Matthew Macklin: Middleweight stopped in world title eliminator

Matthew Macklin's defeat by Jorge Sebastian Heiland was the sixth loss of his career

Matthew Macklin was knocked out by Jorge Sebastian Heiland in the 10th round of their WBC world title eliminator in Dublin.

The Birmingham-based Irishman trailed on points when he was floored by a right hook from his Argentine foe.

"I'd been tiring for the three or four rounds before that," said Macklin, 32.

Meanwhile, IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko completed a 17th consecutive title defence as he knocked out Kubrat Pulev in round five.

The 38-year-old Ukrainian floored his Bulgarian opponent twice in the opening round and again in the third.

The stoppage came in round five as Klitschko extended his record to 63-3 with the 53rd knockout of his career.

Defeat for Pulev was his first in 21 fights.

Wladimir Klitschko is eight title defences adrift of Joe Louis's record of 25

Heiland, meanwhile, will now get a shot at the WBC world title, held by Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.

The 27-year-old was due to fight Macklin in August, but the bout was cancelled after Macklin's trainer Jamie Moore was shot twice in the legs in Spain.

Macklin has now failed in three world-title attempts - against Felix Sturm,Sergio Martinez and Gennady Golovkin.

"I can't take anything away from Heiland, he fought a good fight and upped it at the right time," he said.

"I'll have to look at the performance and see where we go from here. I'm not going to make hasty decisions, I feel that at my best, I'm still world class."