THE biggest fight that can be made in the heavyweight division is happening today: Wladimr Klitschko vs. David Haye.
Klitscko is the reigning champ IBF/WBO champ while Haye is the WBA counterpart. Here?s how they stack up
Win US $500 cash in Sun.Star?s music video contest
WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO (55-3, 49KOs). Strengths?Best jab in the heavyweight division; punching power; reach advantage.
Weaknesses?suspect chin; punch resistance; diminished killer instinct;
Style?Comes forward behind an authoritative jab with a hammer-like right hand as a follow-up. Mixes in some hooks and uppercuts.
Best Performances. KO 10 Samuel Peter, September, 2010; RTD 10 Jameel McCline, December, 2002; W12 Sultan Ibragimov February, 2008.
DAVID HAYE(25-1, 23KOs) Strengths?Punching power; aggression. combination punching; confidence.
Weaknesses?Can be a bit reckless; wide open for counters; porous defense.
Style?Comes forward aggressively throwing hooks and crosses.
Best Performances?MD 12 Nikolay Valuev November, 2009; TKO9 John Ruiz April, 2010;TKO 7 Jean Marc Mormeck November, 2007.
MY TAKE. Wladimir is experiencing a resurgence of sorts after a minor meltdown early in his career which saw him getting knocked out by Corrie Sanders, and knocked down by Lamont Brewster and Samuel Peter.
He is currently on a 12-fight win streak and is arguably the best fighter in the division?although his elder brother Vitali is a close second.
The loquacious Haye is an exciting fighter and seems to be the shot in the arm this moribund heavyweight division needs.
This is an intriguing match-up because both fighters seem to have a genuine dislike for each other. Style-wise, Klitschko seems to be prone to aggressive brawlers. His chin is still suspect, and Haye seems to fight well against taller, bigger guys.
He found a home for his right hand against the seven footer Valuev and pretty much decimated 6?6? Audley Harrison in his last fight.
However, Klitschko will be the best fighter he will have faced and the latter?s boxing skills should serve him well in this fight.
Haye?s fast hands will be a problem for Klitschko and he will definitely get tagged. The determining factor is how well he responds to the unmitigated attrition and hell that Haye will definitely bring.
But his recent performances have demonstrated his ability to settle into a rhythm in a fight, ergo as long as he boxes and resists the temptation to brawl, he should jab Haye silly into submission and win this one via late stoppage.
MELLIGEN. My heart goes out to Mark Jason Melligen who gave it his all but lost via stoppage in the ninth round to Sebastian Lujan.
Argentinean Lujan has been in there with the best of them, and he once went to war against Antonio Margarito for 10 rounds. The fight had to be stopped to keep Lujan?s left ear from falling off, after Margarito?s brutal attack. Did he do it with loaded gloves? Your guess is as good as mine.
Was Mark Jason matched tough? Yes of course he was, and he probably needed more than eight days? notice to carve out a game-plan for the veteran opponent.
But that?s the way the fight game goes. Sometimes you can spend an entire career fighting stiffs to pad your record, but mendacity will get its reckoning from the fight fans.
Or you can be matched tough and endure a couple of losses here and there which might not look pretty on your record but you gain more in terms of experience and fistic knowledge.
So it was not unwise for ALA Promotions to accept Lujan?s challenge on short notice. Remember how Manny Pacquiao took on Lehnoholo Ledwaba on two weeks? notice. The rest as we know it is pugilistic history.
Keep your head up high Mark, it was a valiant effort.
LAST ROUND. It?s on Caecent Noot-Magsumbol who recently celebrated her birthday. Cheers!
