Wladimir Klitschko Speaks: Haye, Arreola and History

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Lyle Fitzsimmons - It’s official.

Universally recognized heavyweight kingpin Wladimir Klitschko has chosen his next opponent.

History.

“As long as I can have things my way, what I’m looking for is more recognition and a record that at the end of the day I can be proud of,” the 32-year-old said in a Monday afternoon phone interview with BoxingScene.com.

“The time has come for me to begin working on my legacy, and I’m very excited about the opportunity to be remembered as the best fighter of my era. Lewis had his time. Tyson had his time.

"My goal is to be known as the best of my time.”

His credentials for such kudos are many.

Fresh off a seventh-round TKO of former belt-holder Hasim Rahman last month in Germany, Klitschko has made six defenses in a second reign atop the division that began with a similarly dominant seven-round defeat of Chris Byrd for the IBO and IBF titles in April 2006.

He had a five-defense run as WBO champion earlier in the decade as well, a stretch cut stunningly short by a second-round stoppage at the hands of Corrie Sanders in March 2003.

Another upset loss – this time to Lamon Brewster in a bout for the vacant WBO crown 13 months later – created a persistent chorus of naysayers the mammoth Ukrainian still hears to this day. [details]

[WLAD_OWNS]

Good interview

2009 will be another great year for Wlad.

Next Victim: Chris Arreola

[Dan...]

Arreola has next to no chance against Wladimir. I quite like Arreola but he is in there against a technical master who is pretty much better than him at everything.

[VirusTI]

I like what Wlad said about Holy

[LRcie03]

I don't know if some people will ever give Wlad respect.. including me lol. I would love to see him fight those 3 names however, it would be a great year for him. Although, I don't think it really is the opponents he chooses rather than his style of fighting.

To put it simply, I think Wlad lacks skill. I mean he does have a very impressive and powerful jab, a great right cross, and he for sure comes in shape. Thats not even to mention his massive size advantage over most opponents.

But is that enough to be considered a great in the Heavyweight division? For me, and I think alot of people, Wlad is going to have to learn how to mix it up, you know though some good combinations and uppercuts. Also, he looks like a robot in the ring, way to mechanical. Like Lennox Lewis said, Manny needs to make Wlad listen to some rap music so he gets some movement. If he works on those things - mixing it up, thowing combinations, uppercuts, and becoming less mechanical - I think that is a more impressive feat then boringly and unimpressively beating Haye, Arreloa, and Povektin in 2009 in the same fashion that he has been his other opponents.

[WLAD_OWNS]

I don't know if some people will ever give Wlad respect.. including me lol. I would love to see him fight those 3 names however, it would be a great year for him. Although, I don't think it really is the opponents he chooses rather than his style of fighting.

To put it simply, I think Wlad lacks skill. I mean he does have a very impressive and powerful jab, a great right cross, and he for sure comes in shape. Thats not even to mention his massive size advantage over most opponents.

But is that enough to be considered a great in the Heavyweight division? For me, and I think alot of people, Wlad is going to have to learn how to mix it up, you know though some good combinations and uppercuts. Also, he looks like a robot in the ring, way to mechanical. Like Lennox Lewis said, Manny needs to make Wlad listen to some rap music so he gets some movement. If he works on those things - mixing it up, thowing combinations, uppercuts, and becoming less mechanical - I think that is a more impressive feat then boringly and unimpressively beating Haye, Arreloa, and Povektin in 2009 in the same fashion that he has been his other opponents.

You're a moron

Wlad is a very skilled fighter...He has the best jab in the world, great right hand, powerful left hook, fast hands for a big man, great defense, good footwork....AND he can also throw nice combinations, uppercuts and body shots

Here's a video of Wlad throwing and landing uppercuts, left hooks, body shots, combinations, etc

[KJB]

Do it to it, Wladimir. I dont think Haye, Arreola or Povetkin are going to beat him.
Obviously its a fight, a HW fight at that, so everyone has a punchers chance, and Wlad has a less than amazing chin. Wlad is so physical and so skillful though, I dont see it happening. Also Arreola better come into that fight under 240, or he is beyond screwed.

[gridiron]

Lyle, dear Lyle, last time out I jumped on you.
This time, I especially liked this quote:

Toward that end, Klitschko placed three names on his personal 2009 to-do list – unbeaten Russian Alexander Povetkin, power-punching Californian Chris Arreola and former three-belt cruiserweight champion David Haye.

Povetkin is a slugger, Arreola a mixture between slugger and hard-hitter, and Haye is a hard-hitter. The kinds Wlad doesn't like. He can't avoid Povetkin during the year, can he, Povetkin being the mandatory challenger. But any of the other two will also be an intriguing match-up.

If Wlad is the rightful owner of today's Heavyweight Crown, his brother Vitali might be the best heavyweight. His mandatory challenger is Juan Carlos Gomez, more of a boxer than a puncher, and not what Vitali preferes.

So, how couldn't we look forward to the heavyweight actions of 2009?
The division has certainly come alive again!

[Welter_Skelter]

I don't know if some people will ever give Wlad respect.. including me lol. I would love to see him fight those 3 names however, it would be a great year for him. Although, I don't think it really is the opponents he chooses rather than his style of fighting.

To put it simply, I think Wlad lacks skill. I mean he does have a very impressive and powerful jab, a great right cross, and he for sure comes in shape. Thats not even to mention his massive size advantage over most opponents.

But is that enough to be considered a great in the Heavyweight division? For me, and I think alot of people, Wlad is going to have to learn how to mix it up, you know though some good combinations and uppercuts. Also, he looks like a robot in the ring, way to mechanical. Like Lennox Lewis said, Manny needs to make Wlad listen to some rap music so he gets some movement. If he works on those things - mixing it up, thowing combinations, uppercuts, and becoming less mechanical - I think that is a more impressive feat then boringly and unimpressively beating Haye, Arreloa, and Povektin in 2009 in the same fashion that he has been his other opponents.

That would all be fine and dandy if you didn't have Floyd Mayweather Jr in your Avy..

[LRcie03]

You're a moron

Wlad is a very skilled fighter...He has the best jab in the world, great right hand, powerful left hook, fast hands for a big man, great defense, good footwork....AND he can also throw nice combinations, uppercuts and body shots

Here's a video of Wlad throwing and landing uppercuts, left hooks, body shots, combinations, etc

Lol take it easy man, no need for name calling; its just my opinion. The video you produced was ok, I didn't say that Wlad never throws uppercuts or mixes it up, I don't think he does it enough however. In some fights, including the Tony Thomson fight, he was getting beat up in there for a while because he kept on relying on his jab and forcing the straight right hand.

Don't be afraid of debate and criticism, we want to see our Heavyweight division do well, and especially our Heavyweight Chapmion. The issues I brought up are shared by alot of people on this forum, as well as boxing experts. Once again, you may compile a video where Wlad throws some combinations and uppercuts, but for the most part he heavily relies on his jab and his striagh right hand. Are you arguing that?