By James Hardiman: After reading a few articles recently that suggest World Boxing Council (WBC) Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko (43-2-40 KO’s) and younger brother Wladimir (56-3-49 KO’s) are cherry picking from the 2nd tier fighters, I cant help thinking that the champs are being unfairly criticized and it seems that the ‘Klitschko Curse’ has made a comeback.

I thought we had now got to the point where liked or un-liked, the Klitschko brothers had finally got the credit they deserve but it seems there is still a lot of skeptical writers and fans who fail to recognize the brothers as the great champions they are. Recently, both the Klitschko’s have taken alot of stick from writers over the upcoming opponents they will be facing in early 2012. Wladimir will be facing former Cruiserweight Champion Jean Marc Mormeck (36-4-22 KO’s) on March 3rd in Dusseldorf whilst in February, Vitali will be taking on former British champion Dereck Chisora (15-2-10 KO’s) in Munich. I would agree with most that neither Mormeck or Chisora should cause either brother many problems, particularly Mormeck who has struggled badly since making the short trip up to Heavyweight and I agree there is a lot better fighters in the division then the two but did Wladimir or Vitali really have many other options?

World Boxing Association (WBA) Regular Champion Alexander Povetkin (23-0-16 KO’s), as everyone knows, will not be let within a country mile of the Klitschko’s by trainer Teddy Atlas who has openly admitted that Povetkin is no where near ready to take on either brother. Povetkin is regarded by many as the next best fighter in the division so if he isn’t ready for the fight, what other top fighters will be? Chris Arreola (34-2-29 KO’s) seems to have kept the weight down and has fought well in trying to build himself up for another title shot. However Vitali has already beaten Arreola up and im pretty sure Arreola would want at least one more fight before he feels ready to climb back in the ring with the champion. Former Light Heavy & Cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek (44-2-28 KO’s) was overmatched on a titanic scale in his brutal one sided loss to Vitali back in September and showed nothing to suggest that he deserves a rematch. British champion Tyson Fury (17-0-12 KO’s) has talked about potentially fighting Wladimir at some point but I think he’s just trying to hype himself up to the media and believe he has no real intention of jumping in the ring with the Steelhammer any time soon as he isn’t anywhere near good enough to beat him.

There are plenty of others. Money grabbing former WBA champion David Haye (25-2-23 KO’s) and European Champion Robert Helenius (17-0-11 KO’s) are even less deserving of a title shot then Mormeck and Chisora. The ‘Retired’ Haye has done absolutely nothing to justify another go at it, retiring after his one sided loss to Wladimir back in July and now using his lovely way of words and winning personality as his only bargaining chip in trying to get Vitali to fight him, refusing to work his way back up by fighting. As for Helenius, every single person with 20/20 vision who watched his fight with Chisora earlier this month knows that he lost so how can people say he’s more deserving of shot against Vitali then Chisora is? So when you look at it like that, the Klitschko Brothers have no real options other then to comb through the ranks for fringe contenders seeking a payday to tune up against. Also, for the record, I think Chisora will make a decent go of it. I still have him losing by late KO or lopsided decision but I think he will come to fight and not to dance like Haye did against Wladimir.

What really bothers me about the whole Klitschko thing is the way a lot of writers and fans have hyped up certain fighters before they step in the ring with a Klitschko only to be discarded like sweet wrappers once they have been blasted out, Labeled as fodder and bums, the Klitschko’s never receiving any credit for their victories and the fight itself called ‘Boring’. Maybe some of their fights are boring but is it their fault everyone runs away from them the minute the first bell goes? They are the ones who are always engaging. The last person to stand and trade with Vitali was South African Southpaw Corrie Sanders and that was a classic bout in my opinion.

I cant help thinking if these two brothers were American or even British, they would be regarded as the greatest ever.