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The legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City will play host to the first title defence of IBF Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko this Saturday night on HBO. Klitschko is coming off a masterful performance in Germany against the difficult Chris Byrd back in April to annex the IBF crown. In that fight, Wlad controlled the action with his pole-like jab and totally outclassed the former champion, who had held the belt for 3 years.
Opposing the giant Ukrainian will be undefeated American Calvin Brock. A 2000 Olympian, Brock has had 29 professional fights, scoring 22 knockouts. But the only names of note though on his record are Jameel McCline, who Brock outscored over 10 rounds and Clifford Etienne, who was on a mini comeback after his swift defeat to Mike Tyson. Brock ended that bout in the third round.
In Klitschko, Brock challenges a man who probably has been the most scrutinised heavyweight champion in years. An Olympian himself, winning a gold medal in 1996 at super heavyweight, Klitschko spent his early career fighting in Germany. With a ramrod jab and excellent technical skills, he looked to be the complete package. Add that to his 6 feet 6 inch frame and he appeared indestructible.
Then one night in 1998, it all went wrong when he seemed to fall apart against Ross Purity.
Undeterred, he scored 10 comeback wins on the way to winning the WBO Heavyweight championship against Chris Byrd. Five WBO title defences would follow before Klitschko’s fragility would resurface.
In what was supposed to be a routine defence of his WBO belt, Wladimir was bulldozed by big punching southpaw Corrie Sanders in two rounds in 2003. One year and two comeback wins later, Klitschko was back in the World Championship picture, fighting for his old WBO title against Lamon Brewster. Again, he boxed well until the fragility was exposed yet again when he fell apart before being stopped in five rounds.
To his credit, Klitschko has since shown that he is made of stern stuff, risking his career by fighting the big punching Nigerian, Samuel Peter. Again he was rocked and hurt but showed his meddle, winning a tough 12 round decision.
For all his detractors, Wladimir Klitschko is the number one guy out there. Sure, he has fragility and against a big puncher he is going to be vulnerable, but on the plus side he has shown that he will fight anyone and rebounding after three devastating defeats to fight a big puncher like Peter showed that he was not scared of risking it all.
Ring Magazine has Klitschko rated as the number one heavyweight in the world and for me, that ranking is correct.
Brock is a talented enough fighter with excellent boxing skills. He can also adapt well to an opponent’s style. Unfortunately for him however, he’s fighting the best boxer in the division and I think this for Brock will be one step too far.
