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Published: Sunday June 21, 2009 MYT 7:25:00 AM

Klitschko beats Chagaev in front of 61,000

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP) - Wladimir Klitschko handed Ruslan Chagaev his first loss Saturday with a technical knockout to retain his IBF and WBO heavyweight titles.

The hastily put together fight was held in front of 61,000 fans at Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, the biggest boxing audience in Germany in 70 years.

Klitschko relied on a powerful left-right combination to send Chagaev to the mat in the second round, and exploited a cut that opened over the Uzbekistan-born fighter's left eye in the eighth.

Referee Eddie Cotton called the fight for Klitschko at the opening of the 10th round.

The Ukrainian's 5-inch (13-centimeter) height advantage and superior power helped him wear Chagaev down from a safe distance, though Chagaev maneuvered inside Klitschko's reach for several early blows that appeared to stun Klitschko, and one that raised a large bruise under his right eye.

"You can't underestimate Chagaev," Klitschko said in the ring after the fight. "He did everything today, but I was better."

Chagaev's left-eye cut was similar to the one that ended his fight in February against Carl Davis Drumond in Rostock, Germany.

"Throughout the fight, I searched for the keys to unlock a win, but I just couldn't find them," the 30-year-old Chagaev said.

The sellout crowd was the biggest boxing audience in Germany since Max Schmeling knocked out Adolf Heuser in front of 70,000 people in Stuttgart in 1939.

The matchup at the Schalke football club's home arena was originally billed as a showdown to end a running verbal feud between the 33-year-old Klitschko and David Haye. But Haye bowed out earlier this month, saying he had injured his back. Haye asked to reschedule the fight in July, but Klitschko (53-3) wanted to keep the date and the sellout crowd.

He found a replacement in Chagaev (25-1 with one draw), who was given the WBA's murky "champion in recess" title in 2008 after withdrawing from two rematches against Nikolai Valuev.

A third bout between Uzbekistan-born Chagaev and Valuev scheduled for last month in Helsinki was canceled because Hepatitis-B antigens were found in Chagaev's blood. The WBA declared Valuev its rightful champion, but has delayed a decision on Chagaev's claim as a recess champion.

Klitschko last defended his titles in December with a seventh round-technical knockout against Hasim Rahman. He hasn't lost in more than five years.-AP

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