Wladimir Klitschko completed his 17th consecutive title defence as he knocked out Kubrat Pulev inside five rounds in Hamburg on Saturday night. The IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion floored his opponent twice in the opening round and it looked like it could be a brief encounter in the opening stages. Pulev was on the floor again in the third but once again got to his feet before a huge left hook from Klitschko in the fifth handed the Bulgarian his first defeat in 21 fights and Klitschko extended his record to 63-3 with the 53rd knockout of his career. VIDEO Scroll down for a montage of action shots from the contest . Wladimir Klitschko dominated Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in their IBF heavyweight title fight in Hamburg . The Ukrainian retained his IBF world heavyweight title with a fifth-round victory in Germany . Klitschko put his Bulgarian opponent on the floor four times in five rounds in Hamburg . Pulev tested Klitschko with a stiff jab in the opening stages and the crowd were clearly behind him but the Ukrainian responded in brilliant fashion, flooring his opponent with a left hook to the chin. The Bulgarian got up off the floor but moments later he was down again, although it appeared to be a shove from Klitschko, and he rose again to make it through to the end of the round. Klitschko had the better of the second as Pulev kept his distance but the challenger appeared to have recovered before he was put down again in the third. The world champion flew out of the blocks and the writing was always on the wall for Pulev . Pulev was unbeaten in his 20 previous contests before being battered by Klitschko . A right hand staggered Pulev and it was the left hook again that sent him to the canvas with the durable 33-year-old once more getting back to his feet with a cut below the left eye. Pulev again appeared to recover and was trying to get inside in the fourth but he was not hurting Klitschko who appeared to be landing shots at will. And the biggest of all came with 49 seconds remaining in the fifth as Klitschko landed the best left hook of the lot and Pulev was sent sprawling to the canvas for the fourth and final time. The referee called an end to the contest in the fifth round after Pulev hit the canvas for a fourth time . The world champion is congratulated by his brother Vitali (right) as he celebrates his victory . Klitschko has won his last 21 contest in a row, a run that stretches more than a decade . The Ukrainian holds his arms aloft to the crowd after another successful world title defence .
Ukrainian retains his IBF world heavyweight title with routine victory .
Klitschko had Bulgarian on the floor twice in the first round in Hamburg .
Referee stopped fight in fifth round after Pulev was floored for fourth time .
Pulev suffered his first loss after 20 straight wins .
Wladimir Klitschko completed his 17th consecutive title defence as he knocked out Kubrat Pulev inside five rounds in Hamburg on Saturday night. The IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion floored his opponent twice in the opening round and it looked like it could be a brief encounter in the opening stages. Pulev was on the floor again in the third but once again got to his feet before a huge left hook from Klitschko in the fifth handed the Bulgarian his first defeat in 21 fights and Klitschko extended his record to 63-3 with the 53rd knockout of his career. VIDEO Scroll down for a montage of action shots from the contest . Wladimir Klitschko dominated Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in their IBF heavyweight title fight in Hamburg . The Ukrainian retained his IBF world heavyweight title with a fifth-round victory in Germany . Klitschko put his Bulgarian opponent on the floor four times in five rounds in Hamburg . Pulev tested Klitschko with a stiff jab in the opening stages and the crowd were clearly behind him but the Ukrainian responded in brilliant fashion, flooring his opponent with a left hook to the chin. The Bulgarian got up off the floor but moments later he was down again, although it appeared to be a shove from Klitschko, and he rose again to make it through to the end of the round. Klitschko had the better of the second as Pulev kept his distance but the challenger appeared to have recovered before he was put down again in the third. The world champion flew out of the blocks and the writing was always on the wall for Pulev . Pulev was unbeaten in his 20 previous contests before being battered by Klitschko . A right hand staggered Pulev and it was the left hook again that sent him to the canvas with the durable 33-year-old once more getting back to his feet with a cut below the left eye. Pulev again appeared to recover and was trying to get inside in the fourth but he was not hurting Klitschko who appeared to be landing shots at will. And the biggest of all came with 49 seconds remaining in the fifth as Klitschko landed the best left hook of the lot and Pulev was sent sprawling to the canvas for the fourth and final time. The referee called an end to the contest in the fifth round after Pulev hit the canvas for a fourth time . The world champion is congratulated by his brother Vitali (right) as he celebrates his victory . Klitschko has won his last 21 contest in a row, a run that stretches more than a decade . The Ukrainian holds his arms aloft to the crowd after another successful world title defence .
his opponent twice in the opening round and it opening stages. Pulev was on the floor again in the Bulgarian his first defeat in 21 fights and Pulev in their IBF heavyweight title fight in Hamburg . The Ukrainian retained his IBF world heavyweight title with a fifth-round victory in contest in the fifth round after Pulev hit the canvas for a fourth time . The world champion is