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Wladimir Klitschko Batters Rahman To Retain Belts
posted 12/13/08 11:43 pm
ABC 7 News - Wladimir Klitschko Batters Rahman To Retain Belts
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(Sports Network) - Wladimir Klitschko retained three heavyweight title belts by scoring a dominant seventh-round technical knockout of Hasim Rahman Saturday night.

The 32-year-old Klitschko (52-3, 46 KOs) won his 10th consecutive bout by flooring Rahman (45-7-2) once before referee Tony Weeks stopped the fight 44 seconds into the seventh round.

In a fight that was one-sided from the start, Klitschko retained his IBF, WBO and IBO versions of the heavyweight crown. Klitschko, who was coming off an 11th-round knockout of Tony Thompson in July, landed 178 punches to just 30 for Rahman.

Klitschko used his jab to his advantage, scoring consistently, and by the sixth round the 36-year-old Rahman, a former heavyweight champion, looked tired and clearly beaten.

In the sixth Klitschko landed a pair of left hooks to floor an off-balanced Rahman, who spent most of his time during the round on the ropes. In fact, Klitschko landed 28 of his 68 punches thrown during the round, while Rahman connected on just 1-of-16 over those three minutes.

With Rahman getting pounded in the corner early in the seventh, Weeks called a halt to the fight.

Klitschko's Ukrainian brother, Vitali, is the current WBC heavyweight champion, but the siblings have ruled out fighting each other.

Wladimir Klitschko has held at least one major heavyweight belt since beating Chris Byrd for the IBF version in April 2006.

On the undercard, former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe (43-1) scored an eighth-round unanimous decision over Gene Pukall (14-13-2). The 41-year-old Bowe was fighting for the first time since 2005 and stepped into the ring for a professional bout for only the third time since 1996.

Bowe is most remembered for his three fights with Evander Holyfield and two tough bouts with Andrew Golota.



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