HAMBURG: World heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko knocked out Bulgarian challenger Kubrat Pulev with a fierce left hook in the fifth round on Saturday to retain his IBF title and end his opponent’s unbeaten record.
The 38-year-old Klitschko, who also holds the WBO, IBO and WBA titles, knocked down the 33-year-old twice in the opening round as Pulev initially struggled to keep his taller opponent at a distance. The Bulgarian, who had won his previous 20 fights, was again floored in the third round when he was sent sprawling by a thundering left hook.
He looked to be finding his way back into the fight, landing a big right that rattled the Ukrainian but another giant left hook finished the job in round five with a dazed Pulev staying down for the count.
“I made my professional debut here 18 years ago and I love this city,” a beaming Klitschko, who has his base in the northern German city, said in a ringside interview.
“It was difficult to get that hook in. I kept trying but he managed to stay away. I tried it a few times and at the end it worked.” Klitschko has now improved his record to 63 wins out of his 66 fights with 54 knockouts. Pulev is 20-1.
“I feel good,” Pulev said, nursing an ice pack on his quickly swelling right cheek. “I am satisfied with my performance. Vladimir is a good opponent but I think he had a bit of luck.
Klitschko, earlier the bout said: “Now I want revenge and it will be different result,” said the Bulgarian.
“I cannot believe it. He is ill-advised and it looks like brainwashing,” said a bemused Klitschko, who has an impressive record of 52 knock-outs in 62 wins with the last of his three defeats now over a decade ago.
Pulev enjoyed knockout wins over Alexander Ustinov and Alexander Dimitrenko in 2012 and his unanimous win over Tony Thompson in August 2013 earned him the right to fight Klitschko.
He kept busy last year by forcing both Joey Abell of the USA and Croatia’s Ivica Perkovic into retiring in the early rounds of their bouts.REUTERS
