By Mark Vester
In a recent interview with ESPN Magazine, IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko expressed his desire to fight the seven-foot giant, WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev. The sheer size of Valuev even grabbed Klitschko's interest, because he's never fought a fight that much bigger than him.
"(I would like to fight) Valuev. Because of his size. I've never fought anyone bigger than me," Klitschko said.
Klitschko joked that it would could become very difficult to find adequate sparring partners.
"I'd have to get them from the NBA," Klitschko noted.
He respects Valuev as a fighter and for what he's been able to accomplish in the ring. Klitschko admits that most thought it would be easy for Valuev because of his size, but the man labeled as "The Beast from The East" has had a hard road in the ring, and with boxing critics.
"You must respect a guy with that size to become champ and have two title defenses," he says. "Instead of easy, it's been hard for him. Lots of criticism."
While Ring Magazine and most experts regard Klitschko as the recognized heavyweight champion, he views himself as one of four champions. Klitschko does not want to call himself the champion of the world until he beats the other three title holders.
"I don't consider myself champion of the world," Klitschko said. "There are still three others. That is my motivation."
Klitschko meets undefeated Calvin Brock on November 11 in Madison Square Garden. The inexperienced Brock is a solid underdog, but is fully capable of pulling off an upset win.
