Vitali Klitschko vs. Valuev next?
January 13th, 2010
By Chris Williams: According to news from Sports.ru, World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KO’s) could be facing former WBA heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev (50-2, 34 KO’s) in his next title defense. This is a fight that will be a popular one in Europe, where the 36-year-old Valuev remains a popular fighter of sorts. This isn’t the huge mega fight that the 38-year-old Vitali Klitschko was looking for, however.
The Valuev bout for Klitschko, if it does get made, would be the equivalent of a stay busy fight for Vitali. The 7-foot 320 pound Valuev has zero power and is incredibly slow for a heavyweight. Klitschko should have little problems battering Valuev into submission unlike Haye, who fought tentatively for most of the 12 round fight against Valuev in November. Haye won that fight by a 12 round majority decision, but averaged little better than 10 punches thrown per round. Klitschko will likely throw that many punches in the first 30 seconds of every round.
Klitschko looked slow and methodical in his last fight with American Kevin Johnson, beating him by a lopsided 12 round decision in December. Johnson spent the entire fight lying against the ropes, covering up and throwing an occasional jab at Vitali. Johnson had the better hand speed of the two, but it didn’t matter. Vitali was still able to dominate him without any problems.
But the fight did show that Klitschko is starting to slow down and lose some of his hand speed. He was never quick to begin with, but he’s clearly starting to lose even more hand speed in the past year since his comeback Samuel Peter in October 2008. However, Klitschko probably doesn’t need hand speed to beat Haye or any of the other heavyweights in the division. There’s really no one talented enough to beat Vitali other than perhaps his younger brother Wladimir Klitschko, the IBF/WBO heavyweight champion.
It would be interesting to see the 6’7” Vitali in the ring with the 7-foot Valuev, if only to see two monstrous heavyweights going at it. Both of them would look incredibly slow, but I can’t imagine that Valuev would be able to stand up to Klitschko’s big shots. Valuev couldn’t play the rope-a-dope like Johnson did for 12 rounds because of his huge size, and Valuev doesn’t move well enough to run from Vitali. I see this fight lasting four or maybe five rounds at the most before Vitali bludgeons Valuev to the canvas.
Valuev does well against smaller heavyweights that he can beat with his longer reach. Against a big heavyweight like Vitali with much better power, a great chin and the nerve to stand and trade, Valuev won’t be able to stay in there long without being knocked out. The one good thing that the fight will give fans is a contrast of how Vitali does against Valuev compared to Haye. I imagine that Vitali will look worlds better than Haye did.
Tags: 24 Responses to “Vitali Klitschko vs. Valuev next?”
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He wants to fight Nikolai because he knows he can win easy. But denies giving opportunity to boxers that deserve to fight him. eg.. David Haye, David Tua….. etc
Tua Tua Tua Tua Tua Tua Tua
to all;
I am not astonished, but saddened by the fact that the vast majority of African-American commentators will never acknowledge that TALENT comes in many colors, not just Black!! Even Caucasian Americans follow Black leadership in this area, brainwashed by the idea of Black Superiority, for that is what this is all about, make no mistake about it!
While Ali was great in his day, the MODERN fighter is bigger,smarter and stronger than fighters of old, and not influenced by the “Mouthy” rampages of many Black people that do not care whether they hurt anybody or not! Ali was the “MOUTH” of the 60′s and 70′s, relying a great deal on paralyzing the minds of his opponents! He even admits it himself!! The modern-day fighter would place their talent and strength against him any day! This fighter doesn’t back down, as most of the opponents of the 60′s and 70′s did! Ali detroyed the confidence of his opponents, but most present-day fighters laugh at that boxing component, and even rise-up to overcome that factor! Brainwashing is still around, but will never have the effect it once had!
Boxers of today know that one good punch will knock that pseudo confidence out of “Mouthy” boxers, many of whom believe that they are the greatest that ever lived, and just think that their so-called “Fearful” presence will carry them through! AND…as an example of the best spirit of great boxers, just consider George Foreman, who never had to convince anyone of anything! He is a humble man, yet he made mincemeat out of most fighters because of his talent…though his appearance was as menacing as anyone’s!! He was a role model, though people on the street are more influenced by the mouth, rather than the man’s ability, maybe because it makes tham feel all powerful! That is the pseudo confidence I am talking about! While “Presence” can present dertain opportunities, it can never do as much as hard work and talent..example, the Klitschko brothers, who would give anyone a hard time, past or present..
Thanks
@jim wtf are you talking about if this is what vitali opponents is lining up David Haye fought Valuev first you idiot david haye has fough no competition level compared to both klitschko’s David Haye was a paper champion that defended hes cruiserweight titles ONCE WOW CLAP CLAP TO THE PAPER CHAMPION Wladimir Klitschko has what defended hes titles like 12-13 times???
10 jabs a round each at most, this will be SO exciting to watch.
@ Niko.
Chagaev did not duck Valuev he wasn’t cleared by the WBA because of his Hepatitus infection. You can’t call that ducking then beïng hit by a train before the fight is too.
The Wlad fight wasn’t a problem because he was vaccinated against Hepatitus.
