Published: 22 March, 2009, 09:13
Edited: 22 March, 2009, 09:13
Boxing champ Vitaly Klitshko has retained his WBC heavyweight title by defeating Cuban defector Juan Carlos Gomez.
The 37-year-old Ukrainian scored three knockdowns en route to the referee’s final whistle in the 9th round in Stuttgart, Germany.
Klitschko posted his second consecutive official ninth round stoppage since coming back to the ring in October, 2008 following a four year absence. The fight improved his career record to 37-2 (36 KO).
Vitaly Klitschko now boasts a major claim as the best heavyweight on the planet.
Vitaly's win means the WBA heavyweight title, held by Russian Nikolay Valuev, remains the only belt outside the Klitschko family with Vitaly's brother Wladimir the current holder of the WBO and IBF crowns. The Ukrainians have already voiced their commitment to grabbing all four major belts.