By Dave Lahr: On paper, the match-up between World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko and challenger Kevin Johnson looks like a mismatch in favor of the 38-year-old Ukrainian Vitali. Thankfully, the bout won’t take place on paper and will be inside of a square ring at the PostFinance Arena, Berne, Switzerland. To be sure, most boxing experts see Johnson as a huge underdog in this fight and are giving him very little chance to beat Klitschko on December 12th.
Klitschko vs. Johnson
Klitschko-Johnson already sold out – Boxing News
By Eric Thomas: The December 12th bout between World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (38-2, 37 KOs) and challenger Kevin Johnson (22-0-1, 9 KO’s), set for the PostFinance Arena in Bern, Switzerland, is already reportedly sold out. The arena seats 17,000, and all the tickets have sold out for the fight. It shows how popular the 38-year-old Klitschko in Switzerland, because Klitschko was unable to sell out his September 26th fight against Chris Arreola, at the Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California.
Boxing – Vitali Klitschko: It’s time for praise
By Dennis Broadhurst: Now has come the point where we have to put Vitali Klitschko up there with the remembered, great fighters. I recently wrote two ranking articles on the heavyweight division and placed Klitschko as the 16th greatest heavyweight of all time in front of Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney. I feel that to get a ranking among the greats a fighter must prove them-self during their time and be the dominant champion or at least one of the dominant champions in their division.
Boxing – Redefining the Klitschkos
By Glen Anglin: After a decade of competing and achieving near dominance in the heavyweight division, I think it is time to review the place that the fighting Klitschkos have earned in the heavyweight pantheon. From time to time, both of the brothers have been accused of cowardice, weakness and lack of true fighting ability. Both have been derided in the western press as rulers of a division of anemic challengers. I am not so sure anymore. As the victories continue to accumulate for the Klitschko brothers, I have concluded that their place in heavyweight history is in the upper echelon.
What Would Happen If the Klitschko Brothers Retired Tomorrow?
By Philip H. Anselmo: Hypothetically, if the ultra-dominant Klitschko brothers were to hang up the gloves tomorrow, what would become of today’s heavyweight landscape in the aftermath? Besides the supporters of the brothers, who believe that “The Klitschko” approach to the sweet science is seemingly impregnable at this point in time (although completely different in styles), the two are constantly maligned for either being in boring, one-sided fights or hogging the #1 and #2 spot without a chance of settling who’s truly the best because they’ll never fight.
Vitali Klitschko to retire in two to three more fights – News
Photo: Pavel Terekhov – By Eric Thomas: According to the latest news, World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (38-2, 37 KO’s) plans on retiring in two to three fights. This may come as a shock to some boxing fans that have been following Vitali’s off and on career for the past 10 years. However, for other boxing fans Vitali retiring will be a celebrated event because they see him a boring champion, someone who doesn’t mix it up with his opponents as much as they’d like.
News – Vitali Klitschko to face Johnson or Maskaev in December
By William Mackay: World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko is reportedly looking to fight either unbeaten Kevin Johnson (22-0, 9 KO’s) or 40-year-old former WBC champion Oleg Maskaev in December. For boxing fans, neither of these fighters will likely bring much interest nor attract attention for Vitali. However, there just isn’t many choices for Klitschko in the division because of the lack of quality that exists at this time.
News – Vitali Klitschko to Defend title against Kevin Johnson in December
By Jason Kim: WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (37-2, 36 KO’s) is reportedly in discussions for a title defense against unbeaten contender Kevin Johnson (22-0-1, 9 KO’s) in December. However, before that fight can happen, Klitschko, 38, must first get by Chris Arreola (27-0, 24 KO’s) on September 26th. That won’t be an easy fight for Klitschko to win, but hopefully if Klitschko can come out of that fight in one piece and doesn’t suffer any bad cuts or major injuries, we may be seeing Vitali back in the ring in December against Johnson.