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Two years after Lamon Brewster put Wladimir Klitschko out onto the scrap heap, finishing the job that Corrie Sanders started in March 2003, Klitschko has finally reemerged, rebuilt and rejuvenated by regaining his stake in the heavyweight title picture.
His new IBF title is still only one of the four major belts, but it is accompanied by a feeling of legitimacy due to his destruction of now-former beltholder Chris Byrd, the longest reigning titlist and consensus number one heavyweight in a division that has recently seen both an upheaval and a downturn.
Although Hasim Rahman holds the WBC belt that belonged to Wladimir’s brother Vitali prior to the older Klitschko’s abrupt retirement, Wladimir now has a claim – along with Rahman – to the top ranking among boxing’s big men, thanks mostly to attrition and quality of opposition. And unless Klitschko is dethroned prior to the long-desired unification tournament, he will stay at the top, the place where experts and observers expected him to be years ago. [details]
His new IBF title is still only one of the four major belts, but it is accompanied by a feeling of legitimacy due to his destruction of now-former beltholder Chris Byrd, the longest reigning titlist and consensus number one heavyweight in a division that has recently seen both an upheaval and a downturn.
Although Hasim Rahman holds the WBC belt that belonged to Wladimir’s brother Vitali prior to the older Klitschko’s abrupt retirement, Wladimir now has a claim – along with Rahman – to the top ranking among boxing’s big men, thanks mostly to attrition and quality of opposition. And unless Klitschko is dethroned prior to the long-desired unification tournament, he will stay at the top, the place where experts and observers expected him to be years ago. [details]
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