World heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko landed a left-hand knockout punch five seconds from the end of the fight to beat challenger Eddie Chambers and retain his WBO, IBO and IBF belts on Saturday.
Ukrainian Klitschko, 33, rattled the 27-year-old American in the second round but had to wait until just before the end of the 12th to stage a dramatic finale and knock him out in front of 51,000 fans at Duesseldorf’s soccer stadium.
Chambers tumbled into the ropes with the referee ending the bout as Klitschko improved his record to 54 victories from 57 fights.
PHOTO: EPA
“I have to give him credit. Chambers is very fast and super strong,” Klitschko said.
“He does not have much punching power but could have probably out-boxed me if I had got tired,” added the beaming Ukrainian in a ringside interview. “But that did not happen.”
Both boxers started off cautiously with Klitschko well aware of “Fast Eddie” Chambers’ speed and the American wanting to avoid the Ukrainian’s reach.
Klitschko, at 1.99m some 14cm taller and 16kg heavier than Chambers, used his jab to wear down an opponent who kept moving around the ring.
It did not take long, though, for the 1996 Olympic champion to hurt Chambers with a series of punishing right-hand punches in the second round that rattled his confidence.
Klitschko, with brother Vitaly — the WBC heavyweight champion — in his corner, landed another big right in the third but Chambers bravely battled on while never really staking a strong claim for the titles.
Chambers landed few big punches and none powerful enough to hurt Klitschko.
The American looked more interested in avoiding the Ukrainian’s knockout punch that had already claimed 47 victims.
A brief break in the ninth round to change a glove gave Chambers some time to recover but Klitschko looked fitter and stronger throughout, landing the knockout blow five seconds from the bell.
Having popped open a local beer bottle and sprayed his team to celebrate the win, Klitschko said he knew throughout the fight his time would come.
“By round six his game plan was out the window,” he said. “I had promised a knock out.”
Klitschko says he is now ready to face mandatory IBF challenger Alexander Povetkin of Russia in the near future.
“We will see who my next opponent will be, but I believe Alexander Povetkin is my official IBF challenger and we can quickly start the discussions for that fight.”
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