by Cliff Rold

The first way to define a great champion is to ask if he gave opportunity to the men who earned it.  Wladimir Klitschko meets that standard. 

Saturday in Germany, the best fighter in the world (literally if not ‘pound-for-pound’) attempts his 17th consecutive IBF and 10th consecutive lineal title defense against arguably the best available contender he hasn’t defeated yet.  Love him or not, it’s impossible to argue Klitschko hasn’t fought the best guys he could in amassing those numbers. 

In any long title reign, there are woeful opponents. Klitschko has faced them.  He has also faced the cream of his era’s crop. He has commendably continued fighting tough outs at least once a year even as age creeps on him.  Last fall, it was Alexander Povetkin.  In the two years prior, it was a rematch with Tony Thompson and David Haye.  Over the years, the only top guy of note Klitschko missed was his brother.

Even in the cynical world of boxing, siblings should never be expected to fight.  That one makes sense.

Kubrat Pulev, with a win over Thompson in 2013, earned his crack.  Now we see what he can do with it.  
 
Let’s go to the report card.

The Ledgers

Wladimir Klitschko
Age: 38
Title: IBF Heavyweight (2006-Present, 16 Defenses); WBO Heavyweight (2008-Present, 12 Defenses); Lineal/Ring World Heavyweight (2009-Present, 9 Defenses); WBA ‘Super’ Heavyweight (2011-Present, 6 Defenses); IBO Heavweight (2006-Present, 16 Defenses).
Previous Titles: WBO Heavyweight (2000-03, 5 Defenses)
Height: 6’6
Weight: 245.8 lbs.

Hails from: Kiev, Ukraine
Record: 62-3, 52 KO, 3 KOBY
Record in Major Title Fights: 23-2, 18 KO, 2 KOBY; 10-0, 7 KO (Lineal Title Only)
Current/Former World Champions Faced: 11 (Chris Byrd UD12, TKO7; Ray Mercer TKO6; Corrie Sanders TKO by 2; Lamon Brewster TKO by 5, RTD6; Samuel Peter UD12, KO10; Sultan Ibragimov UD12; Hasim Rahman TKO7; Ruslan Chagaev RTD9; David Haye UD12; Jean Marc Mormeck KO4; Alexander Povetkin UD12 – WBA Regular Titlist)

Vs.

Kubrat Pulev
Age: 33

Title/Previous Titles: None

Height: 6’4 ½ 
Weight: 246.9 lbs.

Hails from: Sofia, Bulgaria
Record: 20-0, 11 KO
Rankings: #1 (BoxingScene, Ring) #2 (TBRB, BoxRec), #4 (ESPN)
Record in Major Title Fights: 1st Title Opportunity
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: 0

Pre-Fight: Speed – Klitschko B+; Pulev B+
Pre-Fight: Power – Klitschko A+; Pulev B
Pre-Fight: Defense – Klitschko B+; Pulev B
Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Klitschko A; Pulev B+

For record keeping purposes, Pulev can only win the IBF belt this weekend based on sanctioning fee willingness. 

Whatever the belt held, the winner of this one is the only Heavyweight Champion of the World that counts.  Klitschko is the man.  The only way to be the man is to beat him.  Can Pulev assume the mantle? 

There are reasons to like his chances.

As seen last year against Alexander Povetkin, Klitschko can be a bear for fighters he is significantly heavier and taller than.  That is especially true when Klitschko is allowed to employ his lead-with-a-clinch approach.  Like Muhammad Ali’s infamous neck work, Klitschko has reached a level of esteem where there are certain fouls he is just allowed to get away with.  What worked against Povetkin is less likely to work on Pulev. 

While Klitschko is taller, Pulev is a big man and he won’t be easily worn down in the trenches.  He is strong enough to play a body game with Klitschko.  That will likely make for a better clash.  Pulev fights have their share of clinches, but he is there when he needs to be.  It’s not about killing the flow of the fight or letting foes kill it for him. 

In his first fight with Thompson, Klitschko got a spirited challenge.  Thompson had the size, and jab, to fight back and force some exchanges.  Pulev has some of the same chances. 

His jab is better than Thompson’s.  He also appears better coordinated.  Pulev’s head and foot movement are solid for a big man and he’s going to make Klitschko miss is spots.  When he does, the chance to counter will be there.  Pulev also, significant for this fight, will go to the body.  At 38, Klitschko may be vulnerable if the fight goes long and he’s taking some bruising to the flanks. 

With fights against Thompson, Alexander Ustinov, and Alexander Dimitrenko, Pulev has also seen men with comparable size to Klitschko.  He’s performed well.  None of them are in Klitschko’s league, but they provide a training ground before the biggest test of his career.  Pulev might even match the speed of Klitschko.

Where the challenger is at a deficit is in the power category.  While Pulev has stoppages in five of his last six, the most impressive of them came late and after steady punishment.  He hasn’t shown much one-shot power and can sometimes be seen throwing off the back foot.  There is less leverage there.  He might catch Klitschko that way, but it won’t be with the authority needed to score a stunning finish.

That’s just the Pulev side of the equation.

Klitschko will test the challenger with a better jab than he’s ever seen as a pro.  The champion’s jab is one of the best in Heavyweight history.  He can use it as a telephone pole.  He can also make it a mosquito, flicking and annoying and freezing opponents.  One of the reasons it works is because of what’s behind it.

Klitschko doesn’t go to the body much, if at all.  He’s also not much of a counter puncher.  He hasn’t needed either because, off the jab, his right hand and left hook are devastating weapons.   

While there have been times in his career when Klitschko struggled with stamina and punch resistance, they are getting farther away with each fight.  He hasn’t been on the floor since the first Sam Peter fight in 2005.  Outside of a brief moment against Mariusz Wach, he hasn’t even looked to be in much trouble since.

Pulev might be the guy to make some trouble.  Being able to finish if he is?  That’s a whole other question.   

The Pick

It says here that, while he will give Klitschko some fits, there just isn’t enough firepower in the Pulev arsenal to pull off the upset.  Pace will also be a factor.  Pulev fights at a steady pace.  It will suit the game of Klitschko.  The champion won’t be hurried into mistakes.  Pulev has talent.  He has skill.  The fundamentals are sound.  There isn’t much in the way of special effects. 

That’s another way of saying that, while he’s good, Pulev is too basic.  Without an eraser by way of proven knockout power, Pulev’s best bet to win is to outpoint Klitschko.  He’s not going to do that.  Instead, he’ll win a few rounds and last the distance.  Klitschko will exit with the decision win.

Then it will be time to ask the one question left for Klitschko: having shown he has no problem fighting the best available contenders, can he secure a fight with whomever holds the WBC belt next year and complete the unification of the Heavyweight division?  It’s the one stone left unturned in cementing this era as his.

Report Card Picks 2014: 52-22

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com