David Haye lost to Wladimir Klitshcko last night, just as I predicted a month ago in my "Summer Fight Predictions" blog. It unfolded just as I thought it would. Haye was hopelessly outclassed by the bigger, stronger athlete. He had no idea how to get inside and be effective. Wladimir, meanwhile, was popping his jab and using his skill to make sure that David couldn't reach his chin. Now he has all of the major heavyweight titles except for the WBC Championship, which is held by his brother, Vitali.
This is not my first time correctly predicting a Klitshcko fight. I boldly predicted that Shannon Briggs would lose to Vitali last fall. And guess what? He did. Badly. Why are the Klitschkos dominating so much?
Several reasons. First, it's a weak heavyweight division. There's nobody around to give them a decent fight. And the Klitschkos train harder than everyone else. It's pretty obvious. They never run out of gas and can fight 12 rounds without difficulty.
Seriously, since Lennox Lewis retired, who is there to give them any trouble? Evander Holyfield is still fighting at the age of 48, and is the current WBF Heavyweight Champion. But both Klitschkos have stated numerous times that they will not fight him. I respect their decision. Why beat up on an ancient fighter from your childhood? That's like me getting into the ring with Mike Tyson right now.
This leads me to the man many considered the "savior" of the heavyweight division....David Haye.
David Haye was overrated and overhyped for years--Klitschko has finally exposed him. He was on a roll against lackluster competition, but folded when he fought a legit champion. Haye's journey reminds me of guys like Ray Mercer and David Tua; men who appeared to be almost unstoppable until they stepped into the ring with an all time great and got humiliated. Making things worse was Haye's excuse of losing because of his "broken toe."
I knew Haye would lose, but it would have been better for boxing if he'd won. He'd have three titles, and after fighting Vitali for the WBC crown, one of them would be the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion. Now the division is at a halt. Wladimir has three belts and will not fight his brother to become the Undisputed Champion.
In my opinion, the Klitschko brothers are not all time greats. Don't get me wrong...the Klitschkos have talent. Like Lennox Lewis, they move moderately well for men over 6'5. But there's so many flaws in their robotic styles that would get them steamrolled by several of the great heavyweight champions of the past. For example, I see Rocky Marciano knocking out Wladimir sometime before round 12, and outworking his brother Vitali to get a unanimous decision or late stoppage. Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis both had the speed and the attack to lay out the Klitschkos.
Vitali is the more of the brawler between the two brothers. He has an excellent chin--he hasn't been put on the canvas yet. (He took some crushing punches from Lennox Lewis in their 2003 battle, and stayed on his feet) Vitali also packs a serious wallop. But, he drops his left hand after jabbing. He also has poor balance at times. But he has hasn't fought anyone smart enough to counter him or take advantage of these flaws.
Wladimir backpedals often, leading me to suspect that an inside pressure fighter would have an easy time forcing him against the ropes and landing at will. Someone like Joe Frazier would love a big , retreating opponent like Wladimir Klitshko. Wladimir also has an average chin--a soli could knock him cold if they get inside and catch him flush. It happened when he fought Corrie Sanders in 2002. But, no one is talented or clever enough to do it in today's heavyweight division.
The Klitshkos are being guided through their championship years by the genius of Emanuel Steward in their corners. Without his intelligent ring strategies, they would not have won the belts anc kept them this long.
And, there's no one around to fight them. The only fighters around who could beat them are too old to pull it off today. Of today's roster, I think a prime Evander Holyfield would have beaten both fighters. David Tua would have knocked out Wladimir, but would defeat Vitali on points or by late TKO in a slugfest. A peak Shannon Briggs may get a quick knockout over Wladimir, but loses to Vitali.
I never thought I'd say it, but I'm now a Klitshcko fan. I have no choice. I've got to respect them. But I guarantee you that if we could rewind the clock and put them in the ring with the heavyweights from previous eras, they wouldn't have much success at all.
This is not my first time correctly predicting a Klitshcko fight. I boldly predicted that Shannon Briggs would lose to Vitali last fall. And guess what? He did. Badly. Why are the Klitschkos dominating so much?
Several reasons. First, it's a weak heavyweight division. There's nobody around to give them a decent fight. And the Klitschkos train harder than everyone else. It's pretty obvious. They never run out of gas and can fight 12 rounds without difficulty.
Seriously, since Lennox Lewis retired, who is there to give them any trouble? Evander Holyfield is still fighting at the age of 48, and is the current WBF Heavyweight Champion. But both Klitschkos have stated numerous times that they will not fight him. I respect their decision. Why beat up on an ancient fighter from your childhood? That's like me getting into the ring with Mike Tyson right now.
This leads me to the man many considered the "savior" of the heavyweight division....David Haye.
David Haye was overrated and overhyped for years--Klitschko has finally exposed him. He was on a roll against lackluster competition, but folded when he fought a legit champion. Haye's journey reminds me of guys like Ray Mercer and David Tua; men who appeared to be almost unstoppable until they stepped into the ring with an all time great and got humiliated. Making things worse was Haye's excuse of losing because of his "broken toe."
I knew Haye would lose, but it would have been better for boxing if he'd won. He'd have three titles, and after fighting Vitali for the WBC crown, one of them would be the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion. Now the division is at a halt. Wladimir has three belts and will not fight his brother to become the Undisputed Champion.
In my opinion, the Klitschko brothers are not all time greats. Don't get me wrong...the Klitschkos have talent. Like Lennox Lewis, they move moderately well for men over 6'5. But there's so many flaws in their robotic styles that would get them steamrolled by several of the great heavyweight champions of the past. For example, I see Rocky Marciano knocking out Wladimir sometime before round 12, and outworking his brother Vitali to get a unanimous decision or late stoppage. Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis both had the speed and the attack to lay out the Klitschkos.
Vitali is the more of the brawler between the two brothers. He has an excellent chin--he hasn't been put on the canvas yet. (He took some crushing punches from Lennox Lewis in their 2003 battle, and stayed on his feet) Vitali also packs a serious wallop. But, he drops his left hand after jabbing. He also has poor balance at times. But he has hasn't fought anyone smart enough to counter him or take advantage of these flaws.
Wladimir backpedals often, leading me to suspect that an inside pressure fighter would have an easy time forcing him against the ropes and landing at will. Someone like Joe Frazier would love a big , retreating opponent like Wladimir Klitshko. Wladimir also has an average chin--a soli could knock him cold if they get inside and catch him flush. It happened when he fought Corrie Sanders in 2002. But, no one is talented or clever enough to do it in today's heavyweight division.
The Klitshkos are being guided through their championship years by the genius of Emanuel Steward in their corners. Without his intelligent ring strategies, they would not have won the belts anc kept them this long.
And, there's no one around to fight them. The only fighters around who could beat them are too old to pull it off today. Of today's roster, I think a prime Evander Holyfield would have beaten both fighters. David Tua would have knocked out Wladimir, but would defeat Vitali on points or by late TKO in a slugfest. A peak Shannon Briggs may get a quick knockout over Wladimir, but loses to Vitali.
I never thought I'd say it, but I'm now a Klitshcko fan. I have no choice. I've got to respect them. But I guarantee you that if we could rewind the clock and put them in the ring with the heavyweights from previous eras, they wouldn't have much success at all.
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