Can Klitschko Rule The Heavyweight Division For The Next Decade?

wladimir345533535.jpgBy Jim Dower: In a recent interview by trainer Emanuel Steward, he stated that he felt that IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (49-3, 44 KOs) could fight until into his 40s due to the lack of quality competition in the heavyweight division. In an article in yahoo sports section, Steward said this about Klitschko:

“Now I don’t see anything in the next three, four or five years, even in the amateur program. That’s a sad situation – and it means Wladimir can fight until he’s 40 as far I’m concerned.”

Indeed, Steward may have a point in that there are few quality heavyweights in the division aside from young Eastern European heavyweights Alexander Povetkin and Alexander Dimitrenko. In the case of Povetkin, he’s looked very beatable in his last two bouts against Chris Byrd and Eddie Chambers, and because of that, he doesn’t figure to be a threat to Wladimir in the near future or perhaps ever. Dimitrenko, a 6’7″ 250 lb fighter from Ukraine, has the size and skill to give Klitschko problems.

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Klitschko Ibragimov Notes

Alexa Ray Joel To Perform National Anthem: If there’s one surname synonymous with New York and music, it’s “Joel”. So it’s fitting that on the biggest night in boxing in the sport’s Mecca, Madison Square Garden, rising star Alexa Ray Joel will sing the National Anthem before the world heavyweight title unification bout between WBO Champion Sultan Ibragimov and IBF Champion Wladimir Klitschko on Saturday, February 23rd..

“Having Alexa Ray is a great addition to this historic event at the Garden,” said Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions.

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Ibragimov vs. Klitschko: Sizing Up Sultan & Wladimir

By Jim Slattengren: This Saturday night, IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (49-3, 44 KOs) will be attempting to unify the title when he goes up against WBO heavyweight champion Sultain Ibragimov (22-0-1, 17 KOs) in a 12-round bout at Madison Square Garden in New York. Not too many people are giving Ibragimov much of a shot in this one due to a variety of problems that are going against him such as his lack of size and power. Below, I’ve measured the two fighters out and gave my opinion of how they size up against each other.

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Ibragimov vs. Klitschko: Will A Win Over Sultan Bring Fame For Wladimir?

By Jim Dower: So far, IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (49-3, 44 KOs) has failed to ignite the interest of the fans as a whole, many who see him as a fighter with a questionable chin, and a soft resume littered with mostly unknown fighters. That’s likely not to change come February 23rd, when Klitschko meets up with WBO heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov (22-0-1, 17 KOs), who is a fighter mostly only known to boxing insiders. Through no fault of his own, Wladimir is fighting in a time that there are few appealing heavyweights with which for him to earn fame and carve out a name for himself.

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Klitschko-Ibragimov: Wladimir Stuck With Another Dull Opponent

wladimir-ibragimov35353.jpgBy Eric Schmidt: Much as International Boxing Federation heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko (49-3, 44 KOs) would like to have you believe that his fight with World Boxing Organization heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov (22-0-1, 17 KOs) on February 23rd is an appealing fight, I find it hard to buy into his way of thinking.

On paper it might be a vaguely interesting bout, only because of Ibragimov being an a still undefeated champion, but when you weight in all the other factors, like size difference, speed, power, level of competition fought, recent history, it comes out heavily on Wladimir’s side.

In point of fact, this fight has mismatch written all over it no matter how good Ibragimov’s inflated record may look. It seems as if Klitschko is taking this unification fight with the idea that he’ll be one step closer to proving conclusively that he is the top heavyweight in the division.

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Klitschko vs. Ibragimov Tickets Selling Out Fast!

In somewhat of a shocker, tickets for the heavyweight unification match between International Boxing Federation heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (49-3, 44 KOs) and World Boxing Organization heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov (21-0, 17 KOs), slated for February 23rd, at New York’s Madison Square Garden, is reportedly almost sold out, according to the latest boxing news. Up until recently, the fight had hardly generated a peep of interest, aside from the few fans of Klitschko and Ibragimov. However, for the average fan, this fight, up until now, has not been an appealing fight.

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Is Wladimir Klitschko Overlooking Ibragimov?

By Jim Slattengren: In recent interviews, International Boxing Federation heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (49-3, 44 KOs) has seemed confident about his chances for victory over undefeated World Boxing Organization heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov (21-0, 17 KOs) in their February 23rd bout at Madison Square Garden. There’s nothing wrong with being confident on oneself, but when it moves beyond that into an area of a fighter appearing smug, which I seem to have noticed in Klitschko, than it’s a problem.

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Wladimir Klitschko: Can He Be Beaten By Today’s Heavyweights?

wladimir1255771.jpgBy Chris Thomas: In looking around the heavyweight division, I’m having a hard time finding a heavyweight that has even a slight chance at beating International Boxing Federation heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (49-3, 44 KOs). Sure, there’s always a chance of a fighter like Samuel Peter or maybe Alexander Povetkin landing a lucky home run punch and knocking him out. However, I don’t see either of those fighters being able to really beat Klitschko, and if they did get a lucky KO, he would no doubt make adjustments and completely dominate either of them in a subsequent rematch that would quickly follow.

As of now, Wladimir is scheduled to fight WBO heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov on February 23rd, but Sultan doesn’t appear to have the style to beat him. Ibragimov fights mostly in a cautious style, which has helped him beat fighters like Shannon Briggs and Evander Holyfield. However, he rarely likes to mix it up, and instead comes in punching range lands fast shots and then gets away. Ibragimov also likes to counter punch, but I don’t see this working for him against Klitschko, since he doesn’t let shorter fighters like the 6’2″ Ibragimov get too many openings due to Klitschko’s style of fighting from the outside.

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Should Klitschko Face Peter-Maskaev Winner Rather Than Povetkin?

wladimir33322.jpgBy John Dower: After watching the new International Boxing Federation mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin (15-0, 11 KOs) struggle against American Eddie Chambers (30-1, 16 KOs) last Saturday night in Berlin, Germany, I’m starting to re-think the wisdom of IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (49-3, 44 KOs) of facing Povetkin when/if Wladimir defeats WBO heavyweight title holder Sultan Ibragimov next month on February 23rd. I’ve come to the conclusion that Povekin, 28, would be a mistake for Wladimir to fight, since Povetkin is clearly not ready for him, showing mostly average skills in struggling to beat Chambers, but worst of all, the fight will do nothing to enhance Klitschko’s reputation.

I see this fight going much like Wladimir’s 3rd round TKO destruction of an over-matched Ray Austin in March 2007. In fact, I think Austin might have the skills and size to beat Povetkin if they were to ever meet. A far better opponent than Povetkin, I think, would be for Klitschko to face the winner of WBC heavyweight champions Oleg Maskaev vs. Samuel Peter, a fight which takes place on March 8th. Most people safely assume that the winner of that bout with be Nigerian knockout artist Samuel Peter (29-1, 22 KOs), who Klitschko already defeated by an exciting 12-round unanimous decision in September 2005.

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Does Povetkin Have A Chance Against Klitschko?

Last night, Alexander Povetkin (15-0, 11 KOs) earned the right to be the mandatory for the International Boxing Federation title with his victory over Eddie Chambers. However, it’s still too early to tell whether it will be Wladimir Klitschko, the current IBF heavyweight champion, or Sultan Ibragimov, who Wladimir will be fighting on February 23rd at Madison Square Garden. Most people safely assume that it will be Klitschko, 31, who will be the winner of the fight, for he has all the factors in the fight in his favor – height, reach, power, skill and boxing ability.

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