Witness: Vitali Really WAS Dropped in Sparring

from boxing insider Witness Speaks on Klitschko Spar Session Reported By: Boxing Insider - 11.07.2005 01:54 AM Lets Get Credit.com - Bad Credit? No Credit? NO Problem - Get Your Credit Card Now! - 100's of New Offers! Witness Speaks on Klitschko Spar Session By Scoop Malinowski Not much is known about what exactly happened late last week in the sparring sessions of Vitali Klitschko, as he was making final preparations for the big mandatory WBC Heavyweight Championship defense against Hasim Rahman. The Klitschko side is saying there was a knee injury that happened on Thursday while sparring. A knee brace was used in Friday's sparring but the WBC champion says he just did not feel comfortable with it. Now there are rumors being spread by Don King about Klitschko supposedly being knocked down in sparring. Rahman said on Boxingtalk.com that he heard Klitschko had been knocked out in sparring - with the big gloves and headgear on. Klitschko had been sparring with top American heavyweight prospects Rafael Butler and Travis Walker. I reached their manager Steve Munisteri by telephone to ask him if he knew what really happened? "Let me start by saying I don't think it's cool when guys who are paid to be sparring partners, brag about what they did in sparring," stated Munisteri. "Travis Walker and Rafael Butler were hired to work with the Klitschkos (for $1,500 a week) and that's what they did. Ed Mahone was there somedays too." (Mahone challenged Vitali for the WBO title in 1999 but lost via TKO 3 in Oberhausen, Germany.) When asked again if it was true about Klitschko being knocked out or knocked down in the sparring, Munisteri paused and said, "It's true Travis and Rafael can hold their own with anybody, let me put it that way. They're big strong punchers, really solid big guys and they can really bang." Both Walker and Butler are former U.S. National Golden Gloves Super Heavyweight champions, Walker - who stands 6-4 and weighs 260 - in 2003, Butler, 6-5, 245, in 2004. Munisteri said his two pro heavyweights both worked with Wladimir Klitschko as he prepared for Samuel Peter in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania this past summer. Vitali decided to employ Butler and Walker as well for his camp at the Pound-4-Pound Gym in Los Angeles. Munisteri said he was actually in the gym for the first day of sparring and the last day - Friday - when Vitali "quit sparring." After the injury on Thursday, Vitali showed up on Friday and sparred a couple of rounds...I'll just say they stopped after a couple of rounds. We were told to go home after Friday's sparring. It was reported he apparently tried to come back and spar on Saturday with Mahone." Klitschko, who turned 34 this past July, may now be stripped of the WBC title for having postponed because of injury the challenge of Rahman for the fourth time this year (April 30, June 18, July 23 and Nov. 12). Klitschko stood to earn around $8 million - win or lose - for fighting Rahman this Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Comments (20)

Anybody who actually believes Danny Green SERIOUSLY beat up on JT in that sparring video is way off their rocker. Anybody who thinks JT was even remotely trying is also delusional beyond repair. Toney let Green do whatever he wanted (which was nothing) and then beat the piss out of his face for the last 41 seconds or whatever it was of the sparring session. Come on people... I also don't believe this whole Vitali KD'ed in sparring thing. Like someone already mentioned...dude took Lewis' and Sanders best shots for 14 rounds combined and all of a sudden he's being KD'ed by newcomers? I don't buy it but whatever floats your boat...maybe his knee gave out and somebody punched him on his way down.

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

I have the video, and Toney toys with Green. He sits on the ropes and plays peekaboo, talks to everyone around the ring while thowing the occasional counter that rocks green, and cusses out Green the whole time. The last 30 seconds show Toney counter him to the face off the ropes, and Green's nose pours blood. Saying Green 'ownded' Toney is a joke. JT was playing with him.

20y ago

_El_Jefe

James toney didnt get his ass handed to him at all during sparring with Danny Green that video was on Max Boxing and i dont like Toney and thats why i wanted to watch it. Well if anyone got the worst of itm was easily Danny Green, he was all bloody. you are kidding??? can anyone get that vid??

20y ago

ULTIMATE

What about your boy James Toney getting his ass handed to him by none other than Danny Green in sparring. James toney didnt get his ass handed to him at all during sparring with Danny Green that video was on Max Boxing and i dont like Toney and thats why i wanted to watch it. Well if anyone got the worst of itm was easily Danny Green, he was all bloody.

20y ago

MetalVomit

Didnt boxing insider once put up a story about our site stealing Round by Round coverage?

20y ago

Bob_N_Weave

All of these reports seem to be coming from the Rahman camp. Think about it guys..... Even if there is some truth to it, im sure that we are not being told the story straight. Such as Vitali's hurt leg had lots do to with it. Regardless, what the hell gives china chinned Rahman the right to berate someones chin. Remember what Maskaev did to him?? zzzzzzzzz.

20y ago

TheManWhoCan

HELL YEAH I can jab betta than Vitali. Shyyyyyt! His jab look like a bitch slap, he doesn't close his hand in a fist and jest slaps his opponents. He's been fortunate cuz he's always much bigga than his opponents and also he has power in his right hand. BUT he is one awkward movin fighta no doubt. Call me crazy, but I don't believe you lol. And I'll bet that the other 62 people (or however many people he's fought) would say that Vitali's jab is not a bitch slap. I can throw a faster jab then him, that's for sure, but a better one, no way. In a jabbing contest I'd have to go with Vitali on this one man.

20y ago

riz

i dont trust it

20y ago

legend

lol. all of a sudden eh is getting his ass kicked by sparring partners whith head gear on yet lewis and sanders couldn't knock him down? Nice try klit haters.

20y ago

BLOODSHED

Doctor tells Vitali he can fight, and the next Super Lightweight champ thinks otherwise.... mmmmh. Good luck with your career too "future champ". LOL! Read the preceeding post, assjack. That diagnosis was made BEFORE they inspected the knee to see it was totally torn, you jackass. Read the timeline of the reports. Now don't talk to me anymore asswipe. You've proven your stupidity over and over with your agenda laden threads. No more seeing what your pointless wigger ass has got to say. I got you on ignore for a reason. Please remember this for your next post so that you know not to address or respond to me in any way. Thanks. Even if you, I'll never know. Next.

20y ago

Super_Lightweight

hmm Read the preceeding post, assjack. That diagnosis was made BEFORE they inspected the knee to see it was totally torn, you jackass. Read the timeline of the reports. Now don't talk to me anymore asswipe. You've proven your stupidity over and over with your agenda laden threads. No more seeing what your pointless wigger ass has got to say. I got you on ignore for a reason. Please remember this for your next post so that you know not to address or respond to me in any way. Thanks. Even if you, I'll never know. Next.

20y ago

arum's doc said he might be able to fight with a brace, but the guy never checked the mri's. get the facts straight before posting, that's all i'm saying.

20y ago

BLOODSHED

Point is, doctor okayed him to fight. You're not a doctor. So, he can fight. But chose to bitch out of his obligations. What else is new? Why has no one asked the obvious question to this obvious hater who finds some sort of relevance to this? Question: What the flying fuck is the big deal about knocking someone down who has a knee brace over a torn meniscus? LOL...Vitali's goofy balance would be thrice as worse as usual under those circumstances. Please get a clue. many of you have obviously never boxed.

20y ago

Super_Lightweight

hmm Why has no one asked the obvious question to this obvious hater who finds some sort of relevance to this? Question: What the flying fuck is the big deal about knocking someone down who has a knee brace over a torn meniscus? LOL...Vitali's goofy balance would be thrice as worse as usual under those circumstances. Please get a clue. many of you have obviously never boxed.

20y ago

Manny_P

So you can jab better then Vitali I guess to be making comments on his technique. HELL YEAH I can jab betta than Vitali. Shyyyyyt! His jab look like a bitch slap, he doesn't close his hand in a fist and jest slaps his opponents. He's been fortunate cuz he's always much bigga than his opponents and also he has power in his right hand. BUT he is one awkward movin fighta no doubt.

20y ago

BLOODSHED

How can you say they're false. Were you there? there reports are false, simply a way too build hype around butler and walker who ( if you guys had actually seen them fight) are not very good boxers.

20y ago

Hitman932

there reports are false, simply a way too build hype around butler and walker who ( if you guys had actually seen them fight) are not very good boxers.

20y ago

TheManWhoCan

Vitali's chin best? LOL! Eva heard of David Tua? Samuel Peter? You takin nuthuggin to ta new level homeboi. Why don't you tell Vitali to practice how to jab. So you can jab better then Vitali I guess to be making comments on his technique.

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

I find you up in Vitali's ass each and every time. The fact you make comments like that speak for them selves. What would you even be doing looking up Vitali's ass? BUSTED! :eek:

20y ago

Enayze

And you'd find yourself with Vitali's rod in your mouth in each and every one. I find you up in Vitali's ass each and every time.

20y ago