Klitschko wins decision over Briggs

Vitali Klitschko punished Shannon Briggs for 12 brutal rounds and retained his WBC heavyweight title with a unanimous decision

Vitali Klitschko punished Shannon Briggs for 12 brutal rounds and retained his WBC heavyweight title with a unanimous decision on Saturday. The Ukrainian champion dominated the action but couldnt knock down the American challenger.

I am very surprised by how much he took, Klitschko said. The judges scored it 120-107,120-107 and 120-105 for Klitschko,who improved to 41-2.

Ive fought George Foreman,Ive fought Lennox Lewis and Vitalis the best, Briggs said. He hits harder than Foreman,hes got incredibly fast hands.

Klitschko used his left jab to open up Briggs guard,landing a big right two minutes into the opening round.

Two left hooks found Briggs chin early in the second round and the Ukrainian landed some more rights,while Briggs sought to hurt Klitschko with blows to the body without much success.

The American was little more than a punching bag for Klitschko in the 10th. Briggs hardly rose his hands in defense midway through the 10th but Klitschko still could not put him down despite hitting Briggs at will. Briggs surprised Klitschko with a clean right in the next. Klitschko replied with two big rights of his own that snapped back Briggs head. But the American only shook his head and stayed up.