Wladimir Klitschko retains heavyweight title

Wladimir Klitschko successfully defended his world heavyweight crown, easing past Australian hopeful Alex Leapai in Germany on Sunday.

The 38-year-old Ukrainian champion showed no signs of slowing up, disposing of Leapai courtesy of a fifth-round TKO.

Klitschko ended the bout with one minute remaining in the fifth round, flooring the 34-year-old challenger with a lethal combination.

The referee had no option but to waive off the fight as Klitschko recorded his 16th consecutive title defence, retaining his WBO crown.

It was labelled as a relative mismatch from the outset with Klitschko towering over Leapai and it seemed that way early on when the 198cm giant caught his opponent on the top of the head.

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.