By Erik Schmidt: Having seen many of Wladimir Klitschko’s (50-3, 44 KOs) early fights in Germany, I can’t say that I’ve been pleased with the changes that have occurred to his boxing style of fighting in recent years. More specifically, I’m referring to Wladimir’s recent reluctance to throw his right hand with any sense of regularity in his fights. I’m not sure what the cause for this growing fear is on Wladimir’s part, perhaps his knockout losses to Lamon Brewster and Corrie Sanders, but I do know that he’s going to have to overcome his dread to throw his right if he expects to defeat his number WBO #1 challenger Tony Thompson (31-1, 19 KOs) in their fight on July 12th at the Color Line Arena, Altona, in Hamburg, Germany.
If Wladimir thinks for a second that he can fight the same way he did against Sultan Ibragimov, whom he beat by a listless 12-round unanimous decision on February 23rd, he has a other thing coming. That was some of the worse fighting I’d seen from a heavyweight champion in years, and I’d expected better from Wladimir, given how well he used to fight earlier in his career.
By Aaron Klein: Since winning the IBF heavyweight title two years ago in April 2006 with a 7th round stoppage of Chris Byrd, Wladimir Klitschko (50-3, 44 KOs) has been a huge disappointment to many boxing fans, who had hoped that Wladimir would take on the best in the division and cement himself in the minds of people as the number #1 heavyweight in the division. Instead, however, Klitschko has meandered along, fighting Calvin Brock, Ray Austin, Lamon Brewster and most recently Sultan Ibragimov, few of which the fans wanted to see him fight. Perhaps more disappointedly, Klitschko, other than his fight with Austin whom he blew out in the 2nd round with a flurry of multiple left hooks, has looked average to poor in his other fights against very beatable fighters. 
By Jim Dower: While I was watching a couple old fights this week of Lennox Lewis (41-2-1, 32 KOs), I couldn’t help but notice the similarity of his style and that of the current IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (50-3, 44 KOs), both of whom have the same trainer Emanuel Steward. Like Lewis, Klitschko has an excellent jab, maybe the best in all of boxing when he remembers to throw it, is about as equally as tall as Lewis at 6’6″, has a weak chin, and often is lacking in aggression when going after his opponents. In a way, Klitschko is almost an exact copy of Lewis, although not quite as good as him in any one category other than hand speed, which is the one area that Wladimir Klitschko is clearly superior to Lewis in. 
By Aaron Klein: Cruiserweight champion David Haye (21-0, 20 KOs) stated recently that he plans on fighting two top ranked fighters at heavyweight, and after destroying them, he’ll be ready to challenge IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (50-3, 44 KOs) for his world titles. Klitschko has said that he wouldn’t fight Haye, 27, unless he was “ranked high enough” for it to possible, meaning probably that Klitschko won’t fight Haye unless he absolutely has to by him being his mandatory challenger. This is exactly what Haye is looking to do by beating a couple of top fighters in the heavyweight division, moving up to the top and forcing Wladimir to fight him whether he wants to or not. 
By Jim Dower: Ex-cruiserweight now turned heavyweight David Haye (21-1, 20 KOs) has once again refused to let up on his pressure on IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (50-3, 44 KOs), whom he has been after steadily for the past two months trying to line up a fight. In a press release from Setanta sports, Haye, 27, said “He’s [Wladimir Klitschko] universally recognized as the number one fighter, so that’s the guy I have to go after.” 
By Erik Schmidt: I often wonder how would the great Rocky Marciano (49-0, 43 KOs) do against today’s heavyweights. It’s perhaps even more of a question now than ever due to the lack of talent and interest in the heavyweight division. It’s been a decade since the heavyweight division had a champion – Mike Tyson – that fans were interested in, and since that time the quality of the fighters has dropped off dramatically, along with naturally the interest in the division as a whole. Many people say that it’s impossible for fighters of different generations to fight each other due to the size differences, the more advanced training techniques, and the better nutrition available now compared to the 40s and the 50s, when Marciano was at the top of the sport. 
By Nate Anderson: IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (50-3, 44 KOs) recently came in contact with David Haye last weekend in London for the “Fight for Peace” press conference, which led to Haye calling out a somewhat startled looking Wladimir Klitschko, who looked like he wanted to shrink away and disappear into the woodwork rather than tackle the confrontational Haye. During the conversation, Haye, 27, called out Klitschko repeatedly, saying “Don’t run…. Don’t hide, come and fight. Don’t run. There’s no need to hide behind these bums.” Instead of firing back and accepting Haye’s challenge, a frightened looking Wladimir said “Talk is cheap. You have to deliver in the ring. Get in the ring and do your job. Now in the heavyweight division you’re no one…behave yourself.”
By Michael Lieberman: According to Sky Sports, IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (50-3, 44 KOs) is in talks with cruiserweight champion David Haye (21-1, 20 KOs) for a fight that would likely take place later in the year. With a mandatory defense of his WBO title to take place in July against challenger Tony Thompson, Klitschko then has immediately defend his IBF heavyweight title against number one contender Alexander Povetkin – a fight which will likely take place in November or December of 2008. That leaves early 2009 as being the most likely opening for a fight between Klitschko and Haye. That is, unless Wladimir chooses to throw away his IBF belt, abandoning it for the immediate fight with Haye. 
By Eric Thomas: In a move that comes to no surprise to me, the IBF has decided to give IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (50-3, 44 KOs) an exception to bypass his IBF mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin (15-0, 11 KOs), in which case Klitschko will now be able to go ahead with his plans to defend his WBO title against the number # 1 mandatory challenger, Tony Thompson (31-1, 19 KOs), about which will likely take place in July. 
By Dan Ambrose: IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (50-3, 44 Kos) is counting on the IBF giving him an exception so that he can bypass his IBF mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin, who recently defeated both Chris Byrd and Eddie Chambers in the IBF’s elimination tournament to come out as Klitschko’s mandatory challenger. However, instead of giving Povetkin a shot at his title, Wladimir has recently decided upon defending his WBO title against the #1 challenger Tony Thompson (31-1, 19 Kos), a tall 6’5” heavyweight known mostly for being an awkward volume puncher with little power.