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Heavyweight boxing’s top man was in fantastic form earlier tonight at SAP Arena in Mannheim, with Wladimir Klitschko bashing up challenger Francesco Pianeta enroute to producing a stoppage at 2:52 of the sixth frame.
Putting the WBA/WBO/IBF/IBO titles on the line, Klitschko was facing his second consecutive undefeated opponent, Italian southpaw Pianeta, who had previously turned back 28 opponents, although none were anywhere close to world level.
That gulf of experience between the two combatants was clear from the first bell with Klitschko staking out the center of the ring and staying close to the challenger, using his left as a measuring stick.
Pianeta was largely unable to bridge the distance gap favored by Klitschko, launching the odd wild punch but mainly holding a high guard and looking for opportunities.
Klitschko imposed his will in the shape of his heavy right hand, winging it at Pianeta’s head a few times every round. As the frames wore on, the success ratio of that punch increased.
Although the forays were disorganized, Pianeta came forward a few times with left hands and seemed to rattle the champion but Pianeta could never maintain any kind of momentum.
Anytime Pianeta got inside, Klitschko either grabbed and clinched or pulled Pianeta’s head forward and leaned his weight upon the shorter man.
As the bout wore on, Klitschko’s punches started to have an effect on the Italian, wearing down the the challenger to the point where he threw very little in return.
By the fourth, Pianeta was down, as he was in the fifth as Klitschko became more and more dominant, adding on left hooks to his arsenal.
In the sixth, Klitschko decked Pianeta with a crisp three punch combination and while the challenger managed to beat the count, he was judged to be in no shape to continue.
Klitschko gains his 60th victory against three losses, winning his 18th straight contest to improve to 60-3 (51). Pianeta loses for the first time, falling to 28-1-1 (15)
