Vitali Klitschko had no problems retaining his WBC heavyweight title against Cuban-born Juan Carlos Gomez on Saturday in Germany. (Winfried Rothermel/Associated Press)

Vitali Klitschko on Saturday scored a second straight ninth-round stoppage win since resuming his boxing career after an absence of nearly four years.

Klitschko, 37, scored two knockdowns on the way to the victory over capable but overmatched challenger Juan Carlos Gomez in the bout at Badem, Germany.

Klitschko improved his record to 37-2 with 36 knockouts and retained his World Boxing Council heavyweight title.

The fight matched two men who were born elsewhere but have fought in Germany for most of their careers.

The Cuban-born Gomez, 35, caught Klitschko off balance with jabs and movement in the first round and tied up the six-foot-seven titleholder whenever possible.

Klitschko, who dominated Sam Peter in his comeback bout in October, got untracked in the second, landing some solid right hands.

The fighters often clashed heads on the inside, with the six-foot-three Gomez nicked over the eye and Klitschko suffering a cut on his hairline.

Klitschko, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in Kiev, Ukraine during his ring absence, began to slowly exert control in the bout by utilizing his superior reach advantage.

Blistering right hand

After looking a bit fatigued in the sixth, Klitschko poured it on in the seventh, uncorking a blistering right hand that dropped Gomez.

The challenger got up but barely survived the round. He managed to stay out of trouble in the eighth, but early in the next round another flurry of punches put him on the canvas.

Gomez barely had his legs under him, and after the final salvo from Klitschko, turned his body to the side to avoid further damage as referee Daniel Van de Wiele of Belgium stopped the contest.

Klitschko had weighed in for the bout at just over 249 pounds, about 19 pounds heavier than his opponent.

Gomez (44-2, 35 KOs) is a former cruiserweight champion who had beaten the likes of former champion Oliver McCall and one-time Canadian Olympian David Defiagbon since moving up to the heavyweight division.

Klitschko left the fight game largely due to a series of injuries — including to his back and knee — but appeared as strong as ever.

Younger brother Wladimir Klitschko holds the International Boxing Federation heavyweight title. He is scheduled to fight in June, with possible opponents including brash Briton David Haye or undefeated Russian Alexander Povetkin .