Klitschko retains WBC crown

Vitali Klitschko defended his WBC title but had to go the full distance against Shannon Briggs.

The Ukrainian won by unanimous decision after dominating Briggs for the best part of 12 rounds, but he couldn't find a way to finish his opponent off.

In front of a 16,000 sell-out crowd at the O2 World Arena, the 39-year-old extended his professional record to 41-2 after a crushing performance in which he never looked in danger of surrendering his title.

Briggs looked reluctant to attack, instead accepting the punishment Klitschko continued to inflict on him. By the sixth round Klitschko was firmly in control and landed a flurry of punches on Briggs' face, as the American had little answer to the Ukrainian's power.

The fight almost came to an end in the seventh, when Briggs was reeling from a Klitschko onslaught, but just as the referee looked set to end the fight, Briggs was saved by the bell.

Klitschko once again came close to victory in the tenth with an onslaught of blows with his right. Briggs was slumped on his stool, but once again he stood up for more punishment.

Klitschko was awarded the victory, with the judges scoring it 120-107, 120-107 and 120-105.
 

Source: espn.co.uk