Klitschko stops Peter to reclaim WBC title belt

Vitali Klitschko reclaimed the WBC belt and fulfilled a self-proclaimed dream to hold a heavyweight title at the same time as his brother, stopping Samuel Peter with a technical knockout Saturday night in Berlin.

Peter chose not to come back out after eight rounds that saw him weaving and occasionally wobbling as Klitschko landed a persistent stream of heavy left jabs to Peter’s head in front of more than 12,000 people at the new O2 World Arena.

The 37-year-old Ukranian fighter (36-2, 35 KOs) used his height – he’s 6-foot-7 – and reach to keep Peter crouched and defensive.

Wladimir Klitschko, widely considered the most talented among the chaotic field of so-called heavyweight champions, holds the IBF, IBO and WBO heavyweight belts – and dealt Peter his only previous loss, in September 2005 in a 12-round unanimous decision.

Klitschko told reporters after the fight that he wouldn’t have needed much longer to deliver on a promise to end the fight by knockout.

“If Samuel Peter didn’t stop the fight, I have the feeling in the next two rounds, I would have knocked him out,” Klitschko said. “He got more and more punches, and his chin (was) not so strong as the first rounds.”

•Dawson wins light heavyweight title: At Las Vegas, Chad Dawson thoroughly dominated three-time champion Antonio Tarver and captured the IBF and IBO light heavyweight championships with a unanimous decision.

Triathlon

Alexander wins Ironman

Australia’s Craig Alexander rallied Saturday to win the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

The 35-year-old triathlete from Sydney completed the 140.6-mile endurance test in 8 hours, 17 minutes, 45 seconds.

He was 11th at the end of the 112-mile bicycle ride, but ran a strong marathon and moved into the lead around the 18-mile mark of the run.

Britain’s Chrissie Wellington won the women’s race, and her third straight Hawaii Ironman title, finishing in 9:06:23.

Golf

Sabbatini leads in Texas

South Africa’s Rory Sabbatini birdied the final hole for a 7-under-par 63 and a one-stroke lead over Zach Johnson in the Texas Open at San Antonio.

•Kim leads at Danville: In-Kyung Kim finished with a 3-under 69 to take a one-stroke lead over Angela Stanford at Blackhawk Country Club in Danville, Calif.

Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., shot a 71 and is in a four-way tie for 12th.

•Price makes his move: Nick Price moved into position for his first win on the Champions Tour, shooting a 66 to take a one-shot lead over D.A. Weibring after three rounds of the Senior Players Championship at Timonium, Md.

Tennis

Jankovic rallies to final

Top-ranked Jelena Jankovic rallied from a set down to cruise into the final of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow with a 0-6, 6-1, 6-0 victory over defending champion Elena Dementieva.

In her third straight final, the 23-year-old Serb will face Vera Zvonareva.

Marat Safin advanced to his second final at his hometown event when Misha Zverev withdrew because of illness.

•Nalbandian, Soderling advance: Top-seeded David Nalbandian and Robin Soderling routed their opponents to reach the Stockholm Open final.

NHL

Rangers score 4 in 1st

Nikolai Zherdev scored the first of four first-period goals, and the New York Rangers remained unbeaten with a 4-3 victory over the Flyers at Philadelphia.

•Franzen rallies Detroit: Johan Franzen scored two goals in the third period to rally the Detroit Red Wings to a 3-2 win over the Senators at Ottowa.

•Kopitar signs extension: Anze Kopitar has signed a seven-year extension with the Los Angeles Kings, putting the center under contract through the 2015-16 season.

Miscellany

Ueberroth criticizes IOC

Peter Ueberroth took a swipe at international officials critical of the money the U.S. Olympic Committee receives.

“Who pays the bill for the world Olympic movement?” Ueberroth said in his final speech as USOC chairman in Orlando, Fla. “Make no mistake about it. Starting in 1988, U.S. corporations have paid 60 percent of all the money, period. Be sure you all understand that. The rest of the world pays 40 percent. It’s pretty simple math.”

•Hamilton takes pole: McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton tightened his grip on the Formula One title, claiming the pole position for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Omaya, Japan.