By Dave Lahr: WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KO’s) has been able to extend his career due to his superior size compared to other heavyweights in the division. With his hand speed, movement, punch output and reflexes having deteriorated badly in the past two years, Vitali has been able to continue to find success based on his huge size alone. In choosing the huge 6’4” 260 pound former WBO heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs (51-5-1, 45 KO’s) to fight, Vitali has made a calculated mistake that he’s going to be sorry for on October 16th when he meets up with Briggs at the World Arena, in Hamburg, Germany.
Briggs is only a few inches shorter than Vitali, but is blessed with a long reach that is identical to Vitali’s. But the difference the two of them is the hand speed, power and athleticism that Briggs has going for him compared to the painfully slow and awkward Vitali. Briggs is the much better athlete and has far superior hand speed and power.
Vitali used to be able to punch hard at times when he was younger, but in losing a lot of hand speed through age, Vitali has lost a lot of power along with it. Vitali is now a fighter who is probably punching at around 80% what he used, but his loss of hand speed makes it nearly impossible for him to land his power shots.
This is perhaps why Vitali is trying to milk his World Boxing Council title against fighters that he thinks he can easily beat. Up until now, Vitali has been pretty successful in selecting his mediocre opposition. But Vitali has made a huge mistake in picking a fighter that he thinks no longer has it, because is still very much alive.
Sure, he’s been in hibernation mode but it’s been more of a case of suspended animation rather than someone who has been wasting away through age and inactivity. Briggs is going to open Vitali’s eyes and then shut them on October 16th when he knocks Vitali out in front of a huge shocked German crowd in Hamburg.
Vitali’s not going to know what hit him when Briggs tags him with a big left hook and right hand to the head. I see Vitali falling like a big tree on the canvas and making a huge thud. They better bring a medical team and a good sturdy stretcher because they’re going to need one that can support Vitali’s weight.
Comments are closed.