On February 23 at Madison Square Garden, IBF Heavyweight Champion, Wladimir Klitschko, and WBO Champion, Sultan Ibragimov, unify their titles.
With 31-year-old Wladimir Klitschko having recently avenged a KO loss at the hands of Lamon Brewster, and 32-year-old Sultan Ibragimov having beaten the old warhorse, Evander Holyfield, the two champions finally get down to serious business and fight each other.
Klitschko (49-3, 44 KOs), the International Boxing Federation Champion, is the prototypical modern heavyweight--6'6" and 245 pounds of lean muscle--with the unusual ability, even among smaller heavies, to snap off a quick left hook after a jab. The Ukrainian's right hand is his heavy artillery, though, and may be the hardest punch in the division.
Ibragimov (22-0-1, 17 KOs) is smaller at 6'2' and 220, but still formidable. Always appearing relaxed in the ring, his subtle movement and handspeed combine to set up better than average power.
Once the glamour division in boxing, the heavyweights have suffered from tentative matchmaking in recent years. The last fight with a unified heavyweight champion was Lennox Lewis vs. Vitali Klitschko back in 2003, after which the champion, Lewis, retired. The heavyweight title has since been fractured without any fighter, or promoter, seemingly willing to risk a loss against the brighter lights of the division until now.
Former Soviets Rule the Heavyweight Division
Currently, those brighter lights are coming from former Soviet nations. Along with Klitschko who is from the Ukraine, and Ibragimov, from Russia, is World Boxing Association Champion, Ruslan Chagaev from Uzbekistan, and Oleg World Boxing Council champion, Oleg Maskaev, who was born in Kazakhstan, although he has since become a US citizen.
What does the Klitschko/Ibragimov victor have to look forward to in the immediate future? Presumably the winner of Eddie Chambers vs. Alexander Povetkin.
Heavyweight Tounament
Chambers and Povetkin are the finalists in a mini tournament to determine who should get a crack at the winner of the February 23rd Madison Square Garden match-up. Chambers defeated Calvin Brock and Povetkin beat Chris Byrd on the way to a January 26, 2008 showdown.
So who will win the Klitschko/Ibragimov fight? Klitschko's three losses were all by knockout, but that doesn't tell the whole story as being knocked out in this division isn't always a sign of weakness. These are big men after all. It's the way he was knocked out that matters.
How to Beat Wladimir Klitschko
Klitschko's first loss, against journeyman Ross Puritty, was a simple case of the big man running out of gas. Klitschko was easily winning the fight until the inability to pace himself caught up with him in round eleven.
Both Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster aggressively took the fight to Klitschko and risked getting whacked in order to deliver their own shots. It worked. Sanders had Klitschko out in two rounds, Brewster finished him in five.
Emmanuel Steward Helps Klitschko Regain Confidence.
Since then, Emmanuel Steward, Klitschko's trainer has rekindled his fighter's confidence by teaching him to pace himself and relax in the ring. Built the way Steward likes his fighters--long armed and powerful ( Tommy Hearns, Lennox Lewis and currently, Kermit Cintron)--Klitschko uses his jab to control distance and set up his nuclear right. His left hook is always around the corner, just to keep his opponents honest.
Ibragimov Hasn't Shown Weakness
Ibragimov hasn't lost as a professional, so if there are glaring weaknesses they've been hidden well. If his apparent athleticism allows him an opportunity to time the surprisingly fast Klitschko's punches, he can get into the pocket and do some damage.
Whoever does serious damage on fight night lays the foundation for a rebuilt heavyweight division.
