Klitschko beats up out-classed Arreola

LOS ANGELES — Vitali Klitschko gave Cris Arreola such a beating that his corner finally stepped in to stop the fight. Good thing, because Arreola wasn't about to quit by himself.

Klitschko cemented his spot alongside his brother, Wladimir, at the top of the heavyweight ranks Saturday night by battering a game but outclassed Arreola around the ring for 10 rounds. Arreola remained upright the entire fight but had taken so many punches that his corner wouldn't let him out for the 11th round.

It was a dominating performance for Klitschko, who retained his piece of the heavyweight title and denied Arreola's bid to become the first Mexican-American to win a heavyweight crown. Arreola was still willing to fight some more, but trainer Henry Ramirez ended things with his fighter still on his stool after the 10th round.

"He was taking too much punishment," Ramirez said. "When I told him I was going to stop the fight he was irate."

Arreola spent almost the entire fight moving forward in an attempt to get inside his taller opponent, but paid a heavy price as Klitschko landed punches from almost every angle to his head and midsection. By the later rounds, Arreola's face was a bloody mess, yet he continued to plod forward in an increasingly desperate attempt to land a big punch inside.

Klitschko put on an impressive show, using both his reach advantage and his considerable ring skills to land left hooks followed by an assortment of right hands. But he was never able to put Arreola down, and never landed enough big punches to make him want to quit.

"I know I was hurting him a lot but he has a great, great chin," Klitschko said. "I was surprised he did not come out (for the 11th round)."

One ringside judge gave Klitschko all 10 rounds while the other two gave Arreola one round.

The Associated Press had Klitschko winning every round.

It was the third win for Klitschko since he returned last year from a four-year retirement he said he needed to allow his body to heal. His brother, Wladimir, also a heavyweight champion, was in the corner to give him advice but there was little that needed to be said about a performance so dominating that there seemed little chance for Arreola even after the first round.

Ringside punch statistics showed Klitschko threw 802 punches, a huge amount for a heavyweight, and landed 301 of them. Arreola was credited with landing 86 of 331 punches.

Klitschko was a 5-1 favorite, but Arreola thought he would have a puncher's chance at the very least. He didn't, largely because Klitschko not only takes a good punch but refused to allow him inside to land many.

Klitschko ran his record to 38-2 while stopping an opponent within the distance for the 37th time.