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Klitschko: Champion of Champions

He might not be the most entertaining boxer like Mohammed Ali. He might not even be the fighter with the strongest punch like Mike Tyson. But Wladimir Klitschko sure is one the smartest boxers who ever stepped into a ring and since February 23, 2008 he is the single boxing heavyweight champion of the IBF, WBO and IBO (three of the world's leading boxing federations) as well.

Wladimir is a great champion. But what makes him stand out? A „champion of champions“ is not supposed to be booed in front of a crowd of 14,011 filled with Russian Fans of his oponent Sultan Ibragimov grumbling and jeering during the frequent stretches of inaction.

Klitschko proved to his critics and to the audience at Madison Square Garden that he is a smart, tactical and social boxer. These are skills that he learned during past matches in Germany. His profound knowledge and the ability to analyze his oponent during a fight gives him the essential advantage to win the first unification bout in nearly 9 years.
Klitschko (50-3, 44 KOs), the chess-playing Ph.D. from a famous Ukrainian family of fighters used physics and simple geometry to remove nearly all risk from his meeting with Ibragimov, the previously unbeaten Russian underdog. With little more than an insistent jab, the 6-foot-7 Klitschko who is at least a half-foot taller and 20 pounds heavier than Sultan Ibragimov slapped and herded the Russian around the ring.
"He was very difficult to fight," Klitschko said. "He kept backing off. He's very careful, but the result counts."

Ibragimov (22-1-1) constantly strained to launch punches too small and slow to find their mark and Klitschko appeared fresh and mostly unaffected at the final bell. Klitschko is determined to bring order to boxing's tarnished former glory by winning every major title. He appeared capable of the task in the most significant heavyweight fight in several years, winning his eighth straight bout and asserting his predominance atop a division that has lacked an eminent champion since Lennox Lewis' retirement.
From the opening round, Klitschko used his long left arm to slap down Ibragimov's jabs with a patronizing ease. Klitschko also repeatedly stepped on Ibragimov's lead foot further nullifying the smaller fighter's hopes of getting inside Klitschko's incredible reach.
Klitschko nearly dominated every round but did little significant damage until round eight when he staggered Ibragimov with a big left hook. Ibragimov slipped onto the canvas later in the same round, and Klitschko battered Ibragimov into the ropes early in round nine.
To the crowd, who just witnessed a bloody street fight alike box bouts with the heavily cheered Irish man John Duddy defeating Walid Smichet, the main event was somehow frustating. No blood, no blindfold exchange of blows. Duddy (Middleweight) who looked terribly beaten and had serious cuts on his face afterwards. The people loved his performance though, because he delivered a great show as well as a lot of blood, but he can not be considered a „good boxer“. John Duddy is a perfect example of a fighter whereas Klitschko is more of a „chess player“, a technically almost perfect boxer.

Klitschko gave a mature performance and after twelve rounds was anounced unanimously the winner by all three Judges.
The audience may have liked to see a more entertaining unification boxfight but nevertheless, you have to admit, that nowadays there is no better boxer than Wladimir Klitschko. He is a decent and thoughtful person who even collected 500.000 USD for a social project in the Bronx to keep youngsters away from the streets and get them more interested into sports. And he derserves to be respected for what he is: The Champion of Champions.

Article by Tobias Göhr

February 26, 2008