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For boxing fans with serious sleeping problems, the unification
showdown between International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight
champion Wladimir Klitschko and World Boxing Organization (WBO)
counterpart Sultan Ibragimov on February 24 turned out to be just
what the doctor ordered.
Klitschko won by way of a 12-round snore-bore.
The 6’6”, 240-pound Ukrainian methodically jabbed his way to a
lopsided decision win over the smaller Ibragimov. So boring was the
fight that going into the final round, trainer Emanuel Steward tried
to convince Klitschko to go for a knockout despite the huge edge the
IBF champ enjoyed on the scorecards. “You have to knock him
out,” Steward was overheard telling Klitschko, “or this (fight)
is going to be bad.”
The Klitschko-Ibragimov tussle was the first
heavyweight unification fight since November 1999, when Lennox Lewis
defeated Evander Holyfield for the combined WBC, WBA and IBF jewels.
What was supposed to be a historic fight ended on a sour note and
virtually solidified the pathetic state of the heavyweight division
today.
The son of an air force general, Wladimir’s
interests outside boxing include the arts, languages (the guy speaks
four languages), music and literature. As an amateur boxer,
Klitschko won the gold medal as a super heavyweight in the 1996
Atlanta Olympics.
Klitschko turned pro in November 1996 and won
his first 24 paid contests. While he looked great early on,
Klitschko began to unravel in 1998 when he ran out of steam against
journeyman Ross Puritty and lost via an 11th round knockout. Numbing
knockout losses to Corrie Sanders (2003) and Lamon Brewster (2004)
had Klitschko earning the tag “damaged goods.”
Klitschko was able to rebound and win the IBF
title from light-hitting American Chris Byrd in April 2006. The win
over Ibragimov was actually Klitschko’s fourth successful defense
of the IBF title and gave him the fringe WBO crown as a bonus.
Klitschko, 50-3, 44 knockouts, offers a ramrod
jab, decent boxing ability, mammoth size and solid power in his
mitts. He has, however, a chin made of paper mache. In addition to
the knockout losses to Sanders and Brewster, Klitschko also kissed
the canvas three times before edging Nigerian bomber Samuel Peter in
September 2005. Against Ibragimov, Klitschko was so cautious of his
glass jaw that he refused to engage the former in prolonged
exchanges.
Klitschko may be the best heavyweight fighter
today, but it does not mean much as he reigns in a division stuffed
with mediocre champions and contenders.
Aggravating the already dire situation in the
heavyweight ranks is the dearth of quality American fighters. The
United States—which gave the world a succession of great
heavyweights—from Jack Dempsey to Muhammad Ali—has been shut out
from the division. While there had been occasions when an
“outsider” sat on the heavyweight throne (guys like Sweden’s
Ingemar Johansson and German Max Schmeling), for the most part the
heavyweight division had been dominated by American fighters.
Where have all the great American heavyweights
gone? Probably to the National Football League (NFL) and the World
Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Mike Tyson is already retired (well, at least
for now) while former champion Holyfield would be better off also
staying in the pasture despite going the distance against Ibragimov
last October. Another former American champion, Riddick Bowe, wants
the world to believe that he still has what it takes to become
champion. Considering that he is about 50 pounds heavier and some 10
years removed from his prime, the only crown Bowe is likely to win
these days is the Burger King plum.
“Wladimir, trust me, would never have had a
chance with Larry [Holmes] or with George [Foreman]. Muhammad [Ali],
forget about it,” mused noted promoter Bob Arum. “Any of the
real American heavyweights would’ve chased him out of the ring
because he is so fearful about his chin that he fights a very
defensive fight.”
Sadly, it appears we’re stuck with King
Glitchko, err Klitschko, for awhile. The next time the dude defends
his crown, I’m switching to the weather updates on CNN which
figures to be more exciting.
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For comments, the writer can be reached at atty_eduardo@
yahoo.com
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