By Keith Idec
NEW YORK – Wladimir Klitschko demonstrated Tuesday that his older brother isn’t the only politician in the family after he was asked about Floyd Mayweather’s flamboyant behavior outside the ring.
The humble, respectful heavyweight champion from Ukraine typically takes the complete opposite approach Mayweather employs, but Klitschko said prior to a press conference at Madison Square Garden that boxers are all part of “one family” that has “different characters.” Klitschko (63-3, 53 KOs), who’ll defend his IBF/WBA/WBO titles against unbeaten Bryant Jennings (19-0, 10 KOs) on Saturday night at The Garden, also made it clear he has real respect for Mayweather’s accomplishments as a boxer and as a businessman.
“We can look at it critically and what he’s saying,” Klitschko said. “Floyd is Floyd. He’s promoting his fights in the way he’s done it, but we need to give credit to him. To be undefeated since 1996, since the Olympics, when he’s been in boxing for 19 years, professional boxing, we have to give him respect. Maybe his fights are not as impressive as Pacquiao’s, but they’re effective and he’s been undefeated. And he’s the best-paid athlete in the world.”
Klitschko isn’t bothered, either, by answering constant questions related to the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, which has overshadowed his first fight in the United States since February 2008. Like virtually every boxing fan, Klitschko is looking forward to seeing who wins May 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“From a boxing standpoint, I think the slight advantage is on Mayweather’s side because of his size and technical capabilities,” said Klitschko, who will watch the fight on pay-per-view at his Florida home. “I’m going to put it at 51-49 for Mayweather from a boxing standpoint. We’re not talking about personal [matters]. Just on boxing, I think he has the physical advantage and the technical [advantage] as well – slight.”
Keith Idec covers boxing for The Record and Herald News, of Woodland Park, N.J., and BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
