19.12.06 – By Ted Sares: Manny Steward is on to something. Make no mistake. He has created a new Frankenstein Monster in Wladimir Klitchko. Having watched The big Ukrainian dispatch Bryd and Brock in brutal fashion, I now believe “Dr. Steel Hammer” has become a Robot Killer. What Manny has done is to simply take this superb athletic specimen of uncommon size and coordination and said, “look, all you have to do is figure out your opponents style in the first 2 or 3 rounds, adopt a counter strategy, execute it in the 4th or 5th and take him out.” The PhD turned boxer will have no trouble absorbing the lessons.
If he fights Oleg Maskaev next, he will feel out the plodding, one dimensional Russian early and then come up with his plan of execution which will be to pick up the pace in the 3rd with an increasing number of stiff jabs and an occasional straight right and maybe a hook thrown in for good measure.
But the plan of execution will be to increase the number and intensity of jabs in the 4th, softening up and slowing down Oleg. In the 5th and final round, Wlad will execute like a Robot Killer. His high volume of punishing jabs will have take a terrible toll on the affable Russian and he will not see the sledgehammer right coming down the pipe at him. When it lands, the fight will be over.
It’s a simple recipe. Figure out your opponent’s style, adjust accordingly, and execute. Lennox Lewis, though more creative, knew how to do this and so did a prime Tito Trinidad and Tommy Hearns. Coincidentally, Manny trained Lennox and Tommy. Of course, you need the tools with which to do this on demand and I believe this Killer has them.
Oleg is in for a bad time if this fight takes place. I hope his payday is mega. As Steward says, “If the other guys want to make money, they will have to come to Wladimir. He is the man.
Dear readers, posters, fellow writers, ESB Staff, and boxing fans everywhere, I extend to you a great and joyous Christmas holiday and a New Year that will bring more great fights for our enjoyment. Thank you for making 2006 an extra special year.
Ted The Bull