11.03 - It's no surprise that Wladimir Klitschko folded like a wet paper bag when his chin was introduced to the left hand of South African Corrie Sanders this past Saturday from Germany.

Wladimir Klitschko had never been hit flush in 40 professional fights.

At least not by anyone who can throw a punch like Corrie Sanders.

And there's a first time for everything. So either Klitschko gets hit and gathers himself, focuses, and hangs on much like that of Shane Mosley last January when he was decked for the first time by Vernon Forrest, or he lands on his back, tries to get up but can never regain his composure and is knocked out.

If you're a fan of boxing and you've followed the over-hyped up rise of the Klitschko brothers, it should be no secret that the two Ukrainian giants aren't accustomed to be pressured and hunted, thus explaining why younger brother Wladimir was knocked out in front of many of his biggest supporters.

The evidence is crystal clear. I don't think anyone with half a brain bothered to tape the bore-fest - or was it a fight? - Between Jameel McCline and Klitschko this past winter, but if you find a sucker who did, watch it and it will be very apparent that even the slightest faints and movements forward by McCline worried the former WBO champion.

It's not the fault of Klistchko. He's a fighter outside of the United States who has made his living beating up on C and D level fighters, never taking a real chance because, like most fighters who aren't welcomed to the United States, Klistchko was nothing more than a meal ticket for Peter Khol his promoter. The same can be said for fighters like Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe.

And every once in awhile the dinner plate is wiped clean.

The interesting question that arises from a fighters first defeat, especially one who was supposed to dethrone "Lazy" Lennox Lewis, is just how much luck has to do with everything? After all, what would the sport of boxing be without reasons as to why things happen?

A.K.A. Excuses.

So it was a lucky punch, eh? It's always a lucky punch. It was a lucky punch when Joe Louis knocked out Billy Conn in the 13th round. It was a lucky punch when Oliver McCall knocked out Lennox Lewis, and an even luckier punch when Hasim Rahman made Lennox Lewis see stars in, get this, the homeland of the world's new WBO champion Corrie Sanders.

It was a little bit of luck and a head butt when Vernon Forrest took out, at the time, boxings pound-for-pound king Shane Mosley. And we all know it was luck to the highest degree when Ricardo Mayorga went on to destroy Forrest a couple of months ago.

It's amazing how lucky fighters get these days, isn't it? Nowadays if you've beaten a top prospect or former champion it was a fluke. You got lucky. What we forget is boxing is a sport where people win and people lose.

There is no excuse.

Boxing is raw.

When two men step between the ropes and put their lives on the line, the outcome is what we get, and it's what the buying public as well as the fighters themselves, have to learn to live with.

Boxing is combat. Boxing is war. It's a war that doesn't tolerate crybabies, excuse makers, or pushovers.

If you lose, you lose. It doesn't matter if you're head butted. It also doesn't matter if you forgot to train, had personal problems outside of the ring, or decided to overlook an opponent.

Nothing matters when the bell rings.

The issue of luck is outrageous. How can anyone claim that a punch that knocks out fighter A is more legit than a punch that knocks out fighter B? No one can. But often times name fighters get the benefit of the doubt. It was a lucky punch this past weekend when Sanders blasted Klitschko, but imagine what the public eye would see if Sanders had battered Klitschko for seven or eight rounds. Imagine what one might think of Sanders if he had busted up both of Klitschko's eyes and made his nose look like that of John Ruiz.

Now imagine with just second's left at the end of the round, Klitschko lands a thunderous right cross that sends Corrie Sanders back to South Africa.

There would no claim of luck. No such thing as a " lucky punch. " Instead you'd hear things like, " It was only a matter of time before Klitschko caught him."

"Wladimir knew what he was doing. It was all part of his plan."

This just proves that when the good guy wins, there is no such thing as an excuse.

It's comical how anyone, especially Klitschko, would see Sanders' left hand as a fluke. Perhaps people failed to realize that Sanders had been tagging HBO's God Son with left hooks all round long, and finally closed the distance and ended the fight.

But nobody will see it that way. Not today. Not tomorrow. Never.

I'm not taking anything away from Klitschko, but the guy was over-hyped. It's not his fault. It's the fault of HBO, of his promotional team, and the same scenario could happen to that of Calzaghe and Hatton if they both don't start stepping it up. And by no means does a loss mean that his career is finished. He's a strong, well-poised fighter who will surely make a comeback. But two losses to average fighters will haunt him for the rest of his career, and certainly derail his hopes of becoming a legitimized heavyweight champion.

The win-loss ratio in boxing has become so important this generation. Back in the early years guys would have 5, 10, 15, even 30 losses on their record. It didn't matter as long as there was an entertaining fight on hand.

Unfortunately things aren't the way they used to be, and that plays against the hand for Klitschko.

But anyone can come back and make a name for themselves. And anyone can become noticed, or even a champion over night.

Don't believe me? Just ask Corrie Sanders.

Questions or Comments? Mike Samuels can be reached at Tyson180@aol.com