Boxing: Klitschko's unconvincing knockout fuels Haye's ambition

(GETTY)

It took Wladimir Klitschko far too long to knock out Tony Thompson in Hamburg on Saturday night but when the American collapsed it was obvious he was not going to get up.

Klitschko retained his World Boxing Organisation title, International Boxing Federation belt and his reputation against the latest American to arrive in Germany with bold claims and a total lack of ambition.

Thompson jumped at the opportunity to go down in the 11th round when Klitschko connected with a right cross and he took most of the count relaxing on his side and looking for help into the eyes of the referee, Joe Cortez. It is possible that Thompson, who had lost just once in his previous 32 fights, failed to win a round and his complete lack of guile and boxing skill place him high up on the list of woeful heavyweight challengers.

"It was pathetic – rubbish to be honest," said Britain's David Haye, who, having held three versions of the world cruiserweight title, is now planning an assault on the heavyweight division. "Thompson has no defence and Klitschko's defence was not much better. It was all that is bad about the heavyweight division and that is why I'm moving up. I will knock out Klitschko early."

In round after round Klitschko dominated with a single jab and the occasional heavy right hand but there was no urgency and, sadly, Thompson was content to just walk forward. The American's corner men screamed at him to start throwing punches and to move his head but he ignored them until the final punch.

Klitschko will now fight his IBF mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin, an unbeaten but inexperienced Russian, in October or November. Haye, meanwhile, plans to fight a top 10 heavyweight in November and has already had talks with Klitschko about a fight next year.

"Haye is a good talker and he will be a dangerous heavyweight," Klitschko said. "But I keep telling him to get bigger, beat a heavyweight and to stop acting like a nut."