It's been a very long time since we saw a proverbial "passing of the torch" in the Heavyweight division. This weekend however does give us a chance at doing just that as unbeaten Russian Alexander Povektin (26-0, 18) finally faces Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko (60-3, 51) in a long awaited battle for the title of Heavyweight Kingpin.
The 34 year old Russian, a former amateur stand out who won both the World Amateur and Olympic Gold medals, is a man on a mission. A mission that he was set when he first turned professional just over 8 years ago. To become the world Heavyweight champion.
It was, in the eyes of many a goal Povetkin looked set to do with ease when he first burst on to the professional ranks with a difficult schedule of matches that he made look easy. Unfortunately in recent years however he has gone, at least in the eyes of the media, from future king the court jester as bouts have fallen through whilst other, less interesting, bouts have managed to materialise.
When Povetkin should have been fighting the likes of Klitschko and David Haye he has been busy fighting old men like Hasim Rahman and Cedric Boswell. This has seen many fans, as well as media, turn away from Povetkin though it has looked at times like he's been fighting within himself with only Marco Huck really pushing him so far and we all know that Huck gives anyone a good fight.
With solid skills, decent power, decent speed and toughness Povetkin does look like a challenger who has the abilities to trouble anyone in the division. As well as those skills however Povetkin appears to have had a few jokers up his sleeve for this bout. Firstly it's in Moscow, the Russian capital where Povetkin will be a bigger fan favourite than Klitschko. This is a huge change to Klitschko's usual fights where he is the home fighter and the man who the fans are behind.
The second joker has been the mind games played by the Povetkin camp who have asked Dereck Chisora to observe the hand wrapping of Klitschko. After Klitschko and Chisora have had several run in's together this is a clever strategy of trying to throw the usually calm Klitschko.
The final one has been that Povetkin has actually shown up to this fight. In two prior meetings scheduled between these two Povetkin has pulled out, this time however the Russian is here and here to fight. This alone could throw Klitschko who may have been expecting another pull out from Russian.
Although Povetkin has got those jokers in his pocket it's fair to say that he will still need to get in the ring and beat the 37 year old Ukrainian, a man many have viewed as the premier Heavyweight for the better part of a decade.
Although Klitschko has made a career out of the jab and grab technique he is a highly skilled and powerful fighter himself with surprising hand speed, educated control of distance and a potent right hand. If that right lands clean most fighters will fall.
It's actually the grab part of Klitschko's tactics that lead me to thinking Povetkin will win here. Povetkin isn't a former Cruiserweight, like Haye or Moremeck, he's a strong, powerful Heavyweight who will be able to hold his own in the clinches. Povetkin also isn't a lazy fighter, he's a fighter who has shown a willingness to go to the well to retain his unbeaten record, as he did against Ruslan Chagaev and Marco Huck. I can see him showing that same heart and mental fortitude to get inside and despite being grabbed he will still unload on the inside slowly but surely out-working and breaking down Klitschko.
I know it's an outside bet but I'll be backing Povetkin by stoppage here!
Prediction-Povetkin TKO8
Showing posts with label Wladimir Klitschko. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wladimir Klitschko. Show all posts
Friday, 4 October 2013
Thursday, 2 May 2013
Wladimir Klitshcko v Francesco Pianeta
The #1 Heavyweight in the world, Wladimir Klitschko (59-3, 50) will have been watching on in recent weeks as a number of other top Heavyweights have been on action, though now comes his turn as he faces the unbeaten Italian Francesco Pianeta (28-0-1, 15).
Having seen the likes of Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Bermane Stiverne in action it's unlikely that the WBA "Super", WBO, IBF and Ring magazine champion will be shaking in his boots, though at 37 years old those younger men actually look like the future of the division whilst Klitschko himself looks like the present and possibly even the past of the division.
Against the 28 year old Pianeta it's fair to say that Klitschko is a notably older man than his challenger though with age comes his experience and more than twice as many bouts, in fact Klitschko has had almost as many world title fights (22) as Pianeta has total bouts. With "Dr Steel hammer" looking for win #60 it's amazing to think his opponent is entering just his 30's professional bout.
Not only does Klitschko have a clear edge in experience but he's also got the power edge with an eye opening 80.65% of his bouts ending via stoppage in his favour compared to just 51.72% of Pianeta's and that's with out even mentioning the vast quality difference in opponents. To be totally honest it's incredibly difficult to actually point out a Pianeta victory worth talking about with his best opponents so far being the likes of Matt Skelton, Oliver McCall and Robert Sosnowski all distinctly C grade opponents when compared to Klitschko.
