World heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko said beating Cuban Juan Carlos Gomez was more hectic than he expected.
World heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko said beating Cuban Juan Carlos Gomez was more hectic than he expected. Klitschko defended his WBC title with a ninth round knockout win over the Cuban exile on Saturday.
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Ukraine's Vitali Klitschko celebrates after defeating challenger Juan Carlos Gomez of Cuba during their WBC heavyweight title fight on Saturday. PIC/AFP |
It was Klitschko's 36th knockout, and his 37th victory, to maintain his impressive record as challenger Gomez struggled to impose himself on the champion and was out-classed on the way to the second defeat of his career.
"He was a hard opponent, I have known him for a long time," said Klitschko, who used to spar against the Cuban.
"I was a bit hectic against him, he frustrated me with his blocks," added the Ukrainian whose younger brother Vladimir holds the IBF, IBO and WBO crowns.
The knockout after one minute 49 seconds of the ninth round could have come much sooner as Gomez struggled to match the champion.
