FanHouse TonyThompson

Wladimir Klitschko retained his heavyweight boxing title belts today in Germany, beating the American Tony Thompson with an 11th-round knockout.

It wasn't a particularly exciting fight, but it was a dominant performance by Klitschko. I live blogged the fight and gave all 10 rounds to Klitschko before he finally ended it with a hard right hand to the chin in the 11th. The HBO punch stats indicated that Thompson actually landed more punches, 150-121, but Klitschko was much more powerful. The fight was never really in doubt.

Thompson was considered the top American heavyweight heading into the fight, but given his weak effort, Chris
Arreola has probably earned that distinction now. Klitschko entered tonight's fight widely regarded as the best heavyweight boxer in the world, and although he wasn't exciting tonight, nothing happened to change that perception. He's still the champ.

Wladimir Klitschko will take on Tony Thompson today for the IBF and WBO heavyweight title, and we'll be live blogging it, starting at 4:30 p.m. Eastern.

Wladimir Klitschko is the heavyweight champion of the world, in the sense that he's putting a couple of heavyweight title belts on the line when he fights Tony Thompson in Germany tomorrow, and in the sense that he's the top-rated heavyweight according to The Ring.

But Klitschko has had so many lackluster performances -- including a lopsided but dull unanimous decision victory over Sultan Ibragimov in his last fight -- that hardly anyone is talking about his fight with Thompson, even though it's just over 24 hours away. That's why Klitschko needs not just to win, but to dominate.

Here's a look at upcoming title and televised bouts for the month of July. It's a pretty light month until July 26 when undefeated Miguel Cotto defends his welterweight title against Antonio Margarito. It's a bout worthy of pay-per-view as both men come in full of confidence and fighting as well as they ever have. Margarito will keep coming no matter what kind of bombs Cotto throws his way and Cotto has rarely been tested by a fighter with Margarito's ability. The winner will unquestionably be the best welterweight in the world.

The other fight that will garner a lot of attention will be Wladimir Klitschko's heavyweight title defense against Tony Thompson. There's not as much question about who will be left standing at the end of this one, Klitschko's a heavy favorite, but lingering questions about the champ's chin should make this a must-see as well. Make no mistake, though, Cotto-Margarito is the one fight you can't miss this month.