By Doveed Linder – The fight between Wladimir Klitschko and Ruslan Chagaev unfolded the way many in the boxing world thought it might. Wladimir controlled the action with his left hand, broke him down, and stopped him late. Like the majority of Wladimir’s fights, it lacked drama. By the 3rd round, it’s likely that most fans were wishing that David Haye hadn’t suffered that back injury.
Although Haye probably wouldn’t have fared any better than Chagaev, his attitude and aggression may have made things more interesting. But even though the fight wasn’t especially exciting, it was an important win for Wladimir. Chagaev was considered the 3rd best heavyweight in the world and he was Wladimir’s most accomplished opponent since Chris Byrd. And regardless of how one feels about watching Wladimir’s fights, it can’t be denied that he is the best heavyweight in the world today..
When the boxing world refers to the Klitschko brothers, it’s easy to think of them as one force, opposed to looking at them individually. They are family and they will never fight each other, but when it comes down to it they are two separate fighters. They both sit at the top of the division, but given what each man has contributed to heavyweight boxing in recent years, it’s fair to place Wladimir at #1 and Vitali at #2. But if one were to make the argument that Vitali is a better fighter, it would probably be because of his fight with Lennox Lewis.
Before Vitali fought Lennox Lewis in 2003, he was best known for his fight with Chris Byrd, which he lost due to a shoulder injury. Many people at the time felt that Vitali had no heart and they accused him of being a quitter. But when Vitali faced Lewis, he suffered one of the worst cuts ever seen on national television and fought through the blood and gave a courageous performance. The fight was stopped halfway through the contest due to the cut and Vitali lost on the scorecards, though many felt that he was getting the better of Lewis. Regardless of the judges’ decision, Vitali won a lot of fans that night and no one questioned his heart again. This was the fight that supposedly redeemed the Klitschko name and defined Vitali as a fighter.
Wladimir has yet to have one fight in particular that defines his career. Perhaps what defines Wladimir up to this point is that he is a champion who has had the strength and courage to rise up after suffering some devastating losses and go on to dominate the heavyweight division. The fight that demonstrates this best might be his match against Samuel Peter, where he hit the deck three times and came back to win a decision, showing the ability to stand up to adversity. Wladimir also avenged one of his stoppage losses to Lamon Brewster by dominating Brewster throughout the fight and stopping him halfway through the match. But neither the fight with Peter nor the rematch with Brewster are particularly memorable affairs that fans will talk about for years to come.
Many people in the boxing world are comparing Wladimir’s career to that of Lennox Lewis. Not only are these two fighters similar in style, but they also suffered stoppage losses and bounced back to become dominant forces. And like Lewis, Wladimir has yet to face a nemesis.
If one were to ask boxing fans what Lennox Lewis’ career defining moment was, the responses would likely be different. Some believe that Lewis’ fights with Evander Holyfield defined him best, though others will argue that Holyfield was past his prime when they fought and that those bouts proved little. Mike Tyson was a big fight for Lewis, but Tyson was just a shell of the fighter that he was when he had once ruled the division. It may be that what defined Lewis best are his fights with Hasim Rahman, as they demonstrated Lennox at his best and at his worst. Vitali Klitschko would have made the perfect nemesis for Lewis, but Lennox was out of shape when they fought and the result was inconclusive.
When Lennox Lewis ruled the heavyweight division, he was not the most appreciated champion. But after his retirement, he was missed by many. Even some of his harshest critics developed a grudging respect for him, because it couldn’t be denied that he was a dominant force, which is something the heavyweight division needs. Again, this is another similarity that Wladimir Klitschko and Lennox Lewis share.
Fans in Europe have embraced Wladimir Klitschko as a heavyweight champion and they enjoy watching him fight, but the majority of Americans don’t necessarily feel the same way. Many Americans find Wladimir to be boring and methodical and they often tune in to his fights in hopes that some up-and-comer exposes his “weak chin”. But until Wladimir took charge, the division was a mess. And while the heavyweights may not be red hot like they were in the 90s, the division is the best it’s been since Lewis’ retirement.
Of all the top heavyweights on the scene, it is unlikely that any of them have the tools to pull off an upset. Wladimir Klitschko is the king of the heavyweight division and his latest fight with Ruslan Chagaev put a stamp on this fact. Not only did Wladimir beat one of the best heavyweights in the world in dominant fashion, but he looked more comfortable and relaxed in the ring than ever before. It may be that he’s still improving as a fighter and it looks like he is here to stay. So fans should appreciate him while they can. Because without Wladimir Klitschko, the division would once again consist of four title holders instead of one dominant champion.