Vladimir Klitschko retained his world heavyweight titles when he knocked down challenger Tony Thompson in the sixth round of a one-sided contest on Saturday.
The 36-year-old Ukrainian, who knocked out Thompson when they met four years ago, extended his unbeaten run to 16 fights, his last defeat coming when he challenged Lamon Brewster for the WBO title in 2004.
Thompson was never in the contest and was floored for the first time in the fifth round with a big right hook.
The American, the mandatory challenger nominated by the IBF, survived the count but looked groggy and struggled to hang on until the bell. Dr Steelhammer wasted no time in finishing off the 40-year-old in the next round, knocking him over again with a flurry of punches to the head.
Published 08 July 2012, 16:39 IST