Vitali Klitschko KOs Odlanier Solis to retain WBC title

COLOGNE, GERMANY // Vitali Klitschko retained his WBC heavyweight title with a first-round knockout of Odlanier Solis, who injured his knee in the fall in last night's bout.

Klitschko's right to Solis' left temple staggered the Cuban, who wobbled then fell on his back and clutched his right knee.

Solis managed to beat the count but was unsteady on his feet as the Mexican referee Jose Guadalupe Garcia called the fight.

"It was a full blow," Klitschko said in the ring, with the crowd in Cologne's indoor arena booing.

Klitschko's punch came in the final second of the first-round, after Solis hit him on the chin with a right.

"It was definitely my knee," Solis said, also in the ring.

He hobbled with help back to his dressing room and was taken to a hospital to have his knee examined.

The sudden end stunned the crowd, which booed and whistled for a long time.

Solis, a former three-time world amateur champion, fell to his first defeat in 18 professional fights.

The 39-year-old Klitschko improved to 42-2.