The heavyweight title scene

04/28/2014 Ivan Ivanov

There is certainly more than one heavyweight title and there are enough titles to go around for all aspiring champions. There is a shortage of credible champions however and the only one who is widely perceived as ‘the champ” is Wladimir Klitschko. The heavyweight division has turned into the “Klitschko” division and the older brother Vitali has earned even higher esteem and respect than his athletically superior but mentally “younger’ brother. Klitschko’s subscription to the championship is still a long term commitment as the 36 years old champ shows steady improvement and no signs of decline.

“Doctor Steel Hammer” is a formidable physical specimen who also maintains a strict regimen and has been in great condition even when he lost. He has 3 KO losses and his detractors have a point in bringing up his downsides. He has found a way (and proper coaching) to build a style that veils his vulnerability and uses his physical advantages to build a “firewall”of frontal power that has stupefied all opposition in the last decade.

Before You Complain About Klitschko-Leapai…

04/27/201404/26/2014 Jason Peck

Wladimir Klitschko has triumphed again in commanding fashion, an action which typically raises complaints that the long-time champ fights “bums” rather than “real” challenges.

Of course, this raises an interesting question. Who are the bums and who are the real challenges? If Klitschko avoids a challenge, then name the challenge. And be careful with your answer.

I remember little more than a two years ago when Klitcshko easily KO’d Tony Thompson in six. Critics immediately excoriated him for fighting a geriatric, rather than an unstoppable machine like David Price. Yet Thompson’s name is now mysteriously removed from the retrospective list of “bums” that Klitschko fought and – just as mysteriously – David Price is no longer a “real” challenge.

Wladimir Klitschko destroys Leapai

09/15/201604/26/2014 James Slater

Heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko did as was widely expected and stopped overmatched title challenger Alex Leapai tonight in Germany. Dominating the action throughout, Wladimir scored two knockdowns in the 5th-round, the final one ending the fight. The time was 2-minutes and 5-seconds and Klitschko, unbeaten in ten years, is now 62-3(52). Leapai, who gave it his best, falls to 30-5-3(24).

Klitschko boxed his usual fight, dominating behind his punishing left jab with his even more punishing right hand behind it. Credited with a knockdown in the 1st-round – when Leapai appeared to have slipped and was unhurt – Wladimir never lost a single minute of a single round. Showing a stubborn chin that might have surprised some, Leapai ate a ton of left jabs and telephone pole right hands, for which he deserves credit, yet the Samoan was not throwing anywhere near enough leather himself.

Alex Leapai-Wladimir Klitschko preview

04/24/2014 Adam Santarossa

As much as I’d like to see Alex Leapai become the first Australian in history to win the Heavyweight title, he has some task to overcome in Wladimir Klitschko.

Klitschko has been undefeated since 2004 and his resume lists a host of former World Champions including Samuel Peter, Chris Byrd, Lamon Brewster, Hasim Rahman, Ruslan Chagaev, Jean Marc Mormeck, Alexander Povetkin and David Haye.

Boxing experts are give Leapai a “punchers chance” of victory , meaning that given his destructive power, if the Australian lands flush, there’s a good chance that he’ll knock Klitschko out.

The big problem is landing that punch.

Wladimir Klitschko says he plans on boxing on for another ten years – and guess what, there’s nobody to stop him!

04/20/2014 James Slater

Those heavyweights who are looking forward to the day when the division once dominated by American fighters will no longer have to contend with the Klitschko brothers had better think again. Wladimir, now aged 38 but arguably still at his peak, remains all-conquering, and “Dr. Steel Hammer” has told German publication Die Welt that he plans on fighting for a further ten years.

“I just turned 38, but that’s only a number,” Wladimir said. “I am still extremely hungry and better than ever. A few years ago, I thought I couldn’t improve, but my mission is still a long way from over. I want to box on for ten more years.”

Photos: Simon Barclay Spars With Wladimir Klitschko

04/16/2014 Queensberry Promotions

Red hot cruiserweight prospect Simon Barclay made his professional debut on Saturday night and 48 hours later he was sharing a ring with WBO/IBF/WBA Super World Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko!

The Corby talent, a two-time and two-weight ABA Champion, is at Klitschko’s Austrian training camp to help the Ukrainian great with preparations for his title defences against Alex Leapai on April 26 in Germany.

Barclay got his professional career off to a great start with a four-round points win over tough and experienced Lithuanian Igor Borucha, who last time out took former Midlands Area Cruiserweight Champion the distance.

Now the 24-year-old is getting valuable experience against one of the greatest heavyweights of the modern era and here he explains in his own words what his day is like.

Klitschko: Leapai is an underdog but he can bite

07/31/201404/13/2014 Bill Phanco

IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (61-3, 51 KO’s) is taking on one of his smaller opponents in 6’0” Alex Leapai (30-4-3, 24 KO’s) on April 26th of this month at the Koenig Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. The 6’6” Wladimir doesn’t care that Leapai is small or that he was recently knocked out by journeyman Kevin Johnson. Wladimir is still taking him very serious as an opponent.

This fight might not look great on paper due to Leapai’s less than impressive resume, but the World Boxing Organization chose to rank him at No.1 after his win over Denis Boytsov, leaving Wladimir no other choice but to fight Leapai or end up having his WBO title stripped from him.

Wladimir Klitschko: Leapai is so strong that he doesn’t need technique or strategy

03/25/201403/25/2014 Jeff Sorby

IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (61-3, 51 KO’s) is very wary of the huge power of his opponent Alex Leapai (30-4-3, 24 KO’s), and he’s vowing now to underestimate him in their fight on April 26th at the Koenig Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.

Leapai pulled off an upset in defeating Denis Boytsov by a 10 round unanimous decision last November in their WBC title eliminator bout in Germany. Boytsov was expected to win the fight handily, but he found himself getting dropped by Leapai and dominated.