Removing the False Veil of Greatness, Part 1 – Vitali Klitschko

vitali3353By Anthony Mason: Much has been made of the Klitschkos’ long title reigns. What many fail to do is put these so-called title defenses in context. The reigns of both Klitschkos will be analyzed and only when this is done can the legitimacy of their defenses be evaluated. Only after comparing the Klitschkos’ competition against the truly great heavyweights can their place in history be properly determined.

With this article, we will focus on Vitali Klitschko, and a subsequent article will complement this one to analyze Wladimir Klitschko’s career. Vitali is definitely a good heavyweight, but simply being good is not enough to be ranked among the best. Vitali supposedly has nine consecutive title defenses, tied with Lennox Lewis, Joe Frazier, and Mike Tyson for sixth all time.

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Why the Klitschkos cannot be considered historically great

wladimir33By Anthony Mason: I find it very confusing when people compare the Klitschkos to the all-time great heavyweights. The Klitschkos are definitely good boxers, but they have not done anything to stand out and be considered in the league of a Dempsey, Wills, or Tunney, let alone a Joe Louis or Muhammad Ali. No amount of title defenses will hide the fact that the Klitschkos have never beaten an elite heavyweight boxer in their entire careers. To claim that they are historically underrated is a terrible farce.

Simply reciting statistics such as the Klitschkos win-loss record, number of defenses, or KO ratios demonstrates an inability to use logical thinking and an inability to put these misleading statistics into context.

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Did Vitali Klitschko retire to Duck David Haye?

blakeBy Rob Blakeman: “Vitali Klitschko is leaving boxing to concentrate on Ukrainian politics and his role as an opposition leader. Klitschko vacated his WBC world heavyweight title on Monday and said he doesn’t expect to fight again as he pursues a presidential bid in his home country.” This was the recent report in the associated press (via USA Today) Klitschko is becoming more involved with politics and this deemed the main reason for his stepping down. However, could it be that he was also avoiding the proposed fight with David Haye? The fight with the older brother had been offered to Haye at the post fight press conference of Vitali Klitschko and Derek Chisora fight.

The Klitschko’s manager said David should fight Chisora and the winner could fight Vitali-this never happened and Vitali went on to fight some very meager opposition instead. In any case it reminded me of a recent article of mine wherein I pointed out another British fighter’s knockout win over Big brother Klitschko.

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Chisora expects Vitali Klitschko to return to boxing if he’s not elected President of Ukraine

vitali4353By Scott Gilfoid: British heavyweight Dereck Chisora sees former WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko making a comeback if he’s not elected the President of Ukraine in the 2015 Presidential election. If Vitali chooses to make a comeback in 2015, he’d be 44-years-old and he’ll have been out of boxing since 2012 when he last fought Manuel Charr.

“He’s not really gone. If he don’t get in the presidents office, he’s coming back,” Chisora said to BoxNation.”

I could see how it would be nice if Vitali did return back for Chisora. He fought Vitali in 2012 for his WBC title and was easily beaten by a one-handed Vitali, who suffered a shoulder injury to his left shoulder in the 2nd round.

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McCrory thinks Wladimir will be vulnerable now that Vitali has retired

wladimir83489By Scott Gilfoid: Glenn McCrory of Sky Sports thinks that without his brother Vitali Klitschko as someone that he can lean on as the other heavyweight champion in the division, IBF/IBO/WBO/WBA heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko will be vulnerable. McCrory isn’t sure whether Wladimir can even finish 2014 as a champion. Not surprisingly, McCrory thinks that Tyson Fury will capture a world title in 2014 by beating the WBC belt holder,

“That was a massive psychological barrier for the brothers’ opponents to overcome,” McCrory said to Sky Sports. “Now, though, the immovable object that was the Klitschko brothers has gone and it’s just Wladimir flying solo, so I think his rivals will take confidence from that.

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The End of an Era: My Appraisal of Dr. Ironfist

vitali3432By Jay McIntyre:

The Abdication

On Monday December 16th, Vitali Klitschko vacated his title as the WBC heavyweight champion of the world and has made vocal his desire to run in the Ukrainian presidential election of 2015. While he doesn’t intend to return to the sport which made him so famous, the World Boxing Council responded by declaring him ’emeritus champion’.

This basically means that if he every steps through the ropes again, it will be into an instant title shot for the WBC strap. According to cbc.ca, Klitschko himself has been quoted as saying that “This offer makes it theoretically possible to return to the ring, which I cannot at all image happening right now.” The WBC’s decision may leave some scratching their heads, but I can’t disagree with this move because the heavyweight division isn’t exactly teeming with prospects and talent at this time.

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Vitali Klitschko retiring is good for boxing

vitali2343By Al Hmiel: With WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko finally retiring after holding boxing hostage for 15 months of unfair inactivity making qualified and underpaid contenders wait, the heavyweight WBC belt will open for the taking.

Finally it looks like Wladimir Klitschko will have the opportunity now to hold all the Heavyweight championship belts – WBO, IBF, WBA and the WBC’s as one champion. Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola were ordered today by the World Boxing Council to face each other for the vacant WBC title. But after that, we could see Wladimir facing winner at some point.

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Wladimir wants WBC strap vacated by Vitali

wlad99By Scott Gilfoid: Now that Vitali Klitschko has finally vacated his WBC title after having chosen to not defend it for eons, IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (61-3, 51 KO’s) is now targeting that belt to try and add that to his collection. Wladimir is hoping to get a chance to fight the eventual winner of the fight for the vacant WBC belt.

It’s still unknown which two lucky heavyweights will be fighting for Vitali’s WBC strap, but I have a strong feeling that we could be seeing Deontay Wilder facing Bermane Stiverne for that belt instead of Chris Arreola getting the shot against Stiverne. The 6’7″ Deontay would have an excellent chance at capturing the crown and that in turn would set up a fight between the 6’6″ Wladimir and Deontay for 2015.

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Examining the heavyweight scene in a post Klitschko era

deontay32 - Copy (2)By Jamie Fairclough: Love them or hate them the Klitschko brothers have dominated the heavyweight scene for a long time now conquering all challengers (even if some were unworthy of a title shot). The Ukrainian brothers have shown the boxing world you can be successful and feared but still behave like gentlemen.

They never engage in degrading trash talk, always show their opponents respect and take no one lightly no matter how over-matched they are. For this we should thank them for showing up and coming young fighters how to behave.

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WBC makes Vitali Klitschko Emeritus champion

vitali254By Scott Gilfoid: The World Boxing Council finally did the right thing and elevated the inactive WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (45-2, 41 KO’s) to the WBC Emeritus champion, which means the WBC heavyweight title is now vacant and available for 2 of the top 3 contenders to fight for it in the near future.

Who the WBC will allow to fight for the title isn’t yet known at this time, but the top 3 guys are as follows: 1. Bermane Stiverne 2. Chris Arreola 3. Deontay Wilder.

Since Stiverne already beat Arreola by a 12 round unanimous decision last April, I don’t see any point at all in those two fighting again. I mean, it makes no sense in those guys facing each other in back to back fights.

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