11.11.06 – By Jeff Bastasini: Wladimir Klitschko (47-3, 42 KO’s) successfully defended his IBF heavyweight title tonight by stopping previously unbeaten challenger Calvin Brock (29-1, 22 KO’s) in the 7th round at Madison Square Garden in New York. After getting off to a slow start in the first 4 rounds, Wladimir suddenly came alive in 5th round, when he opened up with a volley of crushing jabs, followed by two huge right hands that changed the course of the fight..
In the 6th round, Wladimir received a cut over his left eye after a clashing heads with Brock during a clinch. The cut seemed to only make Wladimir fight harder, as he opened up with right hand, left hook cominations that had Brock backing up.
In the 7th round, Wladimir wasted little time resuming his offensive attack. A minute into the round, Wladimir tagged Brock with a huge left hook, straight right hand combination that badly hurt Brock, who immediately backed up in retreat. Wladimir quickly followed him, raking him with right hands that bounced off the side of Brock’s face.
Finally, Wladimir connected with a final left hook and straight right combination, which send Brock down, face first to the canvas. Brock was able to make it up at the count of 8, but he was staggering and badly hurt, causing the referee to step in and halt the bout.
For the most part, Wladimir appeared to be thinking too much in the early rounds, perhaps afraid of Brock’s counter punching ability. However, once Wladimir started jabbing Brock, he was able to set up his right hand to good effect. Wladimir’s right hand alone, seemed to erase all of his mistakes from the earlier rounds and turn what was a close fight, into a full route for Wladimir. With a right hand like that, Wladimir could have easily have knocked out Brock in the earlier rounds, if he had only used it.