(CNN) -- Vitali Klitschko retained his WBC world heavyweight boxing crown with a 10th round stoppage of Polish challenger Albert Sosnowski in Germany.
The 38-year-old Ukrainian was making the fourth defense of this version of the world title, but was made to work hard by the spirited Sosnowski, who is based in England.
He finally caught up with him in the 10th as a big right opened up a cut above the hopeful's right eye and sent him to the canvas with 29 seconds left in the round.
Klitschko, whose younger brother Wladimir holds the IBF and WBO heavyweight titles, said his next opponent was likely to be Britain's WBA champion David Haye or former champion Ruslan Chagaev.
Haye beat the giant Chagaev to take his title last year and a match-up against one of the Klitschko brothers is set to be a big box office draw.
Vitali's fight against European champion Sosnowski drew a good crowd to the Veltins Arena, home of Bundesliga football side Schalke 04, with both the Klitschkos popular in Germany.
