KLITSCHKO RETAINS WBC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

Sat Mar 21, 2009

STUTTGART (Reuters) - Vitaly Klitschko retained his WBC heavyweight crown by defeating Cuban Juan Carlos Gomez on a technical knockout in the ninth round on Saturday.

Klitschko, who retired in 2005 after a series of injuries before reclaiming the WBC title in October by beating Samuel Peter, had to work hard to beat the bloodied Gomez.

The 37-year-old Ukrainian, 10cm taller than his opponent, who is 35, began cautiously but gradually went on the attack.

Klitschko (36-2), chipped away at Gomez's defences with several punishing blows to the body and head that left the Cuban with a cut above his right eye in the fourth round.

As his eye closed, Gomez began having problems blocking Klitschko's powerful right, and a left-right combination in the sixth further rattled the Cuban.

Gomez (44-1) went down on his knees in the seventh after Klitschko, who went into the fight with a record of 35 knockouts, landed a big right. The Cuban then took a barrage of punches but somehow managed to stay on his feet.

Gomez lasted two more rounds before Klitschko sent him to the ropes with a series of left jabs before the referee stopped the fight with one minute and 49 seconds left in the round.