Klitschko-Related Thoughts

I know that there is a lot of disparaging of both Klitschko brothers, especially Wladimir, going around over the past few years. They're viewed primarily as "robotic", "boring", "over-rated", and many other unflattering adjectives. There is, however, one thing that I've noticed about the Klitschko brothers and the heavyweight division as a whole of late, and I'd like to share said observation with all of you fine boxing fans out there.

With the exception of certain deluded individuals such as James Toney and those who seek fiduciary gains above all else, such as David Haye, take a look around the heavyweight division. Generally after interviews, a fighter is asked about his future prospects - his plans for future opponents and fights. In the heavyweight division, those questions inevitably lead to the Klitschko brothers. Several times now, from fighters such as Price, Povetkin, Fury, Mitchell, (the list goes on) we have heard the Klitschko's name mentioned and the fighters themselves say that they are not ready, and propose a future date (perhaps a year or two) in which they might be better prepared to face either one of the brothers.

So my question is this: if the Klitschko brothers are so awful, so robotic, so bad for boxing, why is it that up-and-coming fighters will admit to a camera that they are not ready to step into the ring with them? Can you imagine this in any other division? Certainly not! Any time anyone, regardless of their level of talent or success, is even within spitting distance of the welterweight division, the names of Pacquiao and Mayweather come up during interviews. The money is right, sure, but so would it be with the Klitchkos and 50,000 fans in Berlin or Munchen. Never have I seen Max Kellerman get in the ring with a prospect, and when he asks them about a fight with a titleholder, have them say that they aren't ready - unless it's in the heavyweight division.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am not one of those people that says either one of the Klitchkos is the greatest ever. I am not a fanboy, or a "nut-hugger". I do recognize behavior and can analyze trends. The gulf that separates Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko from the remainder of the heavyweight division is unequalled in any other division in boxing, and this is made obvious by the fact that prospects and rising stars will look right into a television camera and say that they aren't ready to fight them.

I was excited when watching the Klitschko-Mormeck fight, today. I knew the outcome. Anyone with an iota of sense knew what was going to happen. I frowned and stated my displeasure when Klitschko grabbed, and leaned on Mormeck's neck. I thought that was unnecessary, and was not within the rules of our sweet science. Yet, judgment was coming. One could feel the electricity. The piston-like jab found its home entirely too frequently for the fight to last long. Mormeck wove his way inside, yet found himself against the Ukranian's chest and flatly refused to let his hands go before he was tied up and pushed away by the referee. One could tell that Klitschko wanted to finish the fight, by the way he would double, nay, triple the jab - double, nay, triple, nay, quadruple the left hooks he threw at the cowering Frenchman. It was just a matter of time. When that big right hand detonated on the point of Mormeck's chin, I smiled. Klitschko did everything that he was supposed to do against one of the only boxers that would step into the ring with him. Everyone else is 'not ready'.

I don't ask for worship, or an admittance of greatness. I don't even appellate either of the brothers as such, at this point. At least one must wait until a career has reached its conclusion to make such assertions. I do ask, however, that one grant that the Klitschko brothers fight who is out there, and they do what heavyweights are supposed to do - dominate and stop their opponents.

 

Thanks for your honesty. Yeah, the boredom was something I addressed in my post. My main point, though, was that it's not really logical to vehemently disparage them when they're, for all intents and purposes, 'pwning'. It's like hating Tiger Woods a few years ago because he was winning everything and nobody was good enough to challenge him. Or hating Michael Jordan because he was clearly a level above every other player on the court. Look at Cristobal Arreola. Is he fat? Sure. But he has major skill, and he has big power. Look at Tomasz Adamek. Proven at light heavyweight and cruiserweight. He's fast, he has an excellent chin, and he has impressive stamina and solid technique. Thompson is a solid all-around heavyweight with good power and size. Chagaev has great power and a massive left hook as well as an impressive amateur pedigree.

The Klitschkos aren't in against "stiffs" or "bums". Is Mormeck the ideal challenger for a dominant heavyweight champion? No. Is it because he's a sub-par fighter? No. He gave Haye all he could handle and went life-and-death twice with O'Neil Bell and beat Virgil Hill.

All I ask is that we view the Klitschkos, not against the greatest heavyweights in history who were fortunate enough to have their arch-rivals, such as the 'golden era' of Ali/Frazier/Foreman, but view them in the situation in which they fight. Imagine how much greater Floyd Mayweather would look if he had to get up off the canvas three times to grit out a win over a rugged opponent. People would say that he had heart, determination, a willingness to win, a warrior mentality. But he doesn't have to do that, and so he is belittled as a result. I cannot stand Floyd or his attitude, or the way he carries himself - but I sure as hell respect his ability in the ring.

 

Thank you. I do sincerely appreciate that.

I hope more view it the same way, but I'm more than prepared for the fact that the majority of readers will simply respond with a declaration of how the "bitchkos" "suck" and "Lewis TKO6".

Vitali Klitschko lost against Lewis and Byrd. Wladimir Klitschko has been on the canvas 11 times. Yes. We know these things. But the fact is, we cannot make their challengers better or more willing to fight them. They fight more often than most titleholders and do so against the best that are willing to step into the ring.

 

Thanks, brother.

 

Agreed - most of what I was seeing was, "Klitschko needs to get him out of there in the first five rounds". Well, he did it in four, and he's not a man that usually goes for the early knockout.

 

See, that's all I ask. What you just said is the essence of my point right there.

I find Bernard Hopkins' style deplorable. It's painful to watch, for me. I find it dull and uninteresting - yet, I would never decry his ability or try to belittle his accomplishments just because I don't find his style of fighting appealing. He wins. He defeats his opponents. He is a master ring general and finds ways to establish victory over men with physical and chronological advantages using his experience, his intelligence and his training. How he dismantled Kelly Pavlik was nothing short of a work of art.

It's not as though they can seek challenges at a higher weight class, and the fact that both of them hover about 50 pounds above the cruiserweight limit effectively eliminates any potential possibility of them going down a weight. What else can they do, except win against the available opposition who are willing to fight?