Comments Thread For: In The End, Wladimir Klitschko is Still Heavyweight King

[Brother Jay]

By Jake Donovan - The action never came close to justifying the hype that began nearly three years ago, but in the end Wladimir Klitschko scored his 14th straight victory with a wide unanimous decision over David Haye on Saturday evening at the Imtech Arena in Hamburg, Germany.

Scores were 118-108, 117-109 and 116-110 for Klitschko in perhaps the most anticipated heavyweight fight in more than a decade.

An extended delay only heightened the anticipation amongst an already raucous atmosphere at the jam packed arena. Much of it was due to Haye not being ready on time, resulting in the full version of “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” being played before the Brit finally made his way out of the dressing room and on his way to the ring.

He would immediately learn that payback is a b(ear) to contend with, as Klitschko opted to leave him in the ring cold for another ten or so minutes before making his grand entrance to the tune of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Can’t Stop.”

Judging by the crowd’s reaction, few seemed to sympathize with Klitschko or take much issue with Haye. The cheers were loud and boisterous for Haye’s entrance, while a chorus of boos echoed throughout the arena the very moment that the defending lineal champion was spotted making his way to the ring. [Click Here To Read More]

In the end, the Klitschkos and boxers like them are sideshow acts. I am not taking away from their wins. I'm simply pointing out that their success is only possible because the heavyweight division is the only division without a weight limit.

There should never be a time when a boxer like Chris Byrd should be in the ring with Vitali Klitschko. Its a total mismatch even though Byrd is the more skilled of the two. Historically in boxing, the HW division has been the most prestigious and significant. Being that the division has been a bust since Mike Tyson left, promoters have had to desperately fill the void. So they got bigger guys to fight significantly smaller guys. Its a smear on the history HW division. Guys who outweigh their opponents by more than 30-40 pounds. Guys who are 6'6 or even as tall 7'0 fighting guys who are 5'11-6'2.

Don King was right. Once Ali left, Mike Tyson was the division's saving grace. He was exciting, He was awesome. He was intriguing, but alas he was an emotional train wreck. And once Tyson fell from grace, the division became the playground of mismatches and old men. Tyson hadn't been IRON MIKE since the 80's, and Bowe, Holyfield and Lewis were the only thing since then the division had.

Bowe couldn't hold it together. Holyfield was a gladiator, but a head butting cheater. Lennox was the prototype for the division giants, but got knocked out twice by C & D fighters Rahman & McCall. He was the most boring of the 3 and was a hit and clincher. He had almost been knocked out by Briggs but got lucky that Briggs gassed himself trying to finish him.

The HW division has many woes, and I personally don't think it will ever be the same. The current formula for winning is finding the biggest guy you can and teaching him how to jab and clinch until he can land something big.

The only way I see the HW division returning to its former glory is to implement a Super Heavyweight division. HW could be 205-230lbs. SHW would be 230+. The matches would be better. The competition stiffer. And most importantly, the emphasis in HW would be back on skills again and not just being tall enough to keep your opponent at the end of your jab all night because of arm length. Currently its like a 12 year old brother keeping his 6 year old brother at bay by putting a stiff arm and hand on his forehead.

The last time I saw two non-giant heavyweights put on one hell of a show was Brewster/Liakhovich. That match was probably the best HW bout in years. Literally. The guys put on a skillful display and left it ALL in the ring. I highly recommend anyone who hasn't seen it to check it out.

That fight is EXACTLY what HW boxing is supposed to be about. Or you could wait for Nikolay Valuev to fight his next 6 footer.

[hillbilly]

I always knew haye had only talked his way into this fight, that dumb lame excuse he came up with, almost every fighter comes in with injuries, he was scared the entire press conference n of course in the ring, i really dont blame him the klits are great athletes, but what haye showed me in this fight is that larry holmes, ali, n holyfield would of prolly beaten the klits, idk about iron mike cause hes small n i think the klit could land a big right on iron mike, i have always belive a prime larry holmes has been the greatest heavyweight of all time i would of love to see him expose this big klits he would ko them quick 4 rounds, hes speed n power would catch wladimir easy

I love holmes and think he is underrated. That being said, holmes' power was mediocre. He rarel knocked anybody out early. Only two i even remember are leon spinks and marvis frazier. The chance he could knock either klitschko out within 4 is very low. I think he would beat both by UD though.

[hillbilly]

In the end, the Klitschkos and boxers like them are sideshow acts. I am not taking away from their wins. I'm simply pointing out that their success is only possible because the heavyweight division is the only division without a weight limit.

