By Dave Lahr: It’s too bad that WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KO’s) was born with such defective skin around his eyes. I guess if it’s not one things it another. I suppose he’s lucky he’s 6’7″, because the extra height has obviously disguised his weak skin around his eyes and saved him from multiple stoppage losses. Some fighters are known as bleeders due their paper thin skin. I see Klitscho as one of them. On Saturday night, Shannon Briggs (51-5-1, 45 Ko’s) is going to be unloading heavy artillery on Vitali’s face and it’s going to be interesting to watch the quick transformation that Klitschko’s face undergoes with every hard punch that Briggs lands.
Shannon Briggs
Klitschko is going to get hit a lot by Briggs: The question is can Vitali take it?
By Dave Lahr: I have no doubts that former WBO heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs (51-5-1, 45 KO’s) will be able to take WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko’s arm punches. But the major question is whether Klitschko will be able to handle Briggs’ huge power shots to the head and body? I don’t think the Ukrainian can. That’s going to be the major difference between these two fighters when they step into the ring on Saturday night at the O2 World Arena, in Hamburg, Germany.
Klitschko-Briggs: What’s going to happen to Vitali when he fights with his hands down?
By Dave Lahr: WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KO’s) has a bad habit of fighting with his hands down by his sides, letting his head movement and leaning keep him from taking punishment. Since Klitschko has mainly fought soft opposition since his 6th round stoppage by Lennox Lewis in 2003, he’s been able to get away with his hands down at his waist. In his fight with Corrie Sanders in 2004, Vitali took some big shots in that fight and was nearly knocked down in the 1st round. Vitali came back and stopped the out of shape looking Sanders in the 8th round. On Saturday night, Klitschko will be facing Shannon Briggs (51-5-1, 45 KO’s) at the O2 World Arena, in Hamburg, Germany.
Vitali Klitschko looks really slow in media workout
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.
Vitali Klitschko doesn’t know when he’ll retire – Says he feels good
By Jim Dower: At 39, most professional boxers have long since retired from the sport and found jobs outside of boxing. But WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KO’s) is still pumping away with his successful career, beating one heavyweight challenger after another and making it mostly look easy. In an AP article by Greg Beacham, Vitali says “I know what it is, but with time and age, I still feel good. I don’t have an answer when is the time [to hang up his gloves]. I don’t think it is.” Who can blame Vitali for not retiring now.
Klitschko vs. Briggs: Look for Shannon to send Vitali into retirement on Saturday
By Dave Lahr: WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KO’s) will be facing his worst nightmare on Saturday night when he faces Shannon Briggs (51-5-1, 45 KO’s) at the O2 World Arena, in Hamburg, Germany. At 39, Vitali is like an old car with a lot of miles on him. He’s been taken up mostly gentle slopes in the past two years since making a comeback after four hears out of the ring.
Briggs-Vitali Klitschko: It is time for a reality check!
By Paul McCreath: This coming Saturday night in Hamburg Germany Vitali Klitschko puts his version of the heavyweight title on the line against challenger Shannon Briggs. To say this is a mismatch would be putting it lightly.The latest odds I have heard are about 30-1 in Vitali’s favor.While some have tried to make this look like a competitive match by sighting the hand speed and power of Briggs along with Vitali’s alleged deterioration due to age, I just can’t buy that argument. It might be an interesting and lively fight for 2 or 3 rounds but that is about it.
Klitschko and Briggs meet in press conference, Vitali looks scared
Photo credit: Public Address and KMG/Dmitriy Abramov – By Dave Lahr: WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KO’s) and challenger former WBO heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs (51-5-1, 45 KO’s) met earlier today in a press conference in Hamburg, Germany. The two fighters are busy drumming up support for their title clash on Saturday, October 16th. This was an unusual press conference because Vitali looked scared when he was forced to face Briggs up close in several stare downs. You could actually see the fear in Klitschko’s eyes. Briggs looked positively fierce and was totally unlike the timid opponents that have been matched up with Klitschko in his five-fight comeback. It looked like Vitali was ready to jump out of his socks at one point. He looked uncertain, and his eyes shifted away from Briggs when they started to tear up.
Klitschko vs. Briggs: Don’t be surprised when Shannon whips Vitali
By Dave Lahr: I don’t want to see anyone looking surprised next Saturday night when Shannon Briggs (51-5-1, 45 KO’s) gives WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KO’s) the whipping of his life and knocks him clean out in their fight on October 16th at the O2 World Arena, in Hamburg, Germany.
Briggs is going to be throwing bombs at Klitschko from the 1st round
By Dave Lahr: 39-year-old WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KO’s) is going to be having his chin tested immediately by former WBO heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs (51-5-1, 45 KO’s) in their title fight on October 16th at the O2 World Arena, in Hamburg, Germany. Vitali has been doing well lately against the hand-picked opposition he’s been facing, but none of those guys can punch to save their life.