Klitschko: Will he lose again?

By Nationvegas - 08/14/2013 - Comments

wladimir4By Rusty Nate: The 10th of April 2004 was the date that Wladimir Klitschko last tasted the bitterness of defeat by way of a 5th round KO to Lamon Brewster in the bright lights of Las Vegas.

That was nearly 10 years ago now. Since that faithful night, when Wladimir was apparently advised by big brother Vitali to quit the sport because “your career is over”, Wladimir has amassed a long list of 18 uninterrupted victories over every fighter that has had the guts to stand in the ring with him. He has rarely been in a fight that looked like he could even come close to losing.

Every “big” fight he has had, usually billed as the next big test at heavyweight has simply drifted by him as another convincing victory with very little problems to the king of the division.

My questions are…

Who does Wladimir fight after he beats Povetkin by late stoppage or land slide points victory in October?

Will Wladimir simply see out his 10 year undefeated reign as undisputed champion or will he go to far?

So firstly I believe that the big showdown between Wladimir and Povetkin will infact go the same way as most of Klitschko’s previous opponents in the last 10 years. He will dominate behind the awesome jab and right hand he has developed and see out a massive land slide points win or possibly manage to break Povetkin down to a last stoppage, maybe around the 9th onwards. Povetkin is a good fighter and of course has the punchers chance, especially against Klitchko who we have seen is vulnerable to a big punch, if he can find his chin. This is a HUGE “IF” . There have been many fighters in the position Povetkin is in right now that all had big punches that could trouble Wladimir, the problem is we have been saying this for 10 years and for 10 years Wladimir has been proving over and over again that he is incredibly difficult to hit these days. Povetikin I dont think has the reach to land at long range against Klitschko and this means he has to get close. He has to get past the jab and the short right hooks that Klitchko will be defending with and that means, he takes a lot of punishment. I just don’t see him being able to handle the power for 12 long rounds.

What Wladimir does next? the 3 loudest names spring to mind first because of their social media antics more than anything. But lets look at them all…

Another fight with Haye? Regardless of what fans think this would make good money especially if Wlad comes to the UK for the fight.

A fight against Fury if he can pull off the impossible against Haye? This is another big money maker for Wlad and would probably be a reletively easy win. Fury doesnt have the footwork or the hand speed to trouble Wlad’s defense and I am sure he will stop Fury.

Its strange for me to say it and I promise you that I am not Gilfoid in disguise but Deontay Wilder is knocking on the door and poses probably the biggest challenge with more reach, power and sheer size than any other heavyweight at the moment BUT he lacks top class experience and at this stage I am sure Wladimir knows far too much for Wilder to be competitive, maybe in 18 months if Wilder starts to step up the competition and proves he can live with the guys at the top of the tree.

We then have the rest of them…Kubrat Pulev is an unbeaten good prospect but again experience in top class hard fights is a problem.

Ustinov is a big guy but slow and again failed in his 28th fight against the previously mentioned Pulev.

Chris Arreola has been there and failed at top class level.

Solis is a possible opponent, if we give him the benefit of the doubt in his leg injury loss to Vitali then maybe he is good enough to be competitive.

Tony Thompson again? he seems to have had a good couple of fights and is on a morale high so maybe, but I don’t think the outcome would be any different.

Manuel Charr, who showed a fighting heart against Vitali being stopped on cuts but not much skill, movement or speed and against the faster, better boxer of the two Klitschko’s Id see him being schooled and stopped again.

Ruslan Chagaev, Jonathan Banks, Malik Scott, Robert Helnius etc etc

I Dont’ think I have listed one fighter, besides possibly Wilder in a few more fights time (if he steps up the competition), that would have huge interest in the boxing world or that would pose a real test or threat to Wladimir’s crown as the most dominant heavyweight of the current era yet I have listed most of them. Is there or will there be anyone with a chance of beating Wladimir before his amazing 10 year milestone as champion is achieved? Personally I don’t think so.

I foresee Wlad fighting for the next 18-months to 2 years, beating probably 3-4 of the guys I have listed and then retiring at the top of the tree. He really has done well since that night in 2004 that questioned his ability to ever be the best in the world. He has overcome his weakness’ in the ring and established himself as a great roll model for the sport and a champion who has fought and beaten everyone he possibly could have.



Comments are closed.