Klitschko hands Chagaev first defeat with TKO

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany: Ukraine's Vladimir Klitschko retained his world heavyweight titles by handing Uzbek fighter Ruslan Chagaev his first defeat thanks to a technical knockout after the ninth round on Saturday.

Klitschko, 33, held on to his IBF, IBO and WBO belts when the referee stopped the fight before the start of the 10th round in front of 61,000 fans with the WBA champion-in-recess bleeding from a large cut above his left eye.

"Tonight we, my team and I, beat a reigning world champion and you were here to witness it," Klitschko told the cheering crowd in the sold-out Schalke 04 soccer stadium.