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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?
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?
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