by Dave Lahr: WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KO’s) looked as slow as molasses in the media workout today in Frankfurt, Germany. Klitschko, 39, danced around the ring, with music playing and tons of reporters snapped photos and took video of it. But Klitschko’s foot movement and hand speed were totally missing. Vitali honestly looked like he was punching in slow motion as he flicked out painfully slow arm punches. That’s pretty much all Vitali threw was arm punches as he danced to the music and frolicked around. He threw punches for awhile at his trainer while was holding puncher’s mitts, but it was still mostly arm punches that Vitali was throwing.

Just from watching this workout, I can already see how Vitali is going to be fighting on Saturday night against the big punching Shannon Briggs (51-5-1, 45 KO’s). Vitali is going to be taking no chances whatsoever by trying to throw power shots. Instead, he’s going to be throwing short arm punches and looking to keep his head bent far back as possible to avoid getting hit by one of Briggs’ huge left hooks and right hands. Picture Vitali with his arms stretched out far in front of him with his head tilted as far back to avoid getting slugged.

Think of it as the ostrich defense by Vitali. It’s going to be ugly, and while it will save Vitali from getting hit as much he would be if he tried to actively engage with Briggs, it will still leave Vitali’s body open for any of Brigg’s huge body shots. I don’t think Vitali has planned for that. He’s going to be rolling out on the canvas when Briggs connects with one of his left hooks to the bread basket.

When it was Briggs turn to shadow box and move around the ring, he looked a lot faster than Vitali and much smoother, light on his feet and faster with his hands. Briggs looked like a world class athlete and showed some remarkable hand speed. He wasn’t just flicking arm punches out in front of him like Vitali. Briggs was loading up with fast power shots and looking downright dangerous. Briggs has got this fight in the bag. He’s going to make a lot of klitschko fans sad on Saturday night.