Germany (AP) --
Wladimir Klitschko toyed with Alex Leapai and knocked him out in the
fifth round to retain his four heavyweight belts on Saturday.
Klitschko,
taller with a longer reach, controlled the fight at will, scoring with
left jabs and straight rights with hardly any opposition from the
Samoan-born Australian.
Leapai
went down when he was hit with a left-right combination. He got up but
Klitschko put him away for good with 58 seconds left in the fifth. Find more pics after the cut.
''Glory to Ukraine,'' Klitschko said after his one-sided win.
Klitschko
recorded his 53rd KO in 62 wins, with three defeats. Leapai dropped to
30-5, with three draws. In his 25th world championship fight, Klitschko
retained his WBA and IBF heavyweight belts, plus the minor WBO and IBO
versions.
Leapai, the first
Australian challenger in 106 years, never had a chance. The only time he
ever got close to the bigger Ukrainian was just before getting floored
in the fifth.
He took an eight count in the first round, although he claimed to have slipped.
Leapai's
only chance was to try to get inside, but Klitschko easily stopped him
with his effective jab. Leapai appeared to finally hit Klitschko in the
fifth but the champion replied with a barrage and put the Australian
down. Leapai got up but was clearly shaken, and Klitschko finished him
off with a huge right to the jaw.
''It
wasn't easy, my head was in Ukraine and what is going on there. I hope
there is no war and people dying. I am proud of my people,'' Klitschko
said.
Klitschko's elder
brother, Vitali, who has retired from boxing to run for political office
in Kiev and who has been one of the leading opposition figures in
Ukraine, was in Wladimir's corner as usual. Vitali's wife, Natalia, sang
the Ukraine national anthem before the fight.
''It was textbook fighting by Wladimir. He did not make a mistake,'' Vitali said.
Leapai, a delivery truck driver, said it was time to ''go back to the gym.''
''I
tried to take the fight to him and it didn't work. I am all right, I
was waiting for my opportunity but he is a champion and a great
fighter,'' Leapai said.
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