Fight fans eager for the emergence of a standout American heavyweight in Cristobal Arreola will need to continue their wait or search for another fighter.

Arreola was tabbed as the latest American hope to end the stranglehold of heavyweight titles by Eastern European fighters, notably Ukraine-born brothers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko.

Instead of an American heavyweight revival, division supremacy now is on even stronger footing overseas. Vitali Klitschko denied Arreola's title dreams with a technical knockout victory in their title fight late Saturday in Los Angeles.

Reminiscent of Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s convincing victory over Juan Manuel Marquez a week earlier, Klitschko frustrated Arreola with an assortment of punches. Successfully maintaining distance and neutralizing Arreola's attempt at pressuring from closer range, Klitschko scored with lead left jabs, straight rights and left and right hooks.

The punch buildup and a bloodied Arreola's inability to mount a comeback forced Arreola's trainer, Henry Ramirez, to stop the fight at the end of the 10th round.

``I have great respect for him,'' Klitschko said of Arreola. ``He took a lot of tough shots. After a few right hooks, many of my opponents go to the floor.''

With the victory, Klitschko (38-2, 37 KOs) successfully defended his World Boxing Council title. Wladimir Klitschko, a part-time Hollywood resident, holds two other sanctioning body titles. Russia's Nicolay Valuev has the fourth major belt.

BITTER DEFEAT

Arreola (27-1) sobbed after the fight, disappointed at his inability in returning a world title to the United States and becoming the first Mexican-American to win a heavyweight belt.

``Vitali is a strong [expletive]; he hits hard,'' Arreola said. ``I never wanted to quit; that's not in me. I wanted to go 12 rounds.

``I couldn't get to him. Whatever I did, he found a way to counteract that. He found a way to win, and I found a way to lose.''

MAYORGA TO MMA?

Ricardo Mayorga is not finished boxing, but he intends to expand his options.

Mayorga, a two-time world champion, said last week that he will pursue a career in mixed martial arts. Mayorga is in a legal dispute with his promoter, Don King, and he seeks a clearance from his boxing contract to fight elsewhere.

``I have followed MMA all my life, and I have always wanted to do it,'' Mayorga said. ``I believe I can make the transition without a problem.''

Mayorga, 35, believes he can adapt to a new sport despite a lack of training and experience. The native of Nicaragua said he has trained five times inside an octagon but will make the adjustment once his legal issues are resolved.

``I am a fighter by nature. I learned to fight on the streets of Nicaragua before I learned to box,'' Mayorga said. ``The idea of using smaller gloves also has me very anxious to try it.''

Mayorga said he eventually would combine boxing and MMA careers. A former welterweight and super-welterweight champion, Mayorga has not fought since his 12th-round knockout loss to Shane Mosley in September 2008.

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