Wladimir Klitschko may be too good for his own good, but considering the alternatives, that ain?t bad?
Wladimir Klitschko is a victim of his own success.
Since losing to Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster in 2003 and 2004, the formidable Dr. Steelhammer has gone undefeated, winning 20 fights in a row, with 16 of those wins coming by way of knockout.
Klitschko has his detractors and rightfully so, but he has ducked no one (sorry Shannon, you don?t count), is always in shape, fights smart and doesn?t talk smack.
No wonder he?s unpopular on this side of the pond.
But as pretenders to the throne have come and gone, usually on their shield, people are reassessing the heavyweight king. His safety-first style doesn?t make for exciting fights. The dearth of competition has hurt rather than helped. But Klitschko does what he?s supposed to do, with the efficiency of an executioner, and has the good sense not to crow about it afterward.
On Saturday, Nov. 16, 2014, at the O2 World Arena in Hamburg, Germany, the 38-year-old Klitschko (62-3, 53 KOs) puts his many belts on the line against undefeated Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev (20-0, 11 KOs). It will be Klitschko?s 17th consecutive heavyweight defense. He now ranks third behind Joe Louis, who had 25, and Larry Holmes, who is holding steady at 20.
One day Klitschko will be beaten. Some believe Pulev might be the man to pull it off. He?s five years younger than the champ and at 6′4?″, he measures up well against the 6?6? Ukrainian. Pulev also has a distinguished amateur pedigree. He can box as well as punch and is the European heavyweight champion.
?I believe that I am in the right place at the right time to end the reign of Klitschko,? Pulev told RingTV.com. ?Inside the ring it is all about what I can do and do better than him. Actually, I think that footwork will be a deciding factor but you have to wait to see it yourself. One thing that is for sure is that Klitschko will not be able to impose his physique on me.?
Size matters, but Pulev is at a disadvantage when it comes to experience and quality of opposition. He decisioned Tony Thompson in the summer of 2013, a victory that paved the way for Saturday?s showdown. But that was the same Tony Thompson that Klitschko fought twice, in 2008 and 2012, and KO?d both times.
Pulev did stop Alexanders Dimitrenko and Ustinov in 2012, two other Eastern European giants with title aspirations. But the majority of his wins are over the likes of Derric Rossy, Travis Walker, Michael Sprott, Joey Abell, and 20-23 Ivica Perkovic in his last fight.
If that?s adequate preparation for defeating Wladimir Klitschko, I?ll be a monkey?s uncle.
?I think that he is a very good fighter,? Klitschko said. ?He?s aggressive and he has been winning all of the fights, maybe not by knockout, his KO percentage is not as high, but he was very dominant in all the fights. I think he?s going to give me a strong challenge.?
If Pulev can get past Klitschko?s jab and reach his questionable chin, we might see the title change hands. But expect Dr. Steelhammer to be as disciplined, as focused as usual, fighting while aware of his weaknesses as well as his strengths.
Unless something unforeseen happens, I see the fight going the distance, with Klitschko being declared winner by unanimous decision.
Klitschko may be too good for his own good, but considering the alternatives, that ain?t bad.
Wladimir Klitschko vs. Kubrat Pulev will be televised live on HBO Saturday afternoon at 4:45 PM ET/PT.
