Ukraine's Wladimir Klitschko defended his world heavyweight championships on Sunday, easily beating Australian hopeful Alex Leapai in Germany.
Klitschko, 38, showed no signs of slowing up, disposing of Leapai in a fifth-round TKO. He ended the bout with one minute remaining in the round, flooring the 34-year-old challenger. The referee had no option but to stop the fight.
It was Klitschko's 16th consecutive title defense, retaining his WBA and IBF heavyweight belts, plus the minor WBO and IBO versions.
It was labeled as a relative mismatch from the outset. Klitschko towered over Leapai controlled the fight at will, scoring with left jabs and straight rights with hardly any opposition from the Samoan-born Australian.
The referee ruled it a knockdown and Leapai struggled to find a way into the contest from then on, with Klitschko using his jab to trouble the Australian.
Klitschko controlled the third and fourth rounds, landing powerful jab-cross combinations before sending Leapai down twice in the fifth and ultimately final round.
Leapai was the first Australian boxer to contest the heavyweight title in 106 years. The only time he ever got close to the bigger Ukrainian was just before getting floored in the fifth.
Klitschko got his 53rd KO in 62 wins, with three defeats. Leapai dropped to 30-5, with three draws.
"It wasn't easy, my head was in Ukraine and what is going on there. I hope there is no war and people dying. I am proud of my people," Klitschko said.
Klitschko's elder brother, Vitali, who has retired from boxing to run for political office in Kiev and who has been one of the leading opposition figures in Ukraine, was in Wladimir's corner as usual.
Leapai, a delivery truck driver, said it was time to "go back to the gym."
"I tried to take the fight to him and it didn't work. I am all right, I was waiting for my opportunity but he is a champion and a great fighter," Leapai said.
Contributing: OmniSport, Associated Press