Tall Orders Await Wladimir Klitschko At Every Turn

By Jake Donovan

Heading into this weekend and even in the event that he emerges victorious, tall orders await Wladimir Klitschko at every turn.

There is no such thing as an easy day in the office anymore when you are four months shy of your 40th birthday and the longtime claimant to the most prized possession that boxing historically has to offer. Klitschko believes he is as ready as he will ever be ahead of his World heavyweight championship title defense versus unbeaten 6’9” challenger Tyson Fury.

The heavyweight giants collide Saturday evening at ESPRIT Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany.  Globally it’s as big of an event as they come, with a sold-out crowd expected on location (despite security risks given recent terror threats) and the fight being featured worldwide. RTL will air the fight live in Germany, as will HBO in the United States and Sky Sports Box Office in the United Kingdom.

Physically, Fury is the biggest challenger that the 6’6” Klitschko (64-3, 53KOs) will have faced over the course of an incredible title run that extends all the way back to his rematch win over Chris Byrd in April ’06. What has followed is one of the longest reigns in heavyweight history, having made 18 defenses of at least one major title, along with 11 successful World title defenses since establishing his lineal championship reign with a 9th round stoppage of Ruslan Chagaev in June ’09.

The win over Chagaev represents one of eight previously unbeaten opponents to have their first loss dealt by Klitschko. Come this weekend, Fury (24-0, 18KO) will be the third straight undefeated challenger to step to the defending World champion from Ukraine and sixth in his last seven fights.

As has been the case with every previous contender who’d never before known what it feels like to lose a fight, he enters with cautious optimism.

“I'm going to fight a guy that is younger, taller, heavier, and having a longer reach than me,” acknowledges Klitschko, who fights in Germany for the 15th time among his current 20-fight title reign, including having won the belt from Byrd in Germany nearly 10 years ago.

Fury is the first opponent in three years to enjoy those physical advantages, although size alone has never proven enough to conquer the larger-than-life champion.

“I fought a guy Mariusz Wach, who - like Tyson Fury – was taller than me,” Klitschko recalls of his Nov. ’12 title defense versus the previously unbeaten contender from Poland. “It was the first fight with Johnathon Banks in my corner. It was a very emotional fight for me, the first after Emanuel Steward passed away. I compare these two fights.”

Klitschko managed to prevail by unanimous decision over the iron-chinned Wach, who recently extended Alexander Povetkin into the 12th round of their heavyweight clash earlier this month. It served as one of just five occasions in which the long-reigning champion failed to deliver a knockout finish, also occurring in his most recent win – a unanimous decision over Bryant Jennings in April.

While Fury enjoys the edge in height and reach, the defending heavyweight king plans to use his rare size disadvantage to his own benefit.

“We have a strategy and how that's going to work, we need to all wait until November 28 and see how that happens,” Klitschko teases, although tipping his hand just a little bit. “You have a man that is taller than me, so obviously the body is right there. The way Tyson Fury is built, he has long legs and long arms. I hope I have enough space to hit him with body shots as well.”

Both sides have promised a knockout, but then when was the last time a fighter guaranteed a decision win in a major heavyweight fight.

Still, it would be in Klitschko’s best interest to deliver a spectacular finish in the event that he’s in the position to do so. While this fight is big enough on its own, there’s always more that lies ahead when you are the ruler of the heavyweight division.

While Klitschko is the recognized lineal champion and in possession of most of the relevant heavyweight hardware, there’s still one belt outside his lengthy reach. It’s the one title he has never held at any point during his incredible career that has just passed 19 full years in service.

As far as alphabet titles go, the World Boxing Council (WBC) strap is the last that he needs to complete the full set. It was never in reach for a four-year stretch during his reign since it was in possession of his older brother Vitali Klitschko.

It took well over a year to fill the vacancy following the elder Klitschko’s formal retirement in 2013 – which he announced months after his final career bout in Sept. ’12. Bermane Stiverne managed to win the available belt, scoring a 6th round knockout of Chris Arreola last May.

As long as it took him to land the overdue title shot, Stiverne conceded the crown in his very first title defense, dropping a landslide decision to Deontay Wilder earlier this year.

The feat marked the first time in nearly eight years that an American fighter held any portion of the heavyweight crown in his possession. The last was Shannon Briggs, who for the past two years has desperately attempted to attention whore his way to a shot at Klitschko.

Wilder doesn’t need to resort to such antics. There is already mutual respect between the unbeaten titlist from Alabama and the long-reigning World heavyweight champion. Both firmly believe an eventual clash will take place – providing that Klitschko survives this weekend’s challenge versus Fury and Wilder manages to get past whatever voluntary title challenge awaits him in January.

“I'm observing who's doing what,” Klitschko says of his heavyweight peers, keeping a firm eye on the kingdom he oversees. “He was in my training camp and I'm glad he's doing well.”

Cast aside boxing politics and you get the sense that such a fight would have already taken place. Klitschko is in a position in his career where he can call his own shots, save for having to honor mandatory challenges such as what Fury represents this weekend.

As for Wilder?

“I know it's not his fault,” Klitschko says of such a fight not yet materializing. “He doesn't have influence on his management (including high profile adviser Al Haymon), they make the calls for him in this case. But he's getting criticized because he's fighting these guys.

“He needs to have a conversation. I was in that same situation (when the Klitschko’s used to fight for Universum Box). I was not picking my opponents out. Someone put these opponents in the ring for me, and I had to fight them. Now we have the same case here (with Deontay Wilder). I think he's extremely talented. I think he's an outstanding athlete and his KO percentage speaks for itself. Of course I'd love to see him against better opposition.”

Whenever broached with the subject, Wilder’s answer is always the same – “It’s not a matter of if, but when we fight.” His own belief is that the fight happens at some point in 2016.

It likely won’t happen in the first six months of the year. Wilder - who like Fury is younger (30), taller (6'7"), boasts a longer reach (83" to Klitschko's 81") and is currently undefeated - still has lying ahead his own mandatory challenge versus Alexander Povetkin. With the slew of belts in Klitschko’s possession come similar obligations.

Still, all big fights have a way of eventually coming to the forefront. This weekend marks the first of an extended five-fight deal with RTL in Germany for Klitschko, which means he has every intention of sticking around at least through his 41st birthday in 2017.  Assuming he continues to win, it should be enough time to secure the one prize for which he’s never had the opportunity to contend.

“I haven't ever had the WBC belt. I've desperately been asking the WBC for this opportunity for a long time, but never got the opportunity for different circumstances,” Klitschko notes, although also quick to point out what the fight represents for the other side. “Am I desperate for (the WBC) title? Absolutely not. If you want to be heavyweight champion, you have to go through me.”

For now, the one willing to travel that route is a brash, mouthy 6’9” heavyweight who hails from England. Any boxer – Klitschko included – would be foolish to look that far down the road.

“Tyson Fury is an interesting style, and this will be a difficult fight for me,” Klitschko admits. “It's going to be a real challenge for me and I look forward to this fight.”

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox