Klitschko vs. Sosnowski: Is Vitali cherry picking?
March 9th, 2010
By David Lahr: After failing at putting together a fight against 7-foot former World Boxing Association heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev, WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KO’s) has decided to take on number #13 ranked WBC heavyweight contender Albert Sosnowski (45-2-1, 27 KO’s) on May 29th, at the Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. This is the same arena that Vitali’s younger brother IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko successfully defended his two titles in last year in June, stopping Ruslan Chagaev in the 9th round in front of 61,000 fans.
For Vitali, this has got to be the worst opponent he’s had since he took on Danny Williams six years ago in 2004. Actually, I think Williams is even better than the 31-year-old Sosnowski. I don’t know why Vitali is choosing Sosnowski as an opponent unless Vitali is just trying to get an easy payday without risking getting hurt. To be sure, Vitali looked old and slow in his last fight, a one-sided 12 round decision over previously unbeaten Kevin Johnson in December, but Vitali can surely do better than Sosnowski.
I don’t think I’m the only that feels this way. Sosnowski was beaten two years ago by journeyman Zuri Lawrence in an eight round decision loss. And Sosnowski has looked dreadful in fights against Danny Williams, Francesco Pianeta, and Paolo Vidoz. Those fighters just happen to be the best fighters that Sosnowski has faced during his 12 year pro career.
To say that Sosnowski has a padded record would be too kind. The guy’s record is almost entirely padded, and I don’t see how he’s even ranked in the top 15. He’s slow, not particularly power, telegraphs his punches badly, wide open on defense, short at 6’2” and slow of foot. His hand speed is about as slow as Vitali’s, but he doesn’t have the size or power that makes Vitali effective as a fighter.
HBO and ESPN obviously probably won’t be wasting their time showing the Klitschko-Sosnowski fight. There’s nothing to show. No one has ever heard of Sosnowski, and it’s a fight that is almost guaranteed to be a one-sided win for Vitali. But I’m frankly surprised that Klitschko has decided to cherry pick for an opponent like this when there are many betters available like Odlanier Solis, Denis Boystsov or Tony Thompson.
Anyone of those three would be a lot better options than Sosnowski in my view. Who knows? Maybe Vitali is afraid of getting beaten after looking so bad against Kevin Johnson in his last fight. Klitschko can’t afford to get beaten at this point because he’s nearing the end of his career and is trying to get a huge golden parachute fight against David Haye later on this year.
Tags: 32 Responses to “Klitschko vs. Sosnowski: Is Vitali cherry picking?”
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I hate the K brothers style is boring and leaves no wonder why people are flocking to watch the UFC and MMA we need quality proper boxers to breath fresh life into this sport, we need a Tszyu!
I’m not too keen on the Sosnowski fight at all, Klitschko should be fighting Haye – now that would be something i’d pull my wallet out for.
Hopefully Klitschko can still make this an entertaining fight.
Sosnowski only has a chance if he can get on the inside – but then judging by his physique, he definitely looks like he prepared himself for this strategy.
Brisbane Boxing
Well no more cherry pick,n .I believe he was just paying back haye, for his pick. At least Vitali has #3 ranked.
I think vitali is looking to stay in shape and take haye at the end of the year.in his last fight he did’nt k.o johnson,as the guy was in defence mode and was hard to reach as his head was buried in a cavern of muscle,very hard to hit especially when the guy had longer reach by 5-6 inches(incredable) very difficult to fight.Vitali is not stupid-he has dodged no-one! he has a plan so lets see what unfolds.maybe he’d rather albert has a payday and not audley.everone waits for vitali to get old then ask to fight him!
Hey guys give him a chance ! Sosnowski,what if Sosnowski will suprise us ? Sosnowski has nothing to lose. He will fight like a beast! Life chance ! Seems easy for Vitali, but one punch, one move, can change everything… especialy for Sosnowski.
Sosnowski, doesn’t stand much of a chance of beating Vitali but I think he stands a much better chance than Haye or Valuev would have. Why aren’t all these guys like Povetkin, Haye, Arreola, Chambers and so on fighting each other to earn a shot at the championship.
Your right to say Denis Boystov should have been given the slot to fight Vitali for the belt, he’s much higher up the rankings and a stronger puncher. From what I’ve seen of Sosnowski he’s a brawler, keeps in great shape though as he likes to outwork his opponent and gain points victories. He has a great knockout victory over Danny Williams, not very skillful and his record consists of mostly journeymen no real contenders. Vitali is already touted by many as a clear favourite, but I think Sosnowski’s work rate could spring a surprise as long as he doesn’t leave himself open he’s got a punchers chance.
Sosnowski having more experience then Vitali Klitschko…??!!
GIVE ME A BREAK “Boxing Fan” not even a Full Time Drug Adict
could say something like that….!
Fact is:
- Vitali is 6 Time Kick-Box World Champion
- Vitali is X-time Russion (Soviet) Army Heavyweigt Champion
- Vitali is 3 times World Heavyweight Champion
- Vitali has beaten all the big names
- and so on and so forth
Sosnowski is just a common “Disco Banger” without Tatoos
Get some help and consulting about Boxing !
