I?m my brother?s most ardent supporter and he?s mine, otherwise we?d have long ago determined the king of the Klitschkos. Really, we view ourselves as what we in fact are: the two unchallenged monarchs of the still-renowned heavyweight division. Americans are missing our great long-running show, and I must respectfully ask: what?s the matter, USA, don?t you have any big guys who can fight? I?ve heard the response: sure we do, but most are in the NFL. That?s a convenient analysis. I?ll confine myself to reality.
I must start with Corrie Sanders, a fine fellow who died trying to save loved ones from bandits at a wedding in South Africa. Corrie was a hell of a hard puncher, had a terrific overhand left. I was angry and hurt when he repeatedly bounced Wladimir off the canvas. Thankfully, I faced Sanders his next fight, ate the same shots Wladimir did, withstood them well, and over eight rounds battered Sanders, launching long jabs and right crosses leading to more head-rattling rights until the referee saved him. My victory was for Wladimir, whose chin has improved.
A number of fistic legends have challenged me. And I graciously accept. Contrary to what many Americans charge, I?m not hiding in Europe. I?m the champ awaiting qualified challengers. Are they willing to come? If they do, I?ll handle Jack Dempsey and Rocky Marciano like two tough but very little boys. They?ll absorb five or ten punches for every one they land, and please don?t tell me guys scores of pounds lighter are stronger. If they beef up, as threatened, I will have to hit them a few more times and am prepared to do so.
A 220-pound Joe Louis, I confess, worries me. I?ve studied his combinations, and they?re perhaps the best in boxing history: fast, accurate, and powerful. I?ll defuse him by using the Max Schmeling guideline and bombing the Brown Bomber with right hands. And my long left, which Der Max did not possess, will prevent Louis from regularly penetrating my defense. I?m so fine I?ll stop him in nine. Muhammad Ali sent me that one on Twitter.
I know I?m not knocking out Ali, and neither are you. He takes a punch better and recuperates and counterattacks more effectively than anyone in the annals of this sport. He survived some bombs from George Foreman before knocking him out. He could?ve fallen many times in his first and third Joe Frazier fights but persevered and stopped Joe late in their finale. Against Earnie Shavers he caught some frightful right hands yet recovered and was staggering Shavers at final bell. Those who say Ali can?t punch need to dine on a few of his rights preceded by cutting left jabs. Having thus praised him, I can forthrightly say Ali isn?t going to stop me, either. We?re going to jab each other, and I?ll be first more often, and we?ll trade rights, mine being more frequent and powerful. To those who say Ali?s a more fluid and resourceful fighter, I respond: we?ll see.
For my last ring skirmish I want Lennox Lewis. The first time I was beating him until he busted me over the eye. Admittedly, this was the 37-year-old?s last fight and I was in my physical prime. Maybe I?ll toughen my skin with some of Dempsey?s brine. I?ll have to. Lennox Lewis and Muhammad Ali are two of the four best ever. Wladimir and I plan to complete the quartet.
George Thomas Clark is the author of Uppercuts: Tales from the Ring, a collection of boxing stories available as an eBook at Amazon.com and other Digital Stores. His short story collection, The Bold Investor, is also available. See the author?s website at www.GeorgeThomasClark.com.
