked out Thompson in the 11th round of a fight he dominated from the outset.

Although the champion's trademark left jab did not cause as much damage as he would have expected he did manage to score consistently with a number of heavy right hands.

Klitschko let fly in the second round forcing Thompson to back-pedal into his own corner, but the American managed to cover-up in time to counteract Klitschko's barrage.

The two fighters accidentally clashed heads in the third round, causing cuts to both men, however, it did not adversely affect the fight.

Klitschko continued on the offensive, landing a powerful upper-cut in the fourth round.

Thompson offered his best rounds in the fifth and sixth, catching Klitschko with a solid punch in each round. Unfortunately for him he was unable to follow up either blow with any more pressure.

This stunned Klitschko back into action and he upped his work rate for the rest of the fight without causing significant damage to Thompson.

In the tenth the Ukrainian landed another heavy combination of blows before Thompson got into a clinch and then fell to the ground.

The referee ruled it was not a knock down but Thompson was clearly running out of steam. In the 11th round Klitschko chased his target before flooring him with an excellent right hand to end the fight.

Klitschko's record is now 51 wins and three defeats since his professional debut in 1996.