Klitschko labours to WBC title defence

WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko produced an uninspiring performance as he forced a tenth round stoppage of London-based Pole Albert Sosnowski in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

The Ukrainian, regarded as the best in the division, was typically pedestrian for much of the contest, jabbing at his challenger mechanically.

He forced the finish by stepping up the workrate with a minute left of the tenth round, flooring former European champion Sosnowski with a right before referee Jay Nady stepped in.

Klitschko was happy with his performance.

"I was in good form," he said. "Sosnowski is younger than me, but people saw that I did well against him.

"My experience got me through."