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Klitschko still boxing champ

October 6, 2013

Heavyweight boxing champ Vladimir Klitschko has successfully defended his world titles against Alexander Povetkin in Moscow. Klitschko handed Povetkin his first loss in 27 fights.

https://p.dw.com/p/19uHv
World heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko (L) of Ukraine speaks with challenger Alexander Povetkin of Russia after their heavyweight title fight in Moscow October 6, 2013. Klitschko retained his heavyweight world titles with a points victory over Russian challenger Alexander Povetkin in Moscow's Olimpiyskiy stadium on Saturday. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov (RUSSIA - Tags: SPORT BOXING)---eingestellt von haz
Image: Reuters

Klitschko was unanimously declared victorious over Povetkin on Saturday in Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Moscow, taking the 37-year-old Ukrainian's record to 61 wins and three defeats. That means Klitschko will retain his WBA, IBO, IBF and WBO crowns.

The Ukrainian put Povetkin on the canvas four times during the fight. He first floored the 34-year-old Russian with a left hook in the second round. Klitschko then knocked Povetkin down three more times in the seventh round.

"Alexander is a fighter and it was hard for him because I hurt him," Klitschko said in a ringside interview. "But he stuck in there because he has a big heart."

"I wanted to finish it earlier," he said. "I wanted to land that one big punch and I think I could have done better."

The Ukranian stands 10 centimeters taller than Povetkin and has a longer reach.

"I will train harder and become stronger," Povetkin said. "Sometimes it did not work what I wanted to do. I put everything in out there."

"I never give up," he said. "I fight until the very end. Klitschko was stronger – he is the best in the world at the moment."

slk/lw (AP, AFP, Reuters)