Pianeta may be unbeaten but his competition does somewhat explain why and comparing it to Klitschko's competition over the last few years shows the huge disparity in competition with Klitschko holding wins over Sultan Ibragimov, Ruslan Chagaev and David Haye amongst others.
Despite being a southpaw and pretty much the same size as Klitschko it's hard to see Pianeta being anything more than another victim of Klitschko. It's true that Klitschko v Ibragimov (another southpaw) was one of the worst fights in Heavyweight title history but Ibragimov was a very talented fighter and Pianeta really isn't.
Klitschko has a reputation for dragging fights out with his safety first mentality and it's likely he'll do the same here before throwing, and landing the straight right which holds explosive power. With Pianeta being a southpaw he's liable to be caught even more cleanly than orthodox fighters by the straight right ("the kryptonite of southpaw's) and when it connects it'll be good night Mr Pianeta.
Prediction-Klitschko KO8
Having seen the likes of Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Bermane Stiverne in action it's unlikely that the WBA "Super", WBO, IBF and Ring magazine champion will be shaking in his boots, though at 37 years old those younger men actually look like the future of the division whilst Klitschko himself looks like the present and possibly even the past of the division.
Against the 28 year old Pianeta it's fair to say that Klitschko is a notably older man than his challenger though with age comes his experience and more than twice as many bouts, in fact Klitschko has had almost as many world title fights (22) as Pianeta has total bouts. With "Dr Steel hammer" looking for win #60 it's amazing to think his opponent is entering just his 30's professional bout.
Not only does Klitschko have a clear edge in experience but he's also got the power edge with an eye opening 80.65% of his bouts ending via stoppage in his favour compared to just 51.72% of Pianeta's and that's with out even mentioning the vast quality difference in opponents. To be totally honest it's incredibly difficult to actually point out a Pianeta victory worth talking about with his best opponents so far being the likes of Matt Skelton, Oliver McCall and Robert Sosnowski all distinctly C grade opponents when compared to Klitschko.
Pianeta may be unbeaten but his competition does somewhat explain why and comparing it to Klitschko's competition over the last few years shows the huge disparity in competition with Klitschko holding wins over Sultan Ibragimov, Ruslan Chagaev and David Haye amongst others.
Despite being a southpaw and pretty much the same size as Klitschko it's hard to see Pianeta being anything more than another victim of Klitschko. It's true that Klitschko v Ibragimov (another southpaw) was one of the worst fights in Heavyweight title history but Ibragimov was a very talented fighter and Pianeta really isn't.
Klitschko has a reputation for dragging fights out with his safety first mentality and it's likely he'll do the same here before throwing, and landing the straight right which holds explosive power. With Pianeta being a southpaw he's liable to be caught even more cleanly than orthodox fighters by the straight right ("the kryptonite of southpaw's) and when it connects it'll be good night Mr Pianeta.
Prediction-Klitschko KO8
Friday, 9 November 2012
Wladimir Klitschko v Mariusz Wach
Heavyweight kingpin Wladimir Klitschko (58-3, 50) will look to make yet another successful defense of his world titles, including the Ring Magazine, WBA "super", WBO and IBF as he faces unbeaten Pole Mariusz Wach (27-0, 15) in an interesting battle of the giants.
Although Wach is unbeaten he is the big under-dog going in to this fight, however some are tipping the Pole to shock the world. I myself can't see it, however it is fair to say that Wach is likely to be Wladimir's biggest challenge in quite some time, in fact at over 6'7" it's fair to say Wach is one of the biggest challenges in the division, period.
With his huge height and unbeaten record Wach does make for an interesting proposition for Klitschko. Then when you also factor in things such as the fact Wach is young than Wladimir by 4 years and also has a marginally bigger reach (82" to Wladimir's 81") it's little a little wonder that some are favouring Wach. Sadly however Wach isn't as good as his record looks and so far, in a career dating back to 2005, Wach hasn't scored a a really major win, instead feasting on club fighters like Kevin McBride and Tye Fields. In fact it's fair to say that Wach's best win to date is over Jason Gavern, not a world level fighter.
Despite the fact Wach hasn't faced anyone near world level, he has shown solid power, especially in recent bouts. In fact despite his record only showing a 55% KO rate he has stopped his last 7 opponents dating back to April 2009 including scoring eye catching KO's over both McBride and Christian Hammer.
