(UKPA)
Vitali Klitschko retained his WBC heavyweight title at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles with a convincing stoppage of Mexican-American Cris Arreola at the end of round 10.
The Ukrainian, in his third fight since coming out of a four-year retirement almost 12 months ago, chalked up the 37th stoppage of his professional career and took his record to 38-2 after outclassing the game Arreola throughout the fight and using his height and reach advantage to great effect as he brought to an end a 27-fight unbeaten run.
Klitschko, 38, was fighting in the United States for the first time since defeating Britain’s Danny Williams in 2004 and in the same arena in which he was stopped by Lennox Lewis due to a cut in 2003.
The 6ft 7in Ukrainian was the better man throughout, dictating the pace of the fight and slowing Arreola’s busy workrate by keeping the American, 3.5 inches shorter, at arm’s length.
Arreola had not been past the eighth round in his career before, his three non-knockout victories coming with a decision after six rounds and two disqualifications.
Whether that was a factor or not, Klitschko began to take his rival apart in the ninth as he was rocked with two rights, a short upper cut and a straight right from the champion.
The 10th saw more of the same and as Arreola returned to his stool his corner decided enough was enough and referee Jon Schorle waved the fight off, reducing the beaten man to tears in the process.
Copyright © 2009 The Press Association. All rights reserved.
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