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.

Many of those fans purchased tickets thinking they were going to see Wladimir take on British heavyweight David Haye. Instead, they had to sit through a dull mismatch involving a short 6’1” Chagaev getting his ears boxed off by Wladimir for nine rounds. I don’t know if the German fans are gluttons for punishment, but some people might think so if they purchase tickets in droves to see the 38-year-old Vitali Klitschko fight Sosnowski on May 29th.

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.