World heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko earned the 40th knockout of his career on Saturday when he stopped Polish challenger Tomasz Adamek in the 10th round to defend his WBC belt.
This was the 40-year-old Klitschko’s seventh defense of the WBC belt he won in 2008 against Nigeria’s Samuel Peter and despite a brave effort from Adamek, the champion was rarely threatened.
Having had his first pro bout back in 1999, this was Dr Ironfist’s 40th KO and 43rd victory as he out-classed Adamek and made his trademark big right punish the mandatory challenger.
Photo: EPA
Along with younger brother, Wladimir, the IBF, WBA, IBO and WBO champion, the Ukrainian siblings continue to dominate the heavyweight division.
Despite being six years older, Vitali Klitschko made the most of his physical advantage as he tipped the scales 12kgs heavier and 15cm taller than Adamek, and dominated the opening rounds.
Adamek, a former cruiserweight and light heavyweight world champion, made a tentative start and a heavy right hand at the end of the second sent him tumbling back onto the ropes, but he got back to his feet before the count.
With Wroclaw’s Miejski Stadium set to host matches next year during soccer’s European Championships, Ukrainian Klitschko had few fans amongst the predominantly Polish crowd of just more than 40,000 fans.
Adamek, who had said his speed would “kill” Klitschko, went on the offensive in the fourth and fifth, upping his work rate, but he rocked backward nearly every time Klitschko landed a telling blow.
The Polish fighter had a standing count in the sixth as Adamek was taking numerous punches and was lucky to reach the end of the round.
More punishment followed in the seventh and Adamek switched to damage limitation as Klitschko made his superior reach count.
The crowd roared when the champion was put on the canvas at the end of the eight, but it was only a slip.
Klitschko landed numerous jabs in the ninth as Adamek’s strong chin soaked up plenty of punishment and Italian referee Massimo Barrovecchio finally put the Pole out of his misery midway through the 10th.
The defeat leaves Adamek with 44 victories, 28 knockouts and two defeats, but most of his fights have been at lighter weights.
His nickname might mean “Little Gabriel,” but even though he is just 1.21m tall, Gabriel dos Santos Araujo is a giant of Paralympic swimming. “My name is Gabrielzinho and I’m going for three gold medals at the Paris Paralympics,” the smiling 22-year-old Brazilian said, before receiving a kiss on the forehead from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at an official ceremony last month in Brasilia. Gabrielzinho’s objective at the Paralympics, which opens on Wednesday, is to upgrade from the two golds and one silver he won at the Tokyo Games three years ago. When he is not doing
BACK ON COURT: After arriving on court in a brightly colored outfit with a giant bow, Osaka stunned Ostapenko to record her first top-10 win in four years Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday survived US Open first-round wobbles to stay on course for a semi-final showdown, while two-time champion Naomi Osaka made a tearful and colorful return to Flushing Meadows. World No. 1 Sinner fought back from a set and break down to defeat 140th-ranked Mackenzie McDonald in his first match since being embroiled in a doping test controversy. Italian Sinner battled to a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 win over American opponent McDonald at Arthur Ashe Stadium, racing away with 18 of the last 22 games. The 23-year-old was returning to action just a week after it was revealed
NOT THIS YEAR: Teams from Taiwan have won 17 titles at the tournament, second only to the US with 30. This year was the nation’s first championship game since 2009 Taiwan fell just short in Sunday’s championship game of the Little League World Series (LLWS) in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, losing 2-1 to Florida. Despite the defeat, it was still the best finish for Taiwan at the LLWS since Taoyuan’s Guishan Little League, the country’s representative again this year, lost the 2009 championship game 6-3 to California. Entering Howard J. Lamade Stadium on Sunday on a five-game winning streak in Williamsport, Guishan took an early lead in the opening frame on an RBI single by Hu Yen-chun. However, Guishan failed to extend the margin as its players struggled at the plate, tallying only five
HISTORIC GAME: Taiwan, which have claimed the title 17 times, more than any other international team, have a chance to win it for the first time since 1996 Taiwan could not get much going at the plate on Saturday. However, the way starter Lai Cheng-ci was pitching, it did not matter. Lai struck out 12 batters and allowed just three hits in 5-1/3 innings as Taiwan beat Venezuela 4-1 to advance to the Little League World Series (LLWS) championship. “He’s the ace pitcher for the team and he shows leadership,” manager Lee Cheng-ta said through an interpreter. “He’s calm and he works hard, so every time we’ve had an important game he’s always the one to be carrying the responsibility.” Taiwan also managed only three hits, but collected eight walks and