By James Slater – Every heavyweight world champion, no matter how dominant he is, has his time. Right now, Wladimir Klitschko, the Ring magazine, WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight king, is seen by most as THE heavyweight champion, and he has been dominating (along with big brother and WBC ruler Vitali Klitschko) for quite some time now. But, after close to ten defences of his titles, has he had his time?
All good things must come to an end, but has the Klitschko reign been all that good? Sure, it’s hard not to admire Wladimir and Vitali: both are good guys, they work hard in the gym, they are good people and good role models for younger fans and they fight pretty regularly (Vitali, at age 39 the oldest of the three claimants to the heavyweight throne, fought three times in 2009, and may do the same this year). However, they can both be boring as hell to watch!
This is not their fault, both guys are cautious by nature and are unwilling to deviate from the jab, right hand, jab, clinch, repeat-method of breaking an opponent down.. Nor should they. But this has not led to an exciting, reign of terror for the fans to tune in and watch. On Saturday night in Germany, Wladimir faces old foe Sam Peter in a rematch, and you can bet your life, “Dr. Steel Hammer,” though he is talking a quick KO win, will box the same way he always has – in a safety-first manner.
Are the fans fed up of the Klitschkos? Have they “had their time?” While it’s good to have a dominant heavyweight champion, it’s more important, surely, to have an exciting, thrilling to watch, heavyweight champion. That said, I think a Sam Peter upset win, by a KO, would be a good thing for the heavyweight division. Shaking the division up in a big way, a Peter win on Saturday would open the door on all sorts of great action fights for the fans also.
How about the “revenge” fight Vitali would be sure to take ? (and Vitali, when angry, can be an exciting fighter) How about Peter vs. WBA champ David Haye? Or how about Peter defending his belts against an all-action slugger like Chris Arreola? Tell me those fights would be dull affairs! And no, I wouldn’t expect Peter to have a long second reign even of he were to beat Wladimir on Saturday, but his fights, his title defences, however many he managed to make, would be worth watching. Far more than the current exhibitions we are being given by the Klitschkos? In terms of two-sided, value for money action, yes.
There is no doubt, the Klitschkos stand head and shoulders above the rest of the heavyweight division, but seeing them have their own way time and again is no fun. Bottom line, we need some fresh blood at the top of the division. Peter isn’t exactly fresh blood, but he is a seemingly re-dedicated warrior who, with his fighting style, can make some darn good action fights; fight that could go either way.
Peter probably won’t win on Saturday, but how many of you will be happy and excited if he does pull off the upset, ending the dominant but dull reign of the Klitschkos in the process!