Ukrainian boxer Vitali Klitschko has retained his World Boxing Council (WBC) world heavyweight championship with a victory over American challenger Shannon Briggs.
The 39-year-old Klitschko was a winner on points over Briggs in the 12-round bout on October 16 in Hamburg, Germany, as he defended his title for the fifth time.
The win brings Klitschko's career record to 41 wins, 38 of them by knockout, against only two losses.
"It was my wish to knock out my opponent.... I saw that he was coming. I knew I would hit him really hard with the next one. Well, I struck. He was still standing up," Klitschko said.
Klitschko, 39, credited Briggs, 38, with being a worthy opponent but said his bout with the American had proven who was the strongest, though Klitschko quickly added his boxer brother Vladimir probably deserves that title.
Briggs was confident at the weigh-in before the fight, saying he was better than opponents the Klitschko brothers have fought before and defeated.
compiled from agency reports
The 39-year-old Klitschko was a winner on points over Briggs in the 12-round bout on October 16 in Hamburg, Germany, as he defended his title for the fifth time.
The win brings Klitschko's career record to 41 wins, 38 of them by knockout, against only two losses.
"It was my wish to knock out my opponent.... I saw that he was coming. I knew I would hit him really hard with the next one. Well, I struck. He was still standing up," Klitschko said.
Klitschko, 39, credited Briggs, 38, with being a worthy opponent but said his bout with the American had proven who was the strongest, though Klitschko quickly added his boxer brother Vladimir probably deserves that title.
Briggs was confident at the weigh-in before the fight, saying he was better than opponents the Klitschko brothers have fought before and defeated.
compiled from agency reports