Wlad Addresses Haters: "Boxing is an Art"

[KO'er]

Wlad works more like this:

"Clinch and not get hit"

[mrlopez]

Wladimir Klitschko had his way with challenger Alexander Povetkin on Oct. 5 in Moscow -- there is no debate about that. But the manner in which he did it drew a good degree of criticism in the media and on message boards.

I reached out to Wladimir, 37, who called me from Hamburg to discuss the bout, and gave his reaction to the critiques.

"Boxing is an art, and I will defend my style," said Klitschko, without an edge of defensiveness in his voice. "I understand, a lot of people have different opinions about how I fight, and some might say it's boring. That's nothing new. But I am thankful to you for the criticism -- you have to pay attention to it -- and I will continue to defend the titles as long as I'm enjoying it."


I asked Wladimir (61-3, 51 KOs) if he found himself during the unanimous decision victory over the 34-year-old Povetkin (26-1, 18 KOs), or after, or both, thinking about what late trainer Emanuel Steward might have said. Steward protégé Jonathan Banks worked Klitschko's corner against Povetkin, the third time he had done so since Steward died last October.

"Yes," the heavyweight champ said with a chuckle. "Emanuel would always say, 'Just go knock this m-----f----- out. Especially during Rounds 7 and 8, I could kind of hear his voice. And I would've answered, 'Emanuel, what do you think I'm trying to do? I'm trying!"

Klitschko, for the record, apologized for using that profanity.

Povetkin surprised him, he said, by not fading, and that's why he fought, perhaps, in the manner he did. Klitschko wanted to control his opponent's head, and that's why he didn't aim for the body much. But, he noted, "I know what I'm doing in the ring. I didn't get hit once. Try and run five miles and not sweat! To be fighting a world champion, and not get hit!

"But I understand I could be better. I will work on it and try to make it better next time," he said.

And when might that be, and versus whom, and where, pray tell?

Names that have been mentioned include Kubrat Pulev, Denis Boytsov and Cris Arreola. "And obviously Deontay Wilder as well," Klitschko said.

Mandatory defenses for the various sanctioning bodies will need to be sorted out. "We are getting all of our cards on the table," he said.

I wondered if we might see Klitschko fight next in the U.S., especially considering that the Broadway show he's helping produce, "Rocky on Broadway," kicks off next March.

"It's been one of my dreams to fight back in the States," he said. (Wlad last scrapped in the U.S. in February 2008, against Sultan Ibragimov in New York.) "I know Madison Square Garden is always welcoming."

TV would have to be settled, he said, with HBO and Showtime being the two likeliest suitors to give a platform to a Wladimir bout.

"March is a good month," he said. "I hope to see you guys back in the U.S. for a show."

http://espn.go.com/blog/Boxing/post/...s-to-be-better

boxing IS an art, but yours is UGLY!!!!!!!!! Ive seen special needs children better at art than you!!!!

[beez721]

Why do Wlads fans bring up Hop lmao. Hop is an old man, Wlad isn't. Hops fans don't bring up Wlad when he is criticized. ****ing laughable.

hops did it alot when he was wlads age as well. not that it makes it right

[Russian Crushin]

Wlad works more like this:

"Clinch and not get hit"

More like "clinch, throw down, not get hit and win"

[The Big Dunn]

So boxing is not about "hitting and not getting hit" when it applies to vlad?

Garcia's main technique to beating Lucas midway thru the fight was to hold him whenever he got close, the same thing you're criticizing Vlad for

How i score fight? You mean not on ari jabs and fancy feet, but on punches landed?

I never said it wasn't. I only disagreed with your ridiculous opinion that wlad is the best boxer on earth. I found that to be just as credible as your prediction of the Matts/danny fight and your 1st post I saw about scoring a fight.

wlad's last 2 HBO fights were ****ing pathetic. He disgraced himself and the notion that the HWT champion is the baddest man on the planet. He is primarlily responsible for HWT boxing becoming virtually irrelevant in the US.