Hi Allahbless…
I thought the guy was a boxer from the old days or something, but the reason I problably never heart from him before is that I don’t watch MMA.
And maybe you’re right that the American media tries to cover up the real state of boxing, MMA and whatever but it wouldn’t affect me because I’m from Holland (Europe) and it’s even hard for me to see boxing matches in the States.
The great thing about living here that I never have to be biased because there’s no boxer here who can punch a hole in toiletpaper. The only thing we have here are top K1 fighters, so I do watch that (there are MMA guys who fight K1, so I’ve seen a few of them).
But thanks for the heads up. I know now I can’t find him @ boxrec, so I will look him up via Google or something.
to even class the klitchko sisters as great fighters you must be out your nut on high class drugs or your on there pay role! i think haye will beat both them but even if he cant i would rather watch a haye fight than watch they two robots infact i would rather sit on my own with the tooth ache than watch that nonsense. 2010 make haye and let the sun shine!
Can anybody tell me who the h*ll ‘Fedor’ is? Never heard of the lad.
In what era did he fight and what’s his first name?
Maybe a boxrec link would be nice.
ALLAHblessKLITSCHKO’s – America’s (and the rest of the world other than Ukraine and Germany)dislike of the Klitschko brother has less to do with race (they’re white by the way) and more to do with the fact that they’re too of the dullest and least charismatic heavyweight world champions ever. They’re slow and rely on their defense to jab their way to boring wins. I think Vitali can be considered possibly top fifteen all time best heavyweight (although he did lose to an out of his prime Lewis) but Wlad is nowhere near being up there with the best and has benefited from being the second best of an extremely poor era in heavyweight boxing. He’s very chinny and any of the real greats would have knocked him out.
Don’t see what Fedor has to do with any of this and personally I reckon Brock Lesnar would smash him if Fedor ever manned up and fought in the UFC.
sorry Rick your off the boil mush
Vitali Klitschko vs Valuev will be interesting from the stand point of two very large men going at it, otherwise this fight will lack any suspense or keep the fans on the edge of their seats. Vitali will KO Nick before the 12th.
As far as why “Ali” was referred to as the “greatest” this would be explained by the New York public relations types behind the fighter not because Ali was really the “greatest” except perhaps at being a very blatant racist repeatedly claiming white people in general as being demons and devils etc. Today most folks do not realize this side to the boxer “Ali”. This attidude of Ali`s made many wish for his defeat in the box ring.
Ali was talented but certainly not the greatest boxer. I truly believe the brothers would beat Ali and soundly at that.
It’ll be interesting to see two giants go at it. I can’t see Valuev having much of a chance. He was pathetic and slow against Haye who didn’t even really have to do much to win. Klit will clobber him. Given that Haye managed to rock Valuev late in the fight, I see Klit getting a TKO within 8 rounds. Even if Valuev’s head is supposedly made of granite. And damn, is he one ugly guy or what?
Greatest fighters since Fedor and Ali?? You cannot be serious!!
As time goes on the K brothers will go–but it will be from a good younger heaverweight not a stylist or a fighter with one attribute (power or good chin etc)
expect a shock everyone! this is the first opponent for vitali who is bigger then him, all klitschko does is use his superior size and reach, he wont be able to do that against the 7 foot monster. look out for a 9 round KO for valuev!
Haye will not fight either Klitschko in 2010. He is smart and knows he will lose badly. I wonder that if haye gets past Ruiz, if he will fight the winner of Chagaev/Meehan? I even doubt that.
BIG FAT YAAAAWWWWWNNNNN – Haye will rule the HW division, the giant eastern europeans will be wiped out soon enough… the klitschko jab-machines wont have enough at their tender ages!
Ah crap, just realized I read a chris williams article – shame on me!
We’ll see how legit haye is after getting in the ring with a klitschko, until then i dont know what he brings to the table.
As for this fight i dont see valuev having a chance in hell. I think he’ll last the 12 but it wont even be close.
@rick
haye moved up to heavyweight and vit tried to bend him over on the purse because he wasn’t a proven heavyweight.
now haye is a heavyweight champion. and while valuev may not be exciting, he’s a hard one to beat. and if my memory serves me, this site was full of people saying barrett would finish haye early!
funny how the tables turn when you dont get the outcome you were after.
The so called over the hill robot would KO Haye with one right cross. Vitali will also become the first fighter to stop Valuev and he will do a better job than Haye had done against him.
Boytsov, Tua, Povetkin and a few other fighters would stop Haye also. Haye should step up and fight some tough contender instead of weaker ones like Barrett and Valuev.
I think the fight would take longer than 5 rounds (maybe 8 to 10) but for the rest I rather agree with you Chris.
And I believe this is Vitali’s way of showing that he’s much better then Haye if the fight with the WBA strap holder never happens. If he wins easy, and I think he does he will clearly show that Valuev was only a champion because of the rediculous WBA rankings.
a Big Fat Oaf vs an over the hill robot jab machine
what a crap match. If this is the sort of opponents that Vitali is lining up. Then David Haye must thinking about wrapping this division up quite quickly
I hope to see this match………….it will be good chance for valuev to capture his first WAC title….after lost against haye