When Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KO?s) defends the heavyweight championship of the world this Saturday in Germany against England?s Dereck Chisora (14-0, 9 KO?s), it?ll paint an unfortunate picture of the taste that?ll be left in everyone?s mouth when they think of boxing in 2010.The fights people want to see are not happening.
Above 147 pounds (Pacquiao ? Mayweather?duh), the one fight around the world people want to see is Wladimir Klitschko, or his big brother and fellow heavyweight titlist Vitali, unify belts with England?s brash former cruiserweight champion David Haye, who has a heavyweight strap. However, instead we get W. Klitschko vs. Chisora this weekend.
It?s not either of the Klitschko brother?s faults that a Haye fight hasn?t happened yet. Haye once signed a contract to fight Wlad. However, pulled out citing a back injury. It has been reported, most notably by ESPN.com?s Dan Rafael, that the injury was not legitimate. Haye was then tentatively scheduled to fight big brother Vitali in a unification bout. However, when it was time to sign the contract, Haye reneged and instead fought Nikolai Valuev.
The world still wants to see a Klitschko fight Haye. However, it?s not happening for the moment.Haye recently fought fellow Brit Audley Harrison, a challenger almost no one deemed worthy of a title challenge. Afraid that Haye might try to stay in England and fight countryman instead of truly world class boxers, it?s fairly obvious that the Klitschko?s are trying to knock off a potential English challenger to Haye by fighting Chisora this weekend. Chisora is the reigning British Commonwealth heavyweight champion and is undefeated. However, he?s terribly inexperienced and has never fought anyone considered a top 10 contender the moment he fought them. His most notable win came earlier this year with a 2nd round TKO of former Mike Tyson conqueror (and Vitali Klitschko victim) Danny Williams.Wladimir Klitschko hasn?t been really challenged in any of his fights this year. He brutally KO?d Eddie Chambers and delivered a savage beating to Samuel Peter.
Big brother Vitali toyed with journeyman Albert Sosnowski and frighteningly landed head shot after head shot for 12 rounds against former champion Shannon Briggs in the calendar year as well. This weekend?s fight between Wlad and Chisora looks on paper to be more of the same. Let?s just hope Chisora makes it more interesting than we think it will be and/or David Haye decides it?s time to fight a Klitschko to determine who the best big man in the world is.
