Wladimir Klitschko: Mind Over What Matters?

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Patrick Kehoe - At the close of the Lennox Lewis Era in heavyweight boxing, it was Vitali Klitschko who was poised to take command of the heavyweight division. Five years older, athletically bolder and inch taller than his Olympic gold medal winning brother – not forgetting possessor of an authentic warrior’s chin – it seemed via the merits of fate he was destined to be the titular head of professional pugilism’s punch for pay pyramid. His blood soaked, body withering war with Lewis at the Staples Center, June 21, 2003, left him facially lacerated yet critically laurelled, confounded in technical defeat, marginally denied universal recognition as heavyweight champion, though the heir still very much apparent, and six months later with Lewis bowing out, WBC heavyweight champion.

HBO sports had a soft spot for Wladmir, probably because he openly enjoyed California and New York and Las Vegas, as a guy with a palpable aversion for winning his matches by decision. Where brother Wladimir fancied himself a technical boxer, who looked for moments to unload once his left jab had secured defensive distance, big brother Vitali used his amateurish jab as a tactical pretence, a firing mechanism for his ironfist right hand. Where Wladimir constructed his stoppages, always conscious of securing his defensive positions, Vitali stood tall, feinted, jabbed and shuffled ahead with only destruction as his surest tactical insight. [details]

[!!Captain]

Author hits a couple very good points, that's precisely why I always liked Vitali more - he entered the ring with one mission on his mind - to **** another guy up, whatever it takes.

[Guest]

Wouldn't it be cool if Thompson and Klit just went toe to toe in the center of the ring and engaged in a war with both taking brutal shots and coming back, LIKE Tua-Ibeabuchi.

Man, I am dreaming.

[Jim Jeffries]

Author hits a couple very good points, that's precisely why I always liked Vitali more - he entered the ring with one mission on his mind - to **** another guy up, whatever it takes.

I've always thought that if Wlad had his brother's chin and killer instinct, he would be a top 10 ATG HW hands down.

[-Swizzy-]

very good read. made me wonder of what could've been, had vitali not retired due to injury so early in his career. he definitely would've made a case for top 10 all-time IMO.

[edgarg]

Not quite right, a little literary "licence".

Lewis didn't "bow out" until about 10 months later, nearly a year. But before that he went throuigh all the gyrations he was capable of to mess Klitschko around, and to deny him any competence. Finally, after he saw Klitschko slaughter Kirk Johnson, on the date that he Lewis was supposed to have fought Klitschko in their return, he procrastinated until pressure was put on him by the WBC, and he ungracefully retired.

[edgarg]

article writer's typo.....??

I think the writer, faced with composing his mammoth article (which I haven't read yet) got the brothers mixed up a little in his second paragraph. Surely "Vitaly" is meant, rahter than "Wladimir".

I've always seen Vitaly as a genuine hunter ion the ring, a first class example of the "seek and destroy" genre. A genuine killer in the ring, and with the most accurate punching, almost as if he's using a high-powered 'scope.

[Sweet Pea 50]

The HW division is just hot basura.
Doesn't matter who "Reigns".
It is what it is. Tunney, Wlad, and Ricky can't tell me ****.
Hot garbage....
Not because an Eastern Euro is the champ. No.
It blows, because it BLOWS.

[aristotlemoses]

i thought garbage was basuna with an n?

[Leo Pradun]

No matter what Klitschko does it will be **** and not good enough for these idiots who keep talking ****.