Shock defeat rules Klitschko out of Lewis title fight plans

VLADIMIR KLITSCHKO regarded himself as the future of heavyweight boxing and some observers agreed but a shock defeat to little-known South African Corrie Sanders has shattered his dream.

The younger Klitschko brother hoped for lucrative fights in the United States and thought retaining his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) crown would be merely a formality. However, his sixth defence turned into a nightmare, the 37-year-old Sanders flooring him twice in the first round of their bout on Saturday before knocking him out early in the second with a fierce left.

"He caught me by surprise," the 26-year-old Ukrainian said of a shock defeat that was met with whistles and boos from the 10,000 crowd in the Hanover hall. "Now I want a re-match. Such a thing will never happen again."