Klitschko puts out Thompson in sixth round
Source: Agencies |
July 9, 2012, Monday
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WLADIMIR Klitschko retained his world heavyweight titles when he knocked down challenger Tony Thompson in the sixth round of a one-sided contest in Bern, Switzerland, on Saturday.
The 36-year-old Ukrainian, who knocked out Thompson when they met four years ago, extended his unbeaten run to 16 fights, his last defeat coming when he challenged Lamon Brewster for the WBO title in 2004.
Klitschko, who has won 58 and lost three of his professional bouts, holds the WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO titles while his older brother Vitali holds the WBC title.
Thompson was never in the contest and was floored for the first time in the fifth round with a big right hook.
The American, the mandatory challenger nominated by the IBF, survived the count but looked groggy and struggled to hang on until the bell.
Dr Steelhammer wasted no time in finishing off the 40-year-old in the next round, knocking him over again with a flurry of punches to the head, prompting the referee to stop the fight.
"I didn't have a doubt from the beginning of the fight that I would defend my titles," Klitschko told reporters.
"It was really difficult to land the punches. He's very sneaky, he sees the punches, he never loses eye contact which makes him super alert.
"I felt I had the strength, speed, condition and power," he added.
Thompson, who suffered his third defeat in 39 fights, praised his opponent. "I came up short for the second time," the American said. "Wladimir is a great champion and his physical attributes showed in the ring tonight."
The elder Klitschko will defend his WBC title against Manuel Charr of Germany in Moscow on September 8.
In Carson, California, Nonito Donaire added Jeffrey Mathebula's IBF super bantamweight title to his own WBO belt on Saturday with a unanimous decision.
Filipino star Donaire improved to 29-1 with 18 knockouts, winning his 28th straight fight in a streak dating back to 2001. He retained the WBO crown he won in February in a split decision over Puerto Rico's Wilfredo Vazquez.
Donaire was the aggressor against his much taller opponent and dropped South African Mathebula with a devastating left late in the fourth round. It was the first time in his career that the 33-year-old Mathebula had been sent down.
The ringside judges scored it 117-110, 118-109 and 119-108 in favor of Donaire.
Mathebula fell to 26-4 with two drawn and 14 KOs. He was making the first defense of the IBF title he won in March with a split-decision triumph over compatriot Takalani Ndlovu.
The 36-year-old Ukrainian, who knocked out Thompson when they met four years ago, extended his unbeaten run to 16 fights, his last defeat coming when he challenged Lamon Brewster for the WBO title in 2004.
Klitschko, who has won 58 and lost three of his professional bouts, holds the WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO titles while his older brother Vitali holds the WBC title.
Thompson was never in the contest and was floored for the first time in the fifth round with a big right hook.
The American, the mandatory challenger nominated by the IBF, survived the count but looked groggy and struggled to hang on until the bell.
Dr Steelhammer wasted no time in finishing off the 40-year-old in the next round, knocking him over again with a flurry of punches to the head, prompting the referee to stop the fight.
"I didn't have a doubt from the beginning of the fight that I would defend my titles," Klitschko told reporters.
"It was really difficult to land the punches. He's very sneaky, he sees the punches, he never loses eye contact which makes him super alert.
"I felt I had the strength, speed, condition and power," he added.
Thompson, who suffered his third defeat in 39 fights, praised his opponent. "I came up short for the second time," the American said. "Wladimir is a great champion and his physical attributes showed in the ring tonight."
The elder Klitschko will defend his WBC title against Manuel Charr of Germany in Moscow on September 8.
In Carson, California, Nonito Donaire added Jeffrey Mathebula's IBF super bantamweight title to his own WBO belt on Saturday with a unanimous decision.
Filipino star Donaire improved to 29-1 with 18 knockouts, winning his 28th straight fight in a streak dating back to 2001. He retained the WBO crown he won in February in a split decision over Puerto Rico's Wilfredo Vazquez.
Donaire was the aggressor against his much taller opponent and dropped South African Mathebula with a devastating left late in the fourth round. It was the first time in his career that the 33-year-old Mathebula had been sent down.
The ringside judges scored it 117-110, 118-109 and 119-108 in favor of Donaire.
Mathebula fell to 26-4 with two drawn and 14 KOs. He was making the first defense of the IBF title he won in March with a split-decision triumph over compatriot Takalani Ndlovu.
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