Wladimir Klitschko knocks out Las Vegan Chris Byrd with a right hook 41 seconds into the seventh round of their IBF heavyweight championship fight Saturday in Berlin. Photo by The Associated Press. Wladimir Klitschko, left, celebrates with his brother, Vitali, after knocking out Las Vegan Chris Byrd in the seventh round to win the IBF heavyweight championship Saturday in Berlin. Byrd had made four successful defenses of the title, which he took from Evander Holyfield in 2002. Photo by The Associated Press.

BERLIN -- Wladimir Klitschko refused to let the rematch with Chris Byrd go the distance.

The Ukrainian stopped the Las Vegan in the seventh round of a one-sided fight Saturday to win the IBF heavyweight championship.

Klitschko's right hook finished the American 41 seconds into the round, the second time Byrd was floored in the fight.

The rematch was similar to their first encounter in October 2001. Byrd also lost that bout, though he survived two knockdowns on his way to losing a decision.

This time, Klitschko -- executing trainer Emanuel Steward's strategy flawlessly -- finished Byrd early. It began in the third round when Byrd, dropping his hands for a second, took two hard left-right combinations from the 6-foot-6-inch Klitschko that shook him up.

"It was like a musician playing notes," Klitschko said. "Everything we trained worked."

After the fight, Klitschko first went to speak to his beaten rival, then to Byrd's trainer and father, Joe.

"He should be proud -- I have never seen anybody take that much punishment and come back," Klitschko said. "They are a great family."

In the fifth round, Byrd climbed to his feet after being knocked down, then withstood a barrage of shots. He took a beating for more than a minute as 14,500 spectators roared until Klitschko backed off. Byrd waved his gloves at Klitschko, telling his opponent to come at him.

"He's a fighter with a big, big heart," Klitschko said. "But he provoked me."

Byrd, 35, had made four successful defenses of the belt he won from Evander Holyfield in 2002. Byrd was the longest reigning of the four heavyweight champions.

"I never hit him, not the way he hit me," Byrd said. "I was just so pumped up for the fight, it got the better of me. If I had to do it again, I would go in there with a different strategy, but Wladimir will be hard to beat. He is very talented for a big man."

Byrd (39-3-1, 20 knockouts) said he will have to decide if he wants to continue his career. He was taken to a hospital after a post-fight news conference for X-rays on his swollen face.

"I will talk to the wife," he said. "I enjoy this a lot, of course not when you're pounded like that."

Klitschko (46-3, 41 KOs) has resurrected his career. After being knocked out by Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster, Klitschko started his comeback by beating favored Nigerian Samuel Peter in October.

It is very important to know both sides," said Klitschko, 30. "I enjoyed a lot of success in my early years, then ... the tough years."

Byrd acknowledged that Steward, who has trained more than 30 world champions, put together a smart plan for Klitschko. During the first fight, the Ukrainian used his six-inch height advantage and jabbed from outside until Byrd's eye swelled shut.

Since then, the 6-foot Byrd has beaten some big men such as Andrew Golota and Jameel McCline, and Steward had Klitschko use his left arm to keep Byrd off balance.

"Byrd didn't fight Wladimir, he fought his left arm. He never saw the rights coming," Steward said.