20.12.03 – Two weeks after older brother and “People’s Heavyweight Champion,” Vitali Klitschko, blew out Kirk Johnson in two rounds, Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer” Klitschko needed only slightly longer to dispatch of Dannell Nicholson Saturday night in Kiel, Germany.
Klitschko, who was making his second start since losing his World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight title to Corrie Sanders in March, needed a while to get his distance, but once he did he dominated en route to registering an impressive fourth-round TKO.
“Nicholson is a veteran and was very difficult to fight because of his experience and because he seemed more interested in holding and clinching and grabbing me than fighting,” said Klitschko (42-2, 39 KOs), who dropped Nicholson in the fourth with a left hook. “It was frustrating at the beginning and I was not satisfied at all with the way things were going.
“But by the third round I started to feel better. I know I hurt him with a left hand in that round and that it was only a matter of time after that.
“It is not easy to look good in fights like this, but I am happy with the result and ready to move forward.’’
Nicholson, who had a three-fight winning streak end, beat the count in the scheduled 12-round World Boxing Association (WBA) International heavyweight title fight, but Klitschko continued to connect with combinations until the referee halted the proceedings at 1:44 of the fourth.
Despite the tactics of Nicholson (42-5, 32 KOs), the accurate-punching Klitschko could not miss as he connected on 60 percent of his punches (52 of 87). Nicholson, who had a point deducted in the second for holding, was 23 of 72 (32 percent).
“Now that I have had two tuneup fights, I am definitely ready to fight any of the world champions,” Wladimir, who trained for Nicholson in three different cities – Los Angeles, New York and Hamburg – said. “It does not matter to me which champion I fight.
“Next year is going to be the year of the Klitschko brothers. I am more than certain that Vitali will win the world title – hopefully, it will be in the rematch against Lennox Lewis — and I am confident that I will, too.’’
Both Wladimir and Vitali, who worked his corner Saturday night, plan to depart Germany and head to South America for vacation.
For more information on the Klitschko Brothers, please go the official Klitschko website WWW.KLITSCHKO.COM