Wladimir Klitschko showed great restraint

By Boxing News - 02/28/2012 - Comments

Image: Wladimir Klitschko showed great restraintBy John F. McKenna (McJack): WBA/IBF/IBO/WBO and The Ring heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (56-3, 49 KO’s) has come under a considerable amount of criticism for not responding physically when challenger Derick Chisora (15-3, 9 KO’s) spit in his face prior to the title fight between Chisora and WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (44-2, 40 KO’s).

Chisora’s action of spitting in Wladimir’s face was undeniably a crude and despicable act. “Del-Boy” seemed to be in a self destructive mode during the events leading up to and after his match with Vitali. At the weigh in on Friday, February 17, the day before the fight Dereck gave “Dr. Ironfist” a hard slap. I must admit that when the news of the slap first surfaced, this writer thought it was part of the pre fight hype. After watching the video however it was evident that the slap had not been pre planned.

Spitting in a fighters face is a line that should never, ever be crossed, but Dereck for whatever reason crossed that line. Former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye has chimed in and criticized Wladimir for allowing Chisora to spit in his face without responding. Haye of course was involved in the now infamous brawl which took place at the post fight press conference.

It is my belief that Wladimir showed an amazing amount of restraint and intelligence in not responding physically to Chisora’s outrageous behavior. Think for a moment what the consequences could have been if “Dr. Steelhammer” had responded physically. It is not too far of a stretch to imagine a full scale brawl taking place in the ring between both the Klitschko and Chisora camps. In view of what happened at the press conference such a brawl seems likely.

It is also probable that at least one injury would have occurred. One can just imagine Chisora and Wladimir trading bombs with “Del-Boys” handlers and possibly Vitali getting into the act. Not a pretty site. It is also a distinct possibility that not just one fight would have been cancelled, but also Wladimir’s March 3 fight with Jean-Marc Mormeck.

One would expect Haye to make the comments he did. But his circumstances were entirely different from Wladimir’s. In Haye’s defense he was almost certain to be attacked not just by Chisora, but by his entire entourage. Haye had no choice but to act the way he did. It is also noteworthy that after Haye clocked “Del-Boy” he chose to retreat into the background complaining of being “glassed”. Haye in effect landed, pardon the pun, a “Hayemaker”.



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