Fighting Against All Odds? For Leapai vs. Klitschko, It Might Have a Literal Meaning

01/14/2014 Vitali Shaposhnikov

We have all heard that boxing is the kind of sport where anyone has a puncher’s chance to win at any point during the fight. While this happens to be true, the probability is utterly low, and most of the time, the odd-makers know exactly what they are talking about.

For Alex Leapai (30-4-3), it seems that beating Denis Boytsov (33-1-0) in November 2013, was a straight shot to an opportunity against Wladimir Klitschko (61-3-0). Maybe it was Boytsov, or maybe it is the lack of other, more formidable competition in the heavyweight division that provided Leapai with this phenomenal chance.

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Wladimir Klitschko vs. Alex Leapai bout to take place in Germany in April

01/11/2014 Kevin Chittenden

IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (61-3, 51 KO’s) and his WBO mandatory challenger Alex Leapai (30-4, 24 KO’s) have reportedly agreed to face each other in April in Germany, according to Fightnews. The actual date they’re looking at for the fight is April 26th, but they still need to sign off on the contracts. There had been speculation that the two fighters management wouldn’t come to an agreement, which would force it into a purse bid. But looks like they’ve agreed to having the fight take place in Germany.

Leapai, 34, defeated Denis Boytsov by a 10 round unanimous decision last November to become he mandatory challenger for Wladimir. It’s interesting that Leapai and Boytsov were the ones that ended up fighting for the mandatory spot, because there are arguably a number of better contenders in the WBO’s top 15 than these two.

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Chisora to try and get Wladimir fight in Africa in 2014

01/10/201401/10/2014 Kevin Chittenden

EBU heavyweight champion Dereck Chisora (19-4, 13 KO’s) is hoping to work his way into a world title fight this year against IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (61-3, 51 KO’s). Chisora figures he could be two wins away from locking himself in as the mandatory challenger for Wladimir. Chisora specifically wants to get Wladimir over to Africa to fight him there in a repeat of the ‘Rumble in the Jungle.’

It’s kind of a crazy idea that Chisora has in wanting to get Wladimir over to Africa, because the chances of it happening are so remote that it’s kind of difficult to even fathom this taking place. For Chisora to have a chance of realizing his dream of getting Wladimir to Africa, he’ll need to beat Ukrainian Andriy Rudenko (24-0, 16 KO’s) on February 15th, and then beat Tyson Fury in a rematch next summer.

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Tyson Fury asks Wladimir Klitschko for a fight

01/07/201712/22/2013 Rob Smith

fury14 fury14 British heavyweight Tyson Fury (21-0, 15 KO’s) hasn’t had much luck in getting a heavyweight title shot against the Klitschko brothers. Fury is asking Wladimir to give him a heavyweight title shot straightaway without him having to fight for the shot in an eliminator.

Fury just flat out wants the title shot without having to fight his way into position. Will Wladimir does this for Fury? I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were Fury waiting for that to happen.

“If Wladimir Klitschko offered me a fight I’d go there and I’d smash his jaw all over the ring for him and he knows that,” Fury said to On the Ropes Boxing Radio. “Emanuel Steward told him that he would get knocked out by me. He knows he’s gonna get knocked out by me, his brothers retired because he didn’t want to fight me and now he’s trying to avoid me. I’ve been chasing him for two years and he wont fight me.”

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Vitali Klitschko may have vacated the WBC crown, but it could soon be back in the Klitschko family…

12/18/2013 James Slater

Wladimir aims to become undisputed heavyweight king

wladimir67 As fight fans have almost certainly read by now, Vitali Klitschko has vacated the WBC heavyweight title due to his political ambitions and has been declared The Champion Emeritus by the governing body. This news excited fans who crave a competitive heavyweight title fight, as they can now look forward to seeing two young studs battling for the vacated green belt.

There has already been talk of how Bermane Stiverne, the WBC number-one contender, could face either unbeaten banger Deontay Wilder for the vacant belt, or maybe Stiverne could face the experienced Chris Arreola for Vitali’s old crown. However, those fans who feel the WBC belt will be the property of one of these guys for long had better think again – because Wladimir, Vitali’s baby brother, has announced it is his intention to add his sibling’s old belt to his Ring Magazine, IBF, WBO, IBO and WBA crowns.

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Eastside Boxing – State of the game

12/15/201312/14/2013 Mickey Lister

wladimir343434 It is my provocative to produce a debate on the current status for each division within boxing. In some divisions it is quite clear who is number one but who takes the best punch and who gives it?

In some cases the best fight out there might not be because it produces clarity on a linear champion but rather be a barnstormer of a fight. Here is my take on the state of the game.

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Best Boxer – Wladmir Klitschko

Hasn’t taken a solid shot in 8 years!!!

Best puncher – David Haye

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The Heavyweights 2014