Sadly despite seemingly developing his punch power, Wach is slow, he's clumsy and his over-all skills are limited, to say the least. Other than his size it's fair to say there is little to really but shocked by.
Like the challenger, the champion, Wladimir Klitschko is tall, however Klitschko is much, much more than just a tall Heavyweight. As we all know Wladimir is arguably the hardest puncher in the sport with his straight right hand being genuinely deadly, he also posses an excellent, fight controlling jab and whilst he's not got the aggression of some of the most memorable Heavyweights out there he is incredibly hard to beat.
The long standing feeling over Klitschko is that he's chinny and easily beatable as a result, however he's managed to go unbeaten in over 8 years and won no less than 13 title fights in that period. Not only has he been winning, but he's been beating the top guys in the division such as Chris Byrd, Samuel Peter, Sultan Ibragimov, Ruslan Chagaev, Eddie Chambers and of course the supposed saviour of the division David Haye.
I can't help but think that Klitschko is going to have a bit of a field day with Wach. Wach may be able to, whack (excuse the pun) but Klitschko is able to do a bit more than just punch, so I imagine he'll box, manage to use his superior foot work and get off on Wach in a cautious bout. I think it will start really slowly but Wladimir will manage to detonate his right hand in the middle rounds and Wach will topple. Don't expect this to be exciting, but expect it to be...interesting.
Sadly however, as we all know, Wladimir Klitschko's long term trainer Emmanuel Steward passed away recently. This will be the first time Klitschko will fight with out Steward in a number of years, and hopefully this won't get to Wladimir. As we all know, Wladimir was re-invented under Steward and hopefully this won't see Wlad forgetting the teachings of his much missed mentor.
Prediction: Klitschko KO8
Although Wach is unbeaten he is the big under-dog going in to this fight, however some are tipping the Pole to shock the world. I myself can't see it, however it is fair to say that Wach is likely to be Wladimir's biggest challenge in quite some time, in fact at over 6'7" it's fair to say Wach is one of the biggest challenges in the division, period.
With his huge height and unbeaten record Wach does make for an interesting proposition for Klitschko. Then when you also factor in things such as the fact Wach is young than Wladimir by 4 years and also has a marginally bigger reach (82" to Wladimir's 81") it's little a little wonder that some are favouring Wach. Sadly however Wach isn't as good as his record looks and so far, in a career dating back to 2005, Wach hasn't scored a a really major win, instead feasting on club fighters like Kevin McBride and Tye Fields. In fact it's fair to say that Wach's best win to date is over Jason Gavern, not a world level fighter.
Despite the fact Wach hasn't faced anyone near world level, he has shown solid power, especially in recent bouts. In fact despite his record only showing a 55% KO rate he has stopped his last 7 opponents dating back to April 2009 including scoring eye catching KO's over both McBride and Christian Hammer.
Sadly despite seemingly developing his punch power, Wach is slow, he's clumsy and his over-all skills are limited, to say the least. Other than his size it's fair to say there is little to really but shocked by.
Like the challenger, the champion, Wladimir Klitschko is tall, however Klitschko is much, much more than just a tall Heavyweight. As we all know Wladimir is arguably the hardest puncher in the sport with his straight right hand being genuinely deadly, he also posses an excellent, fight controlling jab and whilst he's not got the aggression of some of the most memorable Heavyweights out there he is incredibly hard to beat.
The long standing feeling over Klitschko is that he's chinny and easily beatable as a result, however he's managed to go unbeaten in over 8 years and won no less than 13 title fights in that period. Not only has he been winning, but he's been beating the top guys in the division such as Chris Byrd, Samuel Peter, Sultan Ibragimov, Ruslan Chagaev, Eddie Chambers and of course the supposed saviour of the division David Haye.
I can't help but think that Klitschko is going to have a bit of a field day with Wach. Wach may be able to, whack (excuse the pun) but Klitschko is able to do a bit more than just punch, so I imagine he'll box, manage to use his superior foot work and get off on Wach in a cautious bout. I think it will start really slowly but Wladimir will manage to detonate his right hand in the middle rounds and Wach will topple. Don't expect this to be exciting, but expect it to be...interesting.
Sadly however, as we all know, Wladimir Klitschko's long term trainer Emmanuel Steward passed away recently. This will be the first time Klitschko will fight with out Steward in a number of years, and hopefully this won't get to Wladimir. As we all know, Wladimir was re-invented under Steward and hopefully this won't see Wlad forgetting the teachings of his much missed mentor.
Prediction: Klitschko KO8
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