Comments Thread For: Klitschko Drops Povetkin Four Times, Wins Decision

[Simurgh]

Obviously, this was an utter domination of Klitschko, and Povetkin didn't really stand any chance to win after the first round or so. Having said that, I, even as a Klitschko fan, found Wlad's holding and leaning extremely ******, shameful and embarrassing in this fight. Povetkin was a DEAD MAN WALKING in the 7th and Wlad could have easily finished him with just one more of his right hands, but instead he was holding and LEANING onto Povetkin as if he was the one losing the fight and getting KO'd, even prolonging the fight to a decision. It was very uncomfortable to watch and didn't look good in any sense. Wlad did a much better job in the Wach fight, and while Wach was a granite chin on steroids, he could've finished Povetkin so easily so many times, it's really shameful.

Some good points here. Wlad didn't look this bad for a very long time.

Weight drop is somehow strange too.

[cupocity303]

Do you think wlad is proud of winning that way? I remember a manny steward interview where he claimed wlad had told him something like "i wish i could fight and not just box", maybe it was from the klitschko documentary from a while back.
He more then bends the rules, his fans dont like it, people who watch it dosen't like it and he won't get respected for it but he still does it. So maybe he should take a few risks because thoose are the fighters that get respected and liked. People dont ask for him to go out and swing for the fences but atleast try to follow the rules and punch more then clinch. He dosent have to fight like froch but he could try to fight without totally relaying on hanging over his opponent for half the fight.

[SIZE="3"]I don't recall him saying that in the documentary. My boy Hopkins does this too and in some fights it stands out more than in others. That's all it was today. He will be back to KO'ing contenders in usual fashion without as much clinching in no time.[SIZE=[/SIZE]

[hitking]

[SIZE="3"]Vitali would disagree with your short-mexican-machismo, armchair warrior sentiment. It's all about the W, and styles just didn't make the fight today.[SIZE=[/SIZE]

You clearly didn't watch the fight. I'm a rarity in that I prefer defensive fighting over all action guys. My favorite fighters to watch are Floyd, Rigondeaux, Ward, and Hopkins. But what Wladimir did today was bull**** and indefenseable. And anyone trying to defend it is wither a Wladimir fanboy (didn't even know those existed) or has absolutely no clue WTF they're talking about while discussing boxing.

[intoccabile]

Some good points here. Wlad didn't look this bad for a very long time.

Weight drop is somehow strange too.

How? He was 240 for Chagaev and 242 for Haye. He is always light when fighting people he deems as 'real' challenges.

[hitking]

That last sentence incorrect and more angry emotion than fair analysis. He uses a lot more for defense than holding. Like standing tall and backing up just enough that his opponent hits his shoulder or arm.

Newsflash: Very tall opponts don't fight on the inside with smaller, aggressive opponents. Their long arms put them at a disadvantage on the inside anyway. Wlad doesn't usually clinch to this degree. Today, styles just didn't make fights.

Which is why I know you didn't watch today's fight because Wladimir had his most success fighting on the inside.

[MDPopescu]

As well as tiring the opponent out if he continues doing it, it's supposed to doiourage the opponent from getting in as close as he wants to. Klitschko prefers to keep his opponent at the end of his jabs and crosses, and this is his way of doing it. A very good tactic, and if it weren't that Klitschko is unpopular, we'd hear no more about it than a measured criticism, not the outbreaks I've been reading.

This everybody understands -- there aren't too many ****** people around here.
But what if someone keeps his opponent at the end of his jabs by using a baseball bat?...

[Lorily]

glad to see there was fair judging and reffing...wladimir got the job done..can't ask much more

Fair judging and reffing? I only saw the ref give Wlad 1 (one!) hard warning, and that was for pushing, not even one for laying on A.P. head EVERY time he threw a punch. And then there's all those "knockdowns" he called as legit?!? As for the judging, seems they had that one covered too (just "incase"). HBO reported that one of the judges was actually wearing an ankle braclet for crimes he commited before the fight, and they still had the nerve to use him.

Respect to Wladimir

For what exactly, though? "Getting the job done"?? I earned more respect for A.P. for atleast showing heart and grit, and not losing his cool during a fight with apparently few to no rules.

Vlad fought dirty. If I was a HW contender and I am not, I would really devise a game plan on Punching Vlad in the junk for his tactics. You have no chance anyway the way he holds and lays on you, why not sock him in his ball's? Maybe that would discourage his holding.

I was thinking the same thing, it made me think of when Canelo balled Floyd when he had him in a death grip.

About the only thing I can say in Wlads defense is, why the hell would he NOT keep doing what he's doing if the fricken ref isn't saying ****? What an absolute farce of a ref job.

What a disgusting fight. I keep wondering how many fights HBO declined this year, stating they couldn't "afford" to make them on their budget - but yet they spent money on this joke of a fight. It's not like they haven't dropped him before because of his performances, right?

[Money Shot]

This is how Wladimir fights smaller guys he considers dangerous, I.E not Mormeck, he tees off at distance, clinches and leans. The mess of Povetkin's face tells you he was beat up.

[Straightener]

Jesus Christ just watched the fight

How is a contender supposed to win against wlad when he gets clinched to duck when inside

Ha pathetic

[PeterinMI]

This place never ceases to amaze me. It's Wlad fighting an aggressive smaller man whose ENTIRE gameplan would clearly be to try and get inside. How any of you are surprised by the holding is beyond me. This **** was obvious the minute the fight was announced. The ref needed to take a point early and Wlad would have had to adjust. The ref didn't, so Wlad didn't. The fight ****** yes, but the shock and outrage here is comedy.

I agree with you. If we are going to be pissed it should be at the ref. It is he who allowed this to happen. If Klit had been deducted for leaning and holding (never was, the point was for pushing) he would have had to adjust and he would have. He still would have won. I blame the ref almost completely here.