By William Mackay: IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KO’s) doesn’t give much thought to his legacy, and sees this as something that will only be decided after he retires from boxing and not before then while he’s still fighting. Klitschko, 34, has taken a lot of heat for facing flawed opponents through much of his career.

Wladimir has been beaten several times by the few good fighters that he took on. Of that three (Ross Puritty, Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster), Wladimir only sought revenge against Brewster, beating him by a 6th round stoppage in 2007 after losing by a 5th round TKO in 2004. In an article at thesun.co.uk, Wladimir says “Generally, people get more respect after they are done. I will just continue my career and whoever is in front of me, I will conquer. I’m the one in the ring and I don’t care what people say. I only care about my title, my performance and the challenge I’m facing. Whatever other people might think of me is secondary.”

Wladimir doesn’t have anything to be ashamed of. He’s beaten everyone that’s been put in front of him for the most part. Of the two fighters that Wladimir didn’t seek revenge against, he had his brother Vitali Klitschko beat up and take out Sanders and Puritty in one-sided fights. Wladimir defeated Chris Byrd in 2000 after he had beaten Vitali in a 9th round stoppage in April 2000.

Wladimir is fighting unbeaten Dereck Chisora (14-0, 9 KO’s) on December 11th, a fight in which Wladimir has received a lot of criticism for because of Chisora’s lack experience and lack of talent. Boxing fans want to see Wladimir face fighters like WBA heavyweight champion David Haye.

Unfortunately, Wladimir has tried numerous times to get a fight with Haye, but the British fighter appears to be more interested in taking safe fights rather than risking everything against Wladimir and getting knocked out again.