Comments Thread For: V. Klitschko Steps Back, Now WBC Champion Emeritus

[JAB5239]

He says he can't see himself at this point being able to fight again due to the commitments...but anyway, great champion who will be missed...but I think the WBC made the right call - this will allow us boxing fans to see some explosive fights with some fresh new faces, and Vitali can focus on his real big fight for the forseeable future. And if he comes back to win the title again, I think he will be the first 4-time heavyweight champ?

Good luck Vitali, great man, great champion, great legend - focus on making a change in Ukraine and I will hope to see you in the ring one more time someday soon!

Lol, man its still todays heavyweight division. "Explosive" is a word that should NEVER be used to describe it. Lets just be happy if more of the top fighters will be willing to fight one another.

[GeneralZod]

FACTS about Vitali Klitschko

- WBC Heavyweight Champion Emeritus

- All Time Great and Hall Of Famer

- Has never truly lost

- There is/was no blueprint to beat him

- He is/was unbeatable

- He is/was the most dominant fighter of all time
(Julio Chavez 89-0 until loss, 128-1 until Turpin)

- He has dominated every opponent he has ever faced

- 47 have tried and 47 have been dominated
(and two have succeeded. Seriously how much can you pound it into everyone's head? He lost, get over it. Vitali himself probably doesn't care much as you do right now.)

- Has never been behind on the scorecards at the end of a fight
(This is so clearly trying to cover up the Lewis loss)

- Has never been knocked down

- He is/was the most intimidating HW of all time
(Not a fact)

- Greatest heavyweight champ KO% of all time

- Only man ever to be world heavyweight champ in boxing and kickboxing

Losing Twice does not equal being undefeated.

And Majority of that leaves me wondering if you've ever looked up the definition of "fact."

[Jewish-Reptile]

Lol, man its still todays heavyweight division. "Explosive" is a word that should NEVER be used to describe it. Lets just be happy if more of the top fighters will be willing to fight one another.

This is true,guys will now be eager to actually go through with box offs,eliminators etc now.I didn't see a queue forming to face Vitali,Haye was the only one making noises bar Stiverne,The same Haye who went after the 'weaker' brother Wladimr.

Privately I would love a box off or Stiverne to face the winner of Arreoa v Wilder,although they may as well just re order Stiverne v Arreola,Wilder would be brutalised IMO,I just don't rate him,not yet anyway.

The WBC World Cup is still being flaunted right ? With the winner being determined the next mandatory challenger,Solis and Charr have signed up I believe.

Any word on Thompson v Solis and Charr v Fury ? Galzkov has signed to face Adamek again,Szplika and Jennings is happening.the division is looking ready to explode IMO all I wanna see is competitive fights we've got Wlad v Pulev in the summer,regardless of whether or not you enjoy watching him,on paper it's a good match to me

[PainfromUkraine]

Lol, man its still todays heavyweight division. "Explosive" is a word that should NEVER be used to describe it. Lets just be happy if more of the top fighters will be willing to fight one another.

I take your point, but what I meant by that specifically was not really in terms of skill/talent...maybe even excitement. "Explosive" simply because you know it won't be foregone conclusion fights like the current challengers had they fought Vitali...it may just be more entertaining than anything else. "Explosive" in terms of most of these guys challenging having good power - at least - and all capable of knocking each other out, sure it may not be the greatest level of bouts we have ever seen but it will be fun for the fans of the division and those who wanted change, while it lasts, IMO.

[joe strong]

Opinions vary.you're a Fury fan,I respect that,each to their own.

Haye,who has he knocked out at the weight that is considered world class ? I can't even find a world class opponent bar his only defeat at the weight.Chisora was being plugged by the dude he fought a few week ago and was buzzed hard by a guy Sprott beat,a few months previous,knocking out guy like Harrison,Chisora and Barrett is one thing,dudes like Fury and Pulev is another.I honestly believe Fury would have outpointed Haye with relative ease.Haye struggled to a MD over the sloth Valuev,in a fight many believe he lost.Fury is faster,sharper and slicker,and as you said,played with Johnson.

This doesn't make me a Fury fan though.I think he has raw talent,but then do Jennings,Wilder,Stiverne etc and they don't talk half as much cr4p as this kid,he is clearly jealous and trying to gain himself a fraction of the publicity Vitali has had these past two weeks.I actually detest Fury,he is vulgar.

I was referring to kingpin toying & then knocking out alex leapai who is now getting a title shot. I didn't see vitali or helenius hurting chisora. I saw him push both of them around & they did win but both walked away injured. they couldn't lean on him because he is a strong man. haye just picked him apart & got the KO dramatically. haye\fury was a good matchup but seeing neven pajkic & steve Cunningham floor fury leaves me to believe he wouldn't stand up to a big haye punch if landed cleanly. pulev is a solid fighter but that lack of power will come back to haunt him. he couldn't keep joey abell off him with his head shots. he walked through them until pulev started to the body & that's when pulev started taking control. abell didn't like them body shots that much as he was on a knee a few times. pulev got complacent & ended up on his ass because of it. it was a flash knockdown but none the less he was put on his ass. haye is way faster & is a bigger puncher then abell. fury is amusing & has beaten some good HWs not great ones. arreola, povetkin, haye, pulev, adamek, stiverne all are better then the guys he has beaten... time will tell if fury or pulev are world champion material. i think haye is a clown but he's a hell of a fighter when he wants to be. with valuev that is a tough one to get on him about considering valuev was almost 100 lbs heavier & foot taller. wlad looks vulnerable without steward in his corner. i think arreola has the best chance of beating wlad. he has gained lots of experience since the vitali & adamek losses. the broken nose was the difference against stiverne. i really think his style is what is needed to beat wlad.

[GoldenGloveLove]

Thank God.

[SN!PER]

Because of Berman Stiverne's situation with Don King, a fight between Chris Arreola and Deontay Wilder for the WBC belt is a possibility.

[mrlopez]

I love this idea because it would help bring back a lot of attention the the heavy weight division, but if i'm the #1 or #2 guy I'm going straight for the title

I feel you on that one.....the hw division is and always will be the glamours and most watched division when there are good fights put on. unfortunately the w.klit is a dominant yet boring champ. i wish it was the other way around with w.klit retiring and v.klit being a unfied champ as i like and respect v.klit for the way he fights.

Give the title to Stiverne,have Arreola face Wilder to give him time to,clear his litigation with King,he then has his first mandatory from the winner.the other five guys are some solid defences down the line.out of all of them Arreola and Perez impress me most.

I think the WBC shouldve given stiverne the title due to him being the silver belt holder aka the interim champ, but because they want more money, theyre making stiverne pay up again and fight #2(arreola). dont get me wrong, that fight was good and the rematch should be better but stiverne should be fighting the arreola/wilder winner. and perez mos def impresses me...want to see him vs some top guys from here on out!

[Ogecca MaMa]

Hell yeah!!! Finally wo got rid of him!
But there is still one Klitard left!
Im sure he will be a much better politican than he was a boxer and make the Ukraine a better place.

unfortunately. if Vitaly will be elected for President..he'll destroy this country.