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Klitschko defends heavyweight title

Wladimir Klitschko defended his IBF heavyweight boxing title against Calvin Brock on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Throughout the bout, Klitschko jabbed his opponent with his right, gaining points but never really hurting Brock. Then, after being cut by an inadvertent head butt in the sixth, the champion pulled his surprise for the night ? his left hand. Klitschko stunned Brock with a sharp left, and finished him with a thunderous right.

Brock got up before the count was over, after eight, but referee Wayne Kelly ended the match at 2:10 into the seventh round. It was his first defense of the title since gaining it in April. "I should have tried that earlier, but it took me time to get my distance and rhythm," Klitschko said. "He was a good defensive fighter." Klitschko was obviously winning the bout, with all three referees having him well ahead. But the numbers were a bit more even, with the champion ahead by only 305-280 in an unofficial count, Brock hitting more power punches, 51 to 28, and Klitschko ahead on the jab count 62-26.

In the evening`s undercard, female boxer Laila Ali, daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, defeated Shelley Burton in the fourth round to defend her WBC women`s super middleweight championship.Muhammad Ali himself entered the arena to the applause of 14,260 fans.