December 9, 2002	Monday	Shawwal 4,1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

LAS VEGAS, Dec 8: Wladimir Klitschko again showed he is a major force in the heavyweight division, recording a 10th-round technical knockout of American Jameel McCline to retain his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) title on Saturday.

The Ukrainian, whose elder brother Vitali is set to challenge Britain’s Lennox Lewis for the world heavyweight crown in March, dominated the contest before flooring McCline late in the 10th round.

Klitschko, who had Vitali helping out in his corner, landed two left hooks in the 10th, another left and then a right that put McCline on the canvas.

McCline’s corner refused to allow their fighter to continue for the 11th.

Klitschko, who has won 40 of his 41 bouts, 37 by knockout, took nine of the 10 rounds according to two of the judges. The third had him winning eight rounds.

McCline has a career record of 28 victories, three defeats and three draws.

On the same bill, Floyd Mayweather Jr scored a unanimous points victory over Mexican challenger Jose Luis Castillo to retain his World Boxing Council lightweight title.

Mayweather Jr won 115-113 on the scorecards of two judges and 116-113 on the third.

The American’s victory kept him unbeaten in 29 fights, with 20 knockouts, but it was not a popular one with the crowd.

The champion was booed for a good portion of the fight as his conservative style failed to win over the fans.

Mayweather Jr earned $2.4 million for the title defence while Castillo was paid $150,000 plus a percentage of Mexican television proceeds.—Reuters