HAMBURG (Germany),July 13: Ukraine’s Vladimir Klitschko knocked out America’s Tony Thompson in the 11th round to retain his WBO and IBF world heavyweight titles on Saturday.

Klitschko, who has held the IBF belt since April 2006, was fighting for the first time since taking the WBO crown off Russia’s Ruslan Ibragimov in February in New York.

The 32-year-old took control of Saturday’s fight from the fourth round before going on to inflict Thompson’s second defeat in 33 fights.

Klitschko now has a record of 51 wins and three defeats.

Saturday’s fight was his first in his adopted home city of Hamburg in eight years.

He and boxing brother

Vitali moved here in 1996 following his Olympic Games victory.

Klitschko’s next fight is expected to be in November against Russia’s Alexander Povetkin, the number one IBF challenger, he will be aware that British cruiserweight king David Haye is moving up to heavyweight and watched the fight.—AFP