WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko was shaken in the fifth round by challenger Mariusz Wach of Poland but quickly regained his bearings and finished with a lopsided twelve round decision to retain his belts in a fight card in Hamburg, Germany.
Mariusz caught Klitschko with a huge right in round five but the champion quickly regained his composure to win handily on the scorecards of all three judges with Adelaide Byrd and Michael Ancona of the US scoring a 120-107 shutout for Klitschko and the third judge Pascuale Procopio of Canada having Klitschko the winner 119-109.
Pat Sheehan of the British newspaper The Sun said the scorecards reflected the Ukranian?s domination in his thirteenth world title defense.
The 36 year old Klitschko was quoted saying ?Wach caught me in the fifth but then I slipped.?
He said ?the fight was unbelievably brutal. Wach just didn?t want to fall. He somehow managed to remain standing.?
At the final bell the previously unbeaten Wach had been clearly outclassed by Klitschko whose brother Vitali holds the WBC crown.
Joining Klitschko in the ring after the decision was announced was Hollywood action star Sylvester Stallone.
With the win Klitschko improved to 59-3 with 50 knockouts while the 32 year old Wach who suffered his first defeat dropped to 27-1 with 15 knockouts.
Photo: Wladimir Klitschko with Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone. Phote courtesy of The Sun newspaper in Britain.
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