Vitali Klitschko did more than just batter Kirk Johnson to the canvas Saturday night. He also staked his claim to another shot at the heavyweight title.
In a dominating performance, Klitschko knocked Johnson down twice in the second round before their heavyweight elimination fight in New York was stopped at 2:54 of the round with Johnson clinging to a bottom rope.
Klitschko fought with the confidence of a fighter who had taken Lennox Lewis six tough rounds before being stopped on cuts, and the 6-foot-7-inch Ukranian showed he has the kind of dominating power that could bring new excitement to the heavyweight ranks.
Johnson (34-2-1) was a top contender, but Klitschko (33-2, 32 knockouts) never let him get into the fight.
Klitschko earned the right to be the WBC No. 1 contender with the win and wants a rematch with Lewis. But the heavyweight champion has been reluctant to fight lately and may retire.