In my opinion its a great challenge for Albert Sosnowski. I wish he will do all his best. He has more experience than Vitalij, of course, Albert hasn’t beaten with so called top ten punchers till now.
As we know, in the heavyweight everything is possible!
I am gonna watch it for sure!
denis and tony thompson and just as much nobodies as sosnowski
The author of text is ignorant of no knowledge of boxing. How he can say Danny Williams is better then Sosnowski. In fact he loose with him by KO.
I love Vitali but godd*mn this is disappointing! I realize most decent opponents are tied up with other engagements but there are a few quality people he could have gotten. Personally, he just should have paid Valuev the money and made the fight. Even by giving Valuev a bigger purse Vitali still would have made more money with that fight, it would have been huge in Europe and Russia. But oh well, we’ll have to settle for another bum. And I mean BUM. Disappointing…
David Lahr jesteś pedałem ktory w ogole sie nie zna na boksie,dziennikarzyk pajacyk ,ruchaja cie w dupe i wszyscy to wiemy
I have to say I am surprised that Vitali is being ridiculed for his choice of opponent, I am not a fan of the Klitchko brothers style of boxing {although I think they are on a hiding to nothing becouse the heavy weight division is quite poor at the moment} I thought his toughest test was going to be Chris Arreola, I don’t think it was! but that is easy to say in hindsight and as for Vitali taking an easy option I do just feel he is keeping busy with David Haye in mind! and that is why he wanted the Valuev fight originally to try and send Haye a message if he could do it better!!
I think Tua is suitable for you Vitali on May 29th.
has any thought that vk picked this fight to stop harrison getting a shot as much as i hate to say it cuz i dont like harrison but hes there styles are very ,much the same and could go to a desicon so if vk took the pole away form harrison so that harrison didnt get a shot so vk would be safe form harrison like i said i dont like to say it cuz i dont like harrison but to me that makes sense
SOS-nowski is not top ten material but he will give box fans an entertaining fight, unlike the lily-livered K. Johnson before him.
However, fact is Vitali is still waiting, waiting to get his gloves on a certain unpleasant foul mouthed boxer out of London town. When this day in the ring comes about it could be the day of settling of scores.
vitali like him lots but surely he has to fight tua be fore it really is to late
Vitali will fight who stands in front of him. The man is just keeping busy. TKO by Vitali after a lot of punishment.
I’m a fan of the Klitschkos, and this is disappointing to say the least! Give Povetkin the overdue shot! Povetkin beat Chambers in an IBF “eliminator” over two years ago, and Chambers is getting the shot at Wlad before him. I know injuries have occurred and Chambers worked his way into the shot via the WBO, but still I think Povetkin would give up the shot (and his upcoming bout) vs. Wlad later to take an immediate shot at Vitali’s belt. I think he is way more deserving, it would be a better fight, and Vitali would be doing his brother a favor by removing another mandatorly defense! I know the heavyweight division doesn’t have much to offer in terms of challengers, but there are several fighters better than Sosnowski!
So who should he fight, Holyfield? Let’s face it there’s no one out there right now.
What is this garbage that they are trying to pass off as a fight???? This is a disgrace to boxing….
David Haye please save us soon and knockout both Klitchko brothers!!!!!!!
How can u say sosnowski is a stronger boxer and haye? Have u any boxing knowledge or just tryna be controversial?Hayes chin will always be suspect but his boxing ability ie (for people who may forget what that is) movement,handspeed,footwork,and backed up with serious punching power would blow this punk away. His fight against Valuev was boring but clever on hayes part and in the final round his power was there 2be seen. Klitschos have been boring this joke division for too long.At least with Haye its a breath of fresh air at least in the sense that he’s not going avoid anybody and look for easy defences!!
Are these people serious.
There should be regulations to prevent title holders fighting bums like this.
its a joke but lets be honest no one in the heavyweight devision is going to beat the klitschko brothers cause everyone in da devision is a fat bum.david haye david tua might have a punchers chance but i cant see it happening
Completely agree with this article. Vitali should be ashamed of fighting such a nobody. Sosnowsky was destroyed by journeyman Zuri Lawrence who inmediately after was KO’d by Jason Estrada, a known soft puncher.
I think Vitali realized in his last fight against Johnson he can’t KO a guy anymore, that’s why he announced this is his last year in the ring, and that’s why he’s now choosing such a soft opponent.
Later this year he’ll play catch and run with Haye, offer him another ridiculous contract on which Haye has to sell his soul to the devil, claim he is ducking him, and happily retire afterwards…
what a shame.
that`s a joke!!
tony thompson hahahahahahahaha
not cherry picking…but no top boxer is going to agree to their lop sided terms.
its pathetic, the klits have killed off the h/w division with their business attitude and lack of desire to make competitive fights. the division as a whole is in trouble but whose next audley harrison?
its pathetic, the klits have killed heavy weight boxing.