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Not my article, but I agree with alot of stuff in this article.
Written By: Armando Paz
The Klitschko Time Clock Waiting Game
I believe Haye is likely waiting for both Klitschko’s to get older and slower down. He will probably prefer for them to get out of the fight game and retire. We all remember that Sugar Ray Leonard waited years to fight Marvin Hagler after being called out for years by Hagler. Leonard saw that Hagler got slower and lost reflexes due to his wars with guys like Duran, Hearns, and Mugabi. Of course, we saw recently when Joe Calzaghe fought legendary fighters Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. years after those two fights were possible. Calzaghe thought about fighting Jones back in 2003, and yet fought him in 2008 after Jones had suffered losses to guys like Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson. I don’t think Haye is the only heavyweight fighter to wait for the Klitschko time clock to run out.
Alexander Povetkin (19-0 14 KO’s) had two opportunities to fight Wladimir Klitschko and missed out on both occasions. The first time it was a foot injury and second time was a sinus infection right before the press conference tour. The Povetkin cancelations are perceived as highly dubious; and brings credibility to the fact that he is simply buying time to get either Klitschko when they are pass their prime, or when they are out of the picture due to retirement or losing the title. Povetkin is scheduled to fight on October 30 and I guess that sinus infection couldn’t recover enough for a Klitschko fight on September 11, but it’s much better for a mediocore opponent on October 30.
Tomasz Adamek (42-1 27 KO’s) is another top contender that also might be waiting for the Klitschko legs to slow down. After defeating Michael Grant it was speculated that Adamek might be thinking about challenging Vitali Klitschko for his WBC title. Unfortunately, it looks Adamek might wait to next year for the Klitschko fight and is scheduled to fight Vinny Maddalone (33-6 24 KO’s) on December 9. Adamek a former Light Heavyweight and Cruiserweight champion is expected to implement a hit and run strategy against a Klitschko. He is expected to use his superb footwork, lateral movement, and combinations to try to defeat an older and slower Klitschko.
There is speculation that the failure of these contenders to sign deals was due to terms of contracts and failing to get more equitable purses by the Klitschko brothers. I find that to be preposterous. When a contender gets a title shot they should worry about getting that opportunity and not expect always the most lucrative offering. David Haye can argue about the contract, but he was never talking about money when he promised to destroy both brothers. Nicolai Valuev should have been happy that he still could get both a title fight and $2 million dollars when he was given an opportunity to fight Vitali Klitschko, instead he either wanted $4 million or a guarantee of the television revenue. Valuev a fighter who many felt was given gift decisions against Holyfield and Ruiz should have taken that final big pay day.
Written By: Armando Paz
The Klitschko Time Clock Waiting Game
I believe Haye is likely waiting for both Klitschko’s to get older and slower down. He will probably prefer for them to get out of the fight game and retire. We all remember that Sugar Ray Leonard waited years to fight Marvin Hagler after being called out for years by Hagler. Leonard saw that Hagler got slower and lost reflexes due to his wars with guys like Duran, Hearns, and Mugabi. Of course, we saw recently when Joe Calzaghe fought legendary fighters Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. years after those two fights were possible. Calzaghe thought about fighting Jones back in 2003, and yet fought him in 2008 after Jones had suffered losses to guys like Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson. I don’t think Haye is the only heavyweight fighter to wait for the Klitschko time clock to run out.
Alexander Povetkin (19-0 14 KO’s) had two opportunities to fight Wladimir Klitschko and missed out on both occasions. The first time it was a foot injury and second time was a sinus infection right before the press conference tour. The Povetkin cancelations are perceived as highly dubious; and brings credibility to the fact that he is simply buying time to get either Klitschko when they are pass their prime, or when they are out of the picture due to retirement or losing the title. Povetkin is scheduled to fight on October 30 and I guess that sinus infection couldn’t recover enough for a Klitschko fight on September 11, but it’s much better for a mediocore opponent on October 30.
Tomasz Adamek (42-1 27 KO’s) is another top contender that also might be waiting for the Klitschko legs to slow down. After defeating Michael Grant it was speculated that Adamek might be thinking about challenging Vitali Klitschko for his WBC title. Unfortunately, it looks Adamek might wait to next year for the Klitschko fight and is scheduled to fight Vinny Maddalone (33-6 24 KO’s) on December 9. Adamek a former Light Heavyweight and Cruiserweight champion is expected to implement a hit and run strategy against a Klitschko. He is expected to use his superb footwork, lateral movement, and combinations to try to defeat an older and slower Klitschko.
There is speculation that the failure of these contenders to sign deals was due to terms of contracts and failing to get more equitable purses by the Klitschko brothers. I find that to be preposterous. When a contender gets a title shot they should worry about getting that opportunity and not expect always the most lucrative offering. David Haye can argue about the contract, but he was never talking about money when he promised to destroy both brothers. Nicolai Valuev should have been happy that he still could get both a title fight and $2 million dollars when he was given an opportunity to fight Vitali Klitschko, instead he either wanted $4 million or a guarantee of the television revenue. Valuev a fighter who many felt was given gift decisions against Holyfield and Ruiz should have taken that final big pay day.
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