Klitschko (right) had to work hard to hold on to his title

Vitali Klitschko retained his WBC heavyweight crown with a ninth-round stoppage of Juan Carlos Gomez of Cuba.

The Ukrainian, who quit in 2005 before returning to take the title last year, was made to work hard for his victory.

The 37-year-old Klitschko, who had a four inch height advantage over his opponent, inflicted a cut over Gomez's eye in the fourth.

In the seventh Gomez went down on his knees after a big right and he took more punishment before it was stopped.

"I knew Gomez very well and knew this was not going to be easy," said Klitschko, who now has 37 wins from 39 contests.

"After the sixth I became a bit impatient, but I knew he did not have much fuel after that. Now I want the one title that evades the Klitschko family."

The WBA heavyweight title, held by Russian Nikolay Valuev, is the only belt outside the Klitschko family, with Vitali's brother Wladimir the current holder of the WBO and IBF crowns.

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