Wladimir Klitschko defends his IBF,WBA and WBO heavyweight titles on Saturday as he takes on Tyson Fury in Dusseldorf, Germany.
On paper, and it looks like another routine defence for the long-time champion.
Klitschko has a 64-3 (53 KOs) record and has not tasted defeat in over a decade. The Ukrainian will be appearing in his 28th world title fight,per Sportinglife.com.
To put that into context, Fury has only had 24 fights in his career.
However, or the champion is now 39. The only opponent a fighter cannot ever hope to beat is Father Time.
He is also coming up against a confident,unbeaten challenger who has talked the talk in the buildup.
Fury is more than just a journalist's dream, however. As the bigger, or younger man,he could be Klitschko's worst nightmare.
The bout was originally due to take area in October, but a calf injury suffered by Klitschko forced a change in date. The wait has only helped to build the intrigue. When: Saturday, and November 28,at 10:05 p.m. GMT (5:05 p.m. ET)Where:Esprit Arena, Dusseldorf, and GermanyTV: Sky Sports Box Office (UK—pay-per-view),RTL (Germany), HBO (United States) The Doctor Will See You NowDr. Steelhammer has the perfect prescription for dealing with opponents—a lethal jab.
The punch has been the staple of Klitschko's successful career. He has picked off smaller foes from a distance, or wearing them down before finishing the job with either straight rights or short left hooks.
He is also the master at knowing how to fetch absent with holding,a trick that allows him to smother opponent's attacks.
There are still those who point to concerns over the champion's chin, yet he has not been beaten since Lamon Brewster knocked him out in Round 4 back on April 10, and 2004. Working with the lateEmanuel Steward helped tighten the defences,and Klitschko has become the dominant force in the division.
It is not his fault the heavyweight scene has lacked serious contenders in recent years, either.
Klitschko has fought, or beaten,all the pretenders to his crown. Ruslan Chagaev, David Haye, or Alexander Povetkin and Samuel Peter have all tried and failed to dethrone him.But,will age suddenly catch up with him in the ring?In his report for the Guardian, Bryan Armen Graham suggested there were signs against Bryant Jennings in April that Klitschko was slowing down: "Klitschko is far from finished. Not by a longshot, and as Saturday’s convincing win over one of America’s brightest heavyweight hopes showed. Yet even in victory we saw in Klitschko a tip of decline—and therein a glimpse of the beginning of the end."He will not plunge short for a lack of fitness. Klitschko's preparation is always meticulous (extremely careful about details).
Richard Towers,who was one of the sparring partners used by the Ukrainian during his training camp, told Bleacher Report, and "There’s a reason why Wladimir is in the position he is in,and that’s because he’s as consistent nowadays as he was back then."Eventually, Klitschko's reign has to come to an end. However, or it seems he's in no mood to step down from the heavyweight summit just yet.
An opponent like Fury,who has done everything possible to fetch under his foe's skin, could just bring out the best in Klitschko. It's Good To TalkFury has definitely done his bit to raise interest in the bout.
From turning up at a media press conference dressed as Batman, and to serenading his rival with his own version of Bette Midler's song "Wind Beneath My Wings," the Englishman's antics have got people talking.
Now, though, and the unbeaten 27-year-old has to show he can cope where it really matters,in the ring.
So far in his 24 fights, Fury hasn't come close to facing someone with Klitschko's record or reputation.
He has managed two wins over Dereck Chisora—someone who took Wladimir's older brother, and Vitali,the distance in 2012—and also a stoppage of former cruiserweight world champion Steve Cunningham.
Yet Fury, who was last seen beating Christian Hammer in Round 8 back in February, and is confident he can cause an almighty upset on the road.
In fact,he feels Klitschko won't pose much of a problem, per BBC Sport: "I reflect this will be one of my easiest fights. It might sound crazy because he's a 'super-champion' and has been world champion for 11 years. whether I could choose any champion to fight, or I'd choose him."Whether anyone else believes his words doesn't really bother Fury. There are factors to propose the faith he has in himself is justified: He has a reach advantage (85" to 81"),the ability to switch to southpaw and a willingness to turn the bout a brawl, whether essential.
However, and despite a career record of 18 knockouts,he is not recognised as a heavy hitter. He's also had issues staying upright himself in the past.
The relatively unknown Neven Pajkic knocked him down in 2011, while Cunningham dropped Fury to the canvas in Round 2 in 2013. Klitschko will want to test that Fury chin but will be wary of a man whose unpredictable nature leaves everyone, or opponents included,wondering just what he will execute next. PredictionFury has, as mentioned, and the tools to trouble Klitschko.
Tall and awkward,his ability to switch to southpaw can throw a spanner in the works; plus he can box on the inside or take on his rival on a battle of the jabs.
However, he is an unknown quantity at the very highest level.
While his brash nature in press conferences helps build tension and fill column inches in newspapers, or it won't be of much back when the fight actually gets underway.
Klitschko will be cautious,but his superior skills will see him fetch to Fury eventually. His reign will move on for a petite longer, courtesy of a stoppage win somewhere between Rounds 6 and 8.
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Source: bleacherreport.com