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By Cliff Rold - As boxing begins to celebrate its year-end awards, in some cases prematurely, it’s not too early to wonder about what lies ahead. Until the dust settles in Japan next week, it’s not clear who has had the finest 2014 in the ring.
One guy might have the schedule in front of him to make 2015 his.
He’s the proud father of a newborn baby girl. Any proud parent can tell you, when that first bundle arrives nothing has ever been better.
That’s real life.
For World Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko (63-3, 53 KO), there is still plenty of boxing life left. As that little girl begins her journey, the 38-year old is closer to the end of his fistic journey. How much closer? It's anyone’s guess.
His finest hour may only be at hand now.
The champion’s most recent step into the ring was one of his best. Kubrat Pulev was a legitimate top contender. Klitschko, with a chip on his shoulder, whipped Pulev’s ass.
It was his 17th consecutive IBF title defense. If one recognizes his win over Ruslan Chagaev as the start of a new Heavyweight lineage, it was his tenth straight defense of history’s crown.
Few men have ever achieved numbers like that in the sport’s flagship division. Klitschko is more than just numbers. One of the biggest gate draws on the planet, and one of the biggest overall global television draws, Klitschko has put together a decade of consistency and dominance that stacks up with the greats.
It ain’t always pretty.
The numbers in the win column are pretty enough.
For all his accolades, one thing never universally bestowed on Klitschko is recognition as its best fighter in a single calendar year. 2015 could change that. [Click Here To Read More]
One guy might have the schedule in front of him to make 2015 his.
He’s the proud father of a newborn baby girl. Any proud parent can tell you, when that first bundle arrives nothing has ever been better.
That’s real life.
For World Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko (63-3, 53 KO), there is still plenty of boxing life left. As that little girl begins her journey, the 38-year old is closer to the end of his fistic journey. How much closer? It's anyone’s guess.
His finest hour may only be at hand now.
The champion’s most recent step into the ring was one of his best. Kubrat Pulev was a legitimate top contender. Klitschko, with a chip on his shoulder, whipped Pulev’s ass.
It was his 17th consecutive IBF title defense. If one recognizes his win over Ruslan Chagaev as the start of a new Heavyweight lineage, it was his tenth straight defense of history’s crown.
Few men have ever achieved numbers like that in the sport’s flagship division. Klitschko is more than just numbers. One of the biggest gate draws on the planet, and one of the biggest overall global television draws, Klitschko has put together a decade of consistency and dominance that stacks up with the greats.
It ain’t always pretty.
The numbers in the win column are pretty enough.
For all his accolades, one thing never universally bestowed on Klitschko is recognition as its best fighter in a single calendar year. 2015 could change that. [Click Here To Read More]
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