Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko blog dedicated to the most up-to-date information regarding the professional heavyweight boxers and brothers. Find videos, chat, pictures, polls, interviews, breaking news, upcoming fights, discussions, and major boxing news that related to the Klitschko brothers. Updated often.
According to recent reports, current IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir "Steelhamer" Klitschko (52-3, 46 KOs) may select an optional defense against current #2 IBF ranked Chris Areeola (26-0, 23 KOs) for his next fight sometime in April or May 2009. Negotiations are under way. And if Wlad wins this fight, he has by September 13th, 2009 to defend his belts against IBF #1 ranked contender Alexander Povetkin who had to back out of his fight with Wladimir in December due to an ankle injury.
This is a new knockout highlight video showcasing Wladimir "Steelhammer" Klitschko's last 8 fights under the guidance of his trainer Emanuel Steward.
Most of the video emphasizes either knockdowns, knockouts, or power punching.
Fights featured include Wladimir against Samuel Peter, Calvin Brock, Sultan Ibragimov, Chris Byrd, Lamon Brewster, Tony Thompson, HasimRahman, & Ray Austin. Enjoy!
Last Saturday night, the current WBA heavyweight champ Nicolai "The Russian Giant" Valuev got an early Christmas gift by getting the nod from 2 of the judges that he won the 12 round WBA title match against the 46 year old, 4 time heavyweight champion Evander "The Real" Deal Holyfield.
I had thought before the fight that this might be an upset-- well if you consider the champion losing to a 46 year old 4 time heavyweight champion an upset-- because although Holyfield's reflexes are shot, and have been shot for awhile now, this weakness is only exploited by someone who can test his reflexes. That would mean a good counter puncher, and/or someone with significant speed and defensive skills---Chris Byrd and James Toney would fit this criteria and both have beaten Holyfield a few years back.
Valuev has/had none of those traits. He wins his fights due to having a OK jab and right cross that can reach opponents fairly easily since he towers over most and has a significant reach advantage, and because most opponents don't move. When I say OK jab I mean it has decent speed for a man that size but still slow enough that someone with even shot reflexes can escape if they use movement to their advantage.
Like Chagaev, Holyfield found success in movement and this kept Valuev from setting up. Valuev's body movement is too slow to adjust to anyone that gives him any modest lateral movement. Holyfield despite having shot reflexes, has been and is in tremendous physical condition, and has the combos down pat. This is why I believed Holyfield would cause Valuev problems. I knew that Valuev is vulnerable to being hit when movement is involved, and I knew that Holyfield perfection of boxing patterns would be enough to gain points for Holyfield. Holyfield didn't have to worry about Valuev's power, because although he's a huge man he doesn't have that knockout power you'd expect. So I figured the upset would come in the form of a 12 round decision. This is what happened...
Holyfield from the very start displayed great athleticism for any man at any age by keeping on his toes and selecting his shots against the much taller and almost 100 pound larger Valuev. The movement kept Valuev from setting up with anything significant, while Holyfield got on the inside and hit Valuev with some great hard hooks. Despite what I considered a great performance by Holyfield, Valuev got the decision. I don't see how, considering Holyfield not only threw and landed the most shots throughout the fight, but also landed the harder shots. Valuev followed Holyfield around the ring, but this doesn't constitute aggressiveness in my opinion which may have been favored in the eyes of the judges had it been considered that. If anyone was being aggressive, it was Holyfield moving in and selecting his shots. The judges scored the fight 114-114, 116-112, 115-114 in Valuev's favor. I had the fight 118-110 for Holyfield. Here's the video of the fight what do you think?
Talk about a size mismatch! The 4 time heavyweight champion Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield (47-9-2, 27 KOs) weighted in at exactly 214 ¼ lbs while the 2 time and current WBA heavyweight champion Nicolai “The Russian Giant” Valuev (49-1, 34 KOs) weighted in at exactly 310 ¾ lbs for the 12 round WBA heavyweight championship tomorrow night.
The former oldest heavyweight champion(at 45) George Foreman(now 59) recently had a few words about Evander Holyfield's fight this Saturday, Decemeber 20th against current WBA heavyweight champion Nicolai Valuev, and about how he feels, as many do, that it's time for Evander to leave the sport of boxing.
"I hope he'll achieve it (getting the WBA belt) and leave boxing alone. He's been a terrible reflection on the heavyweight division. Win, lose, or draw, he should move away from boxing for the sake of leaving a good name for the sport."
"His head is starting to attract punches. I don't like it, I really don't like it. He was never a big, strong man. He's a frail guy and he's getting the worst of it every time he boxes."
"We just don't know how to move on. All of us. I stayed in too long myself. You fall in love with something you ought not to fall in love with. It's like falling in love with a bad girl who does not love you, who's done with you yet you keep hanging on."
"I hope he becomes heavyweight champion of the world again so he can walk away."
Good luck to Evander tomorrow night, and whether win, lose, or draw, I agree with George in hopes he makes his decision to step down from boxing after this fight.
Setanta Sports recently had a live interview of Adam Booth who talked about a potential match between Vitali Klitschko and David Haye in 2009, and also about the graphic picture of David Haye holding Wladimir Klitschko's head and Vitali's reacttion whenever he was presented this picture from Haye at the Klitschko vs. Rahman fight.
I don't believe this was on the air, but at one point during the Wladimir Klitshcko vs. Hasim Rahman title match, Vitali Klitschko steals the cowboy hat that David Haye is wearing. On the air it did show them talking about a potential match between them so this may have been some point after that. Although this video is very short, it's worth watching. Enjoy!
#1 WBC mandatory Juan Carlos Gomez recently had a few words after he found out that former cruiserweight champion turned heavyweight contender David "Hayemaker" Haye was in negotiations with a fight with Vitali Klitschko in June. This is what Gomez had to say:
"I understand how this kid feels and what he thinks. In fact, we have a lot in common. We both used to be the best cruiserweights in the world, now we both want to become world heavyweight champions and get rid of those annoying Ukrainians. But, David, I got one advice for you: Keep your hands off Vitali. He's mine. You can go after Wladimir if you want. He will be easier to handle for you anyways. If you desperately want to fight Vitali you will have to wait until I stripped his belt from him. After we dethroned both Klitschko sisters we can go on and find out one on one who is the best heavyweight fighter in the world if you want. It will be my honor and pleasure to beat you up to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world."
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