Klitschko enhances title prospects
KIEL, Germany -- Ukrainian heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko moved closer to another world title chance by stopping veteran American Danell Nicholson in the fourth round in Kiel, Germany.
Klitschko, 27, dominated against an awkward opponent, who was warned repeatedly for holding and docked a point in the second round.
After flooring Nicholson with a swift left-right combination in the fourth, Klitschko then had his opponent on the ropes when the bout was halted one minute and 44 seconds into the round.
For Klitschko, the victory in the WBO fight was a confidence booster and could set up another world title fight next year.
The former WBO world heavyweight champion's career suffered a serious setback in March with a second-round knockout by South African Corrie Sanders in Hanover.
He began a cautious comeback with an easy 97-second knockout of Argentine Fabio Moli in a mismatch in August.
Nicholson, 36, proved slightly more challenging, but his single tactic appeared to be to clinch and throw the occasional wild right-hander.
Nicholson was warned early on for grabbing and after losing a point for holding in the second round received a further warning in the third.
"It wasn't easy against an opponent who moved around a lot, but it was important to win," Klitschko said.
The victory completed a successful month for the Klitschko brothers after Vitali, knocked out Kirk Johnson at New York's Madison Square Garden on December 6.
