24.04.04 – This Saturday Vitali Klitschko will try to reestablish the honor and credibility of the Klitschko family in a WBC heavyweight title fight against South African Corrie Sanders. On the same card one man is fighting who may follow in the Klitschko footsteps one day. Ukrainian heavyweight Taras Bidenko, 9-1 (6), so far unknown to most, will be fighting for the first time in the US when he takes on solid Mexican journeyman Agustin Corpus, 10-13-3 (8), at the Staples Center of Los Angeles.
“This is a great moment for me and I’m so happy that I got the chance to fight over here”, an excited Bidenko said during the press conference for the Klitschko-Sanders fight, watching the seemingly endless seat rows at the Staples Center respectfully.
For his US debut Bidenko’s management selected a solid stepping stone who in his 26 professional contests faced many international top fighters and who captured the championship of the state of Texas in his last outing.
Something the young Ukrainian, a very precise, variable and hard puncher, really likes are unusual challenges. This becomes obvious if one has a close look at the single loss on Bidenko’s record.
He suffered his only defeat in July 2002 against fearsome 7-foot-2 Russian giant Nicolai Valuev. The fight was supposed to be a mismatch on several levels. Not just because of the size difference (Bidenko is 6-foot-4) but rather because of the huge dispropotion in experience.
Bidenko fought Valuev in only his forth professional contest whereas Valuev at the time was undefeated in 28 pro fights (Meanwhile he is 36-0). So it was rather amazing that Bidenko was able to last the championship distance of twelve rounds against Valuev and only lost a close and disputed decision.
„I never argue with my management who I’m going to fight. I just take on everybody they want me to fight”, the determined and sympathetic Bidenko said. “In my mind I beat Valuev. I would be happy to fight a rematch against him one day.”
Half a year ago boxing manager Dietmar Poszwa signed Bidenko for his Spotlight Boxing stable in Hamburg. Poszwa noticed the talent of the Ukrainian when Bidenko worked as a sparring partner at the Universum gym.
Since stepping between the ropes under the Spotlight banner Bidenko won four fights in a row, three of them by knockout. His last two fights were broadcasted live on TV all over Europe on Eurosport.
At Wednesday’s press conference in Los Angeles and at today’s undercard weigh-in (Bidenko: 218 lb, Corpus: 236 lb) American journalists already had an interested first look on this new heavyweight prospect.
If Bidenko wants to become the successor of Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko one day, an impressive performance on Saturday may well be one first step into the right direction.
Note: The fight of Bidenko will be shown on German TV during the live broadcast of ZDF beginning 2:40 German time.
Exclusive Klitschko-Sanders weigh-in video on Boxing.de
Visit www.boxing.de and watch the exclusive Realvideo from Thursday’s weigh-in of Vitali Klitschko and Corrie Sanders in Los Angeles, outdoors at a location close to the Staples Center