By Gerardo Granados: As the reader already must know Wladimir Klitschko confirmed in video that he is going to rematch the recently crowned Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury. It was good to see Wladimir smile again instead of whine like he did on his twitter account days ago when he said “I still don’t believe I lost. Man, I am suffering”.
I would like to see Klitschko take on WBC heavyweight belt holder Deontay Wilder first to prepare a better game plan to use against Fury, but it seems Wladimir feels ready to get into a direct rematch. Now the only question I have is if Wladimir will be able to adjust and practically change his fighting style.
Although Wladimir is a veteran boxer it was odd to see him struggle so much to cut off the ring and not be able to land at least a good combination on Fury; even worst to have failed to adjust when his original game plan failed. Not only I believe that Fury has a better corner but also has superior ring smarts than Klitschko as shown during their bout. Even though Fury only landed few punches on Wladimir it was clear that Klitschko face was bruised whilst Tyson ended the fight practically clean and it was the result of a better game plan and execution.
So I believe that in a rematch Wladimir must get extra help on his corner. I read a comment on a previous article in which the reader believes that I am being bias towards trainer Johnathon Banks; but isn’t the trainer duty to prepare his fighter accordingly to the boxing skills and weakness that his future opponent has? For me Banks game plan was totally flawed and didn’t had the experience or knowledge that the late Emmanuel Steward had to advice Klitschko on how to adjust against Fury.
A friend of mine thinks that Abel Sanchez could help Klitschko on how to cut off the ring against Fury; not only that but he could also help Wladimir to improve his poor inside game which is based on basically clinch, lean on and push off. If you compare Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe inside game to Klitschko inside fighting you will sense a huge difference.
I see two keys for Wladimir to win a rematch. First, he cannot repeat doing what he has done in the last ten years. Second is developing his inside game and learn to cut off the ring.
I was wrong when I thought that this bout was going to be a coin toss like I stated on a previous article, but I wasn’t wrong when I thought that the inside fighting was going to be important for Wladimir.
Will Wladimir be able to accept to take a punch in order to land his? Klitschko is accustomed to move away from an opponent but not going inside because he didn’t have the need in the past. When you are shorter and your opponent has the reach edge then sometimes you will have to pay the price to get inside. It would be better to learn on how to go under a jab and to use head upper body movement but that also implies to improve your footwork.
Styles make fights they say and some styles are pure venom for certain fighters. Legendary heavyweight Champion Sonny Liston was a murderous puncher but he was not able to deal with Muhammad Ali boxing style; and I dare to say that Fury utilized a similar style against Wladimir with great success.
Be it if Wladimir is able to win his rematch against Fury or not by now I am glad to see the former champion back smiling trying to avenge his defeat. As the reader must know I am not a big fan of Klitschko fighting style but I do acknowledge Wladimir as one of the best heavies of the last ten years.
I think that Wladimir won’t be able to significantly change his fighting style; I believe he still has a chance to defeat Fury due his punching power and hunger for revenge but I won’t be surprised if Fury stops him in the rematch. But what about the readers, do you agree?
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