Klitschko wins IBF title by TKO against Byrd

BERLIN, Apr 23 (Reuters) Vladimir Klitschko took the International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight title away from Chris Byrd by technical knockout after putting the American on the canvas a second time in round seven yesterday.

The 30-year-old Ukrainian took control of the fight in Mannheim in the second round and knocked Byrd down for the first time with a powerful left-right combination in the fifth round before flooring him again with another flurry two rounds later.

Klitschko had pummelled Byrd into a corner with a punishing attack in round five after knocking the American down the first time, opening a cut near his left eye. Byrd showed courage to endure such a prolonged pounding and make it through the round.

Klitschko remained patient in the sixth round, using his strong left jab effectively, before waiting for an opening early in round seven to launch another attack. Byrd went down hard for a second time before getting up on his feet again.

But this time American referee Wayne Kelly stopped the fight almost immediately after the second knockdown.

''I was never in the fight,'' Byrd, 35, told German public television who broadcast the fight. ''He's a big guy. He's strong.

He did everything right. I didn't hit him at all.'' SIZE ADVANTAGE Klitschko, at 2 metres tall and 109 kg, used his formidable size advantage against Byrd, who is 1.81 metres and 97 kg.

Klitschko, cheered on by the sell-out crowd of 15,000 in the Mannheim arena in southwestern Germany, was surprised and impressed that Byrd stayed on his feet in round five.

''Chris Byrd showed great heart despite all the punches he took,'' said Klitschko, who went through the seven rounds of the scheduled 12-round fight without a scratch.

''I knew I had to stay cautious and watch out,'' said Klitschko, who is based in Hamburg. ''He was a little slower than I was expecting. But it was not an easy fight at all.'' Klitschko beat Byrd in 2000 to win the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) crown in Cologne but relinquished the title in an upset loss to South African Corrie Sanders in 2003.

Byrd, a year after losing to Klitschko, beat Evander Holyfield for the vacant IBF title and has held it since.

Klitschko's 2000 win over Byrd appeared to signal a bright future but he was knocked out in the second round by Sanders and lost a WBO title fight with Lamon Brewster in 2004.

Klitschko now has a 46-3 record with 41 KOs. Byrd's record slipped to 39-3-1 with 20 KOs. Klitschko's elder brother Vitali, a former World Boxing Council (WBC) champion, retired last year.

The heavyweight division has been without a clear-cut champion since Briton Lennox Lewis retired in 2003.

The IBF is one of four heavyweight championships. The three other belts are held by American Hasim Rahman (WBC), Nikolai Valuev of Russia (World Boxing Association) and Sergei Liakhovic of Belarus (WBO).

REUTERS DH KN1030