That he performed like that against men so much smaller than him creates a visual that makes casual and diehard fans alike puke. His only real value to HBO is to use him to help promote other fighters.

I have wlad in my top 10 p4p. He deserves it. But you and every other northern /eastern european propagandist can take the notion that he is the best on the planet, or an ATG, and shove it up your a$$es.

[Russian Crushin]

I never said it wasn't. I only disagreed with your ridiculous opinion that wlad is the best boxer on earth. I found that to be just as credible as your prediction of the Matts/danny fight and your 1st post I saw about scoring a fight.

wlad's last 2 HBO fights were ****ing pathetic. He disgraced himself and the notion that the HWT champion is the baddest man on the planet. He is primarlily responsible for HWT boxing becoming virtually irrelevant in the US.

That he performed like that against men so much smaller than him creates a visual that makes casual and diehard fans alike puke. His only real value to HBO is to use him to help promote other fighters.

I have wlad in my top 10 p4p. He deserves it. But you and every other northern /eastern european propagandist can take the notion that he is the best on the planet, or an ATG, and shove it up your a$$es.

I agree for the most part and I criticized vlad as much as anybody for doing it. But I equally criticize guys like Hopkins or Mora for doing the same exact thing. Anybody that defends the Hopkins' "hit and don't get hit" premise shouldn't be complaining about vlad because #1 Hopkins does the same exact thing and he's doing just that, hitting and not getting hit. Is it pretty? No but Not the point, so what if Vlad is bigger or the fav, defending 1 fighter for doing the same thing while criticizing Vlad is hypocritical.

[The Big Dunn]

I agree for the most part and I criticized vlad as much as anybody for doing it. But I equally criticize guys like Hopkins or Mora for doing the same exact thing. Anybody that defends the Hopkins' "hit and don't get hit" premise shouldn't be complaining about vlad because #1 Hopkins does the same exact thing and he's doing just that, hitting and not getting hit. Is it pretty? No but Not the point, so what if Vlad is bigger or the fav, defending 1 fighter for doing the same thing while criticizing Vlad is hypocritical.

Mora and Hopkins aren't the HWT champion of the world nor are there 10 threads a day arguing either is the best ever or an ATG or an ATG hwt.

The man is a ****ing DISGRACE!! Hopefully, HBO never puts him on again no matter who he fights.

You and the n/e europe propagandist need to get this through your thick heads-mainstream US audiences don't like watching some big clown grab and hold an opponent he outweighs by 25-50 lbs. thats not what bhop, ward and floyd do.

The visual of wlad's last 2 fights turns people off. Don't get mad when posters point this out. In your mind, and the rest of the propagandists, it looks the same. Not to the masses.

[LacedUp]

hops did it alot when he was wlads age as well. not that it makes it right

agreed. Defending one and criticizing the other is double standards.

Bhop has never been pretty.

[beez721]

Mora and Hopkins aren't the HWT champion of the world nor are there 10 threads a day arguing either is the best ever or an ATG or an ATG hwt.

The man is a ****ing DISGRACE!! Hopefully, HBO never puts him on again no matter who he fights.

You and the n/e europe propagandist need to get this through your thick heads-mainstream US audiences don't like watching some big clown grab and hold an opponent he outweighs by 25-50 lbs. thats not what bhop, ward and floyd do.

The visual of wlad's last 2 fights turns people off. Don't get mad when posters point this out. In your mind, and the rest of the propagandists, it looks the same. Not to the masses.

with the exception of povetkin and the first peter fight I dont recall any terribly excessive clinching from wlad. at least not dq worthy clinching. im hoping that last fight wont repeat itself in his next fight

[The Big Dunn]

with the exception of povetkin and the first peter fight I dont recall any terribly excessive clinching from wlad. at least not dq worthy clinching. im hoping that last fight wont repeat itself in his next fight

the Haye fight was the tv fight before povetkin and that was just as ****ty a fight.