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Wladimir Klitschko claimed his 63rd professional win
on Saturday. Klitschko has been ruling the heavyweight division since 2006 and
has not lost in 10 years. His WBA belt is also on the line, along with the
minor WBO and IBO titles.
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Wladimir Klitschko completed his 17th consecutive
title defence as he knocked out Kubrat Pulev inside five rounds in Hamburg on
Saturday night.
The IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion floored
his opponent twice in the opening round and it looked like it could be a brief
encounter in the opening stages.
Pulev was on the floor again in the third but once
again got to his feet before a huge left hook from Klitschko in the fifth
handed the Bulgarian his first defeat in 21 fights and Klitschko extended his
record to 63-3 with the 53rd knockout of his career.
Pulev tested Klitschko with a stiff jab in the
opening stages and the crowd were clearly behind him but the Ukrainian
responded in brilliant fashion, flooring his opponent with a left hook to the
chin.
The Bulgarian got up off the floor but moments later
he was down again, although it appeared to be a shove from Klitschko, and he
rose again to make it through to the end of the round.
Klitschko had the better of the second as Pulev kept
his distance but the challenger appeared to have recovered before he was put
down again in the third.
A right hand staggered Pulev and it was the left
hook again that sent him to the canvas with the durable 33-year-old once more
getting back to his feet with a cut below the left eye.
Pulev again appeared to recover and was trying to
get inside in the fourth but he was not hurting Klitschko who appeared to be
landing shots at will.
And the biggest of all came with 49 seconds
remaining in the fifth as Klitschko landed the best left hook of the lot and
Pulev was sent sprawling to the canvas for the fourth and final time.
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Wladimir Klitschko (left) and Kubrat Pulev face off
during their official weigh-in in Hamburg, Germany
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