BOXING:LOOKING BATTERED after his 11th-round round knock-out victory, Wladimir Klitschko wore the look of a relieved man after defending his IBF and WBO heavyweight titles against American Tony Thompson in Hamburg.

The Ukrainian floored his tiring opponent in the penultimate round on Saturday, but finished the fight nursing a black and blue left eye.

"I haven't had a black eye in a long time. It's part of boxing. I didn't get into my rhythm at the start," said Klitschko, who still dreams of becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis retired in 2003.

"But my jab got better with each round."