There should never be a time when a boxer like Chris Byrd should be in the ring with Vitali Klitschko. Its a total mismatch even though Byrd is the more skilled of the two. Historically in boxing, the HW division has been the most prestigious and significant. Being that the division has been a bust since Mike Tyson left, promoters have had to desperately fill the void. So they got bigger guys to fight significantly smaller guys. Its a smear on the history HW division. Guys who outweigh their opponents by more than 30-40 pounds. Guys who are 6'6 or even as tall 7'0 fighting guys who are 5'11-6'2.

Don King was right. Once Ali left, Mike Tyson was the division's saving grace. He was exciting, He was awesome. He was intriguing, but alas he was an emotional train wreck. And once Tyson fell from grace, the division became the playground of mismatches and old men. Tyson hadn't been IRON MIKE since the 80's, and Bowe, Holyfield and Lewis were the only thing since then the division had.

Bowe couldn't hold it together. Holyfield was a gladiator, but a head butting cheater. Lennox was the prototype for the division giants, but got knocked out twice by C & D fighters Rahman & McCall. He was the most boring of the 3 and was a hit and clincher. He had almost been knocked out by Briggs but got lucky that Briggs gassed himself trying to finish him.

The HW division has many woes, and I personally don't think it will ever be the same. The current formula for winning is finding the biggest guy you can and teaching him how to jab and clinch until he can land something big.

The only way I see the HW division returning to its former glory is to implement a Super Heavyweight division. HW could be 205-230lbs. SHW would be 230+. The matches would be better. The competition stiffer. And most importantly, the emphasis in HW would be back on skills again and not just being tall enough to keep your opponent at the end of your jab all night because of arm length. Currently its like a 12 year old brother keeping his 6 year old brother at bay by putting a stiff arm and hand on his forehead.

The last time I saw two non-giant heavyweights put on one hell of a show was Brewster/Liakhovich. That match was probably the best HW bout in years. Literally. The guys put on a skillful display and left it ALL in the ring. I highly recommend anyone who hasn't seen it to check it out.

That fight is EXACTLY what HW boxing is supposed to be about. Or you could wait for Nikolay Valuev to fight his next 6 footer.

Brewster v. Kali meehan was a good scrap too. Brewster was a brawler with zero defense and an awesome chin.

[hillbilly]

Actually David as a pretty easy fight for Wlad.

In all honesty, David won like 1 round in the fight.

It was not a competitive fight. It was a boxing clinic, and David Haye was totally outboxed.

Calvin Brock even put up a better fight.

Let's be honest--haye may have won 2 or 3 rounds. But he definitely stunk the joint up.

[Mr Reality]

david was a more difficult obstacle than wlad anticipated. haye's strategy was the same as the valuev fight. he came up short today. many may disagree with me but imo, haye leaves this fight with the more positive upswing. wlad had been claiming he'd punish david. that wasnt no punishment. david landed the two best punches of the fight, espescially the one in the 12th that had klit holding on for dear life. wlad was the only one seriously hurt in the fight. he never hurt david. the klit jab was consistant but ineffective. it just steals rounds and make compubox numbers look one-sided in his favor...but look at his face! of the two fighters, wlad looked the more beat up!

This is the sad truth that all the media has failed to even point out. Haye is the one that hurt Klitchko and had him hanging on for dear life in the 12 th round. The ref did nothing to break up the holding when WLAD was holding on for dear life making the early non action on his part question his bias in the fight.

Haye was ridiculed for not taking more risks, but Wlad backed off Haye when Haye attacked instead of engaging. Wlad was extremely conservative leading to the laclkuster fight. Both fighters fought the same lackluster conservative fight, the only difference was that WLAD was a bit more active thus he won.

[Malius]

While Wlad was disappointing not throwing his right enough, he controlled the fight. Haye ran most of the fight and landed like 6-7 punches per round, and many of them were glancing.

Just because Haye landed on of his "Hayemakers" in the 12th and even if he got a KD he was still so far behind it didn't matter. His movement was fine and his toe is an excuse, if it happened 3 weeks ago he could of pulled out.

He looked the same here as in the Valuev fight.

[Mr Reality]

At the end we can all see why the Klitschko's fight in Germany. Hand picked ref with no regard to boxing rules.

[javysouthpaw]

I'm tired of guys like Haye and Mosley talking all that **** then running for 12 rounds.

[BetterCallSaul]

I'm tired of guys like Haye and Mosley talking all that **** then running for 12 rounds.

Comparing Haye to Mosley = Comical

Dirrel and Mosley are track sprinters compared to Haye.

[Pinoy4ever]

He is with his brother Vitali