Wladimir Klitschko- Living Proof Boxing is very much Alive.

A host of European fighters draw full houses to big fight cards in Germany and there are many other corners of the world where the sport thrives. The thing is, boxing in Europe at the time has proved to get high ratings. Heck, it gets good ratings when its done properly and given half a chance to succeed (screened at a normal time and built up).With Setanta in turmoil, Sky picked up the slack and showed the Klitschko-Chagaev heavyweight title fight in Britain on 20th June 2009 . Klitschko was clinically impressive. Exciting, he was not. In fact, if you wanted to punish a family friend or in-law you could do worse them buy them Wladimir Kiltschkos DVD boxset. To Wlads credit, however, he boxed Chagaev with a stirring efficiency. Yes, thats about as dramatic as I will go on this one. Unlike the horribly reluctant trio of Tony Thompson, Hasim Rahman and Sultan Ibragimov, Chagev at least tried to make some sort of fight by coming forward. The only problem with that was when he wasnt pawed at by the Klitschko jab he was nailed with it and when he took a right hand it always seemed to be flush in the face and of the sickening variety. In comparison with Wlads other fights, this was not dull. It was an exhibition of how to use power, height and reach to ones advantage. It was effortless, and for the critics thats part of the problem. It was, also, an example of what happens when a fighter has been knocked stiff twice by lesser fighters and then meets a boxer better than the ones who have knocked him out.For most, Chagaev was an improvement on South Africas crude clubber Corrie Sanders and stood more of a chance than underdog Lamon Brewster. Maybe thats why Klitschko did not gamble once in the fight, choosing to throw three punches, jab, right and left hook, all night rather than electing to attack the body or throw uppercuts. He appears so fearful .And you know what, while that is not a great thing, it is not the end of the world. Sure he is no Joe Louis. no Rocky Marciano, no Mike Tyson and no Ali. But he has learned his lessons. Hes dusted himself off and become a dominant champion.And there is an element of excitement in all of his fights because it just takes one shot for the Ukrainian to start crumbling.But his reign as heavyweight champion is proof that the sport is not in trouble. The fact a fighter, so uncharismatic and so robotically methodical can sell out 61,000 seats in a football stadium shows that. In that instance, the David Haye factor cannot be overlooked, of course. But the fact that number of people went to a Klitschko fight (knowing Haye was off the bill) says something, doesnt it? :You_Rock_

Comments (8)

Well I looked at prices as I was interested in traveling there for the fight. You can get nosebleed seats where you probably cant really see for 30 Euros but you have to realize those are seats that other fighters can't even sell. That's just a little icing on the cake for the organizers who don't want to see any space going to waste. There are basically 4 levels of seating for these fights. Yeah there are cheap ones but to sit lower bowl will run about 150-200 Euros to sit ring center w a decent view. On the floor away from the ring go from 200-400 and the good seats up close cost anywhere from 500-1000 Euros depending on the row. The fight in Gelsenkirchen, the upper and lower tiers of the stadium, the tickets ranged from from £15 - £60 tops because you were still pretty far from the ring. The floor sits where through the roof though but fights in Germany the people that have floor sit tickets are wearing suits and have there arm around a blonde Scandinavian tart with DD's, clapping in between rounds like there at an opera house.

16y ago

Hitman932

Which part? You could get Haye - Wlad tickets for like £15 over here. That's cheap for a fight if you ask me. Well I looked at prices as I was interested in traveling there for the fight. You can get nosebleed seats where you probably cant really see for 30 Euros but you have to realize those are seats that other fighters can't even sell. That's just a little icing on the cake for the organizers who don't want to see any space going to waste. There are basically 4 levels of seating for these fights. Yeah there are cheap ones but to sit lower bowl will run about 150-200 Euros to sit ring center w a decent view. On the floor away from the ring go from 200-400 and the good seats up close cost anywhere from 500-1000 Euros depending on the row.

16y ago

Chunk

That's bullshit. Why even make up a lie like that? Which part? You could get Haye - Wlad tickets for like £15 over here. That's cheap for a fight if you ask me.

16y ago

Hitman932

Tickets for Klitschko fights are dirt cheap and he's a star in Germany. That's bullshit. Why even make up a lie like that?

16y ago

Chunk

So I guess its Eddie Chambers whos selling the 51,000 tickets for March 20th too? Tickets for Klitschko fights are dirt cheap and he's a star in Germany.

16y ago

minasyan

boxing is like football it is never dead it is too big to die

16y ago

BURNER

Mayweather and Pacquiao is the reason boxing is alive. The coverage these two are getting is insane. Its great for boxing. Hell HBO dont even want to see Wlads fight.

16y ago

MurderDeathKill

No one man nor any one fight is needed to save boxing. Without an undisputed HW champ from America, and without Pac-Floyd boxing will still be perfectly fine. I never got the paranoia over MMA taking over. That shit is garbage and can never replace boxing. Mainstream coverage of boxing ain't great, but the sport is nowhere near dead.

16y ago