By Andrey Krikunov
Former EBU (European) super middleweight champion Vitali Tsypko is still recovering from his shoulder injury and doesn’t know when he will step into a ring again and whether it will happen in 2009.
“I have a microtear in the shoulder joint ligaments and as the doctors expected the recovery is very slow, - told Tsypko BoxingScene.com. – [Right] now I carefully work on my fitness – only do the running because I can’t really load my arms. We’ll plan on my next bout when the pain is completely gone. Will it be tune-up fight? I can say that I prepare to [take] any fight with full responsibility, because sometimes when boxers underestimate their opponents they lose even tune-up fights as a result. Still my next bout can happen this year– 10-12 weeks will be enough for preparation”.
The Ukrainian fought only twice in the last two years. His eliminator bout with Robert Stieglitz was cancelled because of Vitali’s sinus problems. This year Tsypko fought in an IBF Super Middleweight Title eliminator bout in April but lost a decision to Librado Andrade.
“My knockdown in the second round was decisive in that fight, - Tsypko explained. – It wasn’t too strong but it knocked me out of my rhythm, so I had to recover. Andrade has really [a real] exhausting fighting style and I just couldn’t adjust to it. But I guess I could have won if I hadn’t let him knock me down. As for Andrade’s chances in the title bout with Lucian Bute, I think Bute will see his weak points in the bout with me and will correct his own mistakes. He’s got more chances to win this fight and retain the title."
Another Tsypko’s ex-opponent Jeff Lacy lost last weekend to Roy Jones.
“I was sure that Jones would win, - stated Ukrainian boxer. - Firstly, because they met at light heavyweight, and secondly Lacy is a strong fighter but Jones has real talent. Such opponents like Lacy are very convenient for him”.
