Klitschko stops Pianeta in 6th to defend belts
Wladimir Klitschko stopped Francesco Pianeta in the sixth
round Saturday night to retain the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles.
The Ukrainian was never troubled by Pianeta, finishing
off the previously unbeaten Italian southpaw with a right-left combination.
Pianeta stayed down before attempting to continue, but there was no point in
delaying the inevitable and referee Ernie Sharif ended the bout 2:52 into the
round.
''Francesco tried. He has a fighting heart,'' Klitschko
said. ''He's a positive example in boxing. I'm sure he's learned a lot and that
he has a great future ahead of him.''
Klitschko rocked Pianeta inside the first 30 seconds,
knocked him to the canvas with a straight right down the middle in the fourth,
and again with a left blow in the fifth.
The 37-year-old Klitschko improved to 60-3 after his 52nd
knockout, while Pianeta dropped to 28-1-1.
''I'm very disappointed and sad,'' said Pianeta, a cancer
survivor who lives in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. ''I can't say anything. It wasn't
my day. He's the world champion. It wasn't enough. That was rubbish today.''
The fighters worked together briefly last year and
Klitschko tried to be kind to his former sparring partner.
''Francesco wasn't easy to box,'' Klitschko said. ''He
punched with the hardest punches I've ever felt. Luckily, they didn't hit me.''
Vitali Klitschko, who holds the WBC belt, said he had no
worries ahead of his younger brother's 23rd championship bout.
''My brother was very strong,'' Vitali Klitschko said.
''Francesco has a big heart. You have to pay him respect.''
Next up for the younger Klitschko is a likely bout with
mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin of Russia, the ''regular'' WBA champion
after Klitschko was elevated to ''super champion'' status. (Source)
