Ukraine's Vitali Klitschko successfully defended his WBC heavyweight title on Saturday after the referee stopped his bout with Germany's Manuel Charr in the fourth round due to a cut over the challenger's right eye.

The fight was stopped with 56 sec remaining in the round.

Klitschko improved his record to 45-2, while Charr, who was unbeaten before his meeting with Ukraine's 41-year-old veteran, fell to 21-1.

"I was a bit disappointed as I wanted to win today by a real knockout, not a technical one," Klitschko said.

"I was ready to continue the bout and Charr was also ready for further boxing but it was the decision of the doctor and the referee, who are responsible for it and we could do nothing about it.

Fighting in the 30,000-seater Olimpiyski indoor sports arena, the hugely experienced Klitschko started the bout as the heavy favorite in what was his 17th world heavyweight championship fight.

Charr, a 27-year-old Beirut-born former kickboxer, brought with him an unblemished record in 21 fights and a seventh ranking by the WBC, but none of his opponents had been of the highest caliber.

(China Daily 09/10/2012 page24)