11-20-2014, 09:44 AM
Unparalleled but underappreciated, world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko looked more dominant than ever on Saturday in his Round 5 knockout win over previously undefeated contender Kubrat Pulev in Germany.
Klitschko floored the tough and determined Pulev twice in Round 1, each time toppling the square-chinned slugger to the canvas with an explosive left hook.
Frank Augstein/Associated Press/Associated Press
Pulev was no match for Klitschko.
Pulev was down again from the same punch in Round 3, this time after being wobbled seconds earlier by Klitschko’s patented straight right.
After Pulev landed a few punches of his own in the next two rounds, Klitschko stepped in and ended things with perhaps the prettiest left hook he’s ever thrown. Pulev went down for the count quickly, landing straight onto his back, barely able to move as referee Tony Weeks counted to 10.
The win was Klitschko’s 17th straight heavyweight title defense, third-longest in the history of the division behind Joe Louis’ 25 and Larry Holmes’ 20.
Unlike some of Klitschko’s other performances, such as his clinch-filled victory over Alexander Povetkin last year, the Pulev win had U.S.-based boxing writers salivating over him.
Klitschko floored the tough and determined Pulev twice in Round 1, each time toppling the square-chinned slugger to the canvas with an explosive left hook.
Frank Augstein/Associated Press/Associated Press
Pulev was no match for Klitschko.
Pulev was down again from the same punch in Round 3, this time after being wobbled seconds earlier by Klitschko’s patented straight right.
After Pulev landed a few punches of his own in the next two rounds, Klitschko stepped in and ended things with perhaps the prettiest left hook he’s ever thrown. Pulev went down for the count quickly, landing straight onto his back, barely able to move as referee Tony Weeks counted to 10.
The win was Klitschko’s 17th straight heavyweight title defense, third-longest in the history of the division behind Joe Louis’ 25 and Larry Holmes’ 20.
Unlike some of Klitschko’s other performances, such as his clinch-filled victory over Alexander Povetkin last year, the Pulev win had U.S.-based boxing writers salivating over him.