Wladimir Klitschko of the Ukraine became the undisputed world heavyweight champion by beating Great Britain’s David Haye on a unanimous points decision here on Saturday night.
Klitschko now holds the IBF, WBO and WBA belts after being awarded the fight by the three judges 117-109, 118-108, 116-110 to claim victory over Haye, the former WBA champion.Alongside brother Vitali, the WBC champion, the Klitschko brothers now hold all four of the major world titles.
“I couldn’t push off my right leg because I broke my toe in training. It was frustrating,” explained Haye after the fight.
It was a bout that promised much and delivered little, as Haye struggled to get inside Klitschko’s reach, despite his pre-fight boast that he would knock the Ukrainian out.
Haye was down in the first round when Klitschko pushed him as both fighters probed each other’s defence with a series of jabs, the Ukrainian beginning cautiously while Haye looked to land a big right on several occasions. Both fighters landed shots to the face in the second, but it was Haye in the third who struck the first significant blow by landing a big right over the top of Klitschko’s left hand, before the Brit was briefly caught on the ropes.
{{/usCountry}}Haye was down in the first round when Klitschko pushed him as both fighters probed each other’s defence with a series of jabs, the Ukrainian beginning cautiously while Haye looked to land a big right on several occasions. Both fighters landed shots to the face in the second, but it was Haye in the third who struck the first significant blow by landing a big right over the top of Klitschko’s left hand, before the Brit was briefly caught on the ropes.
{{/usCountry}}The Ukrainian was starting to show marks on his face with blood coming from his nose and Haye found his range with a couple of right-hand shots in the fourth, one of which stunned Klitschko on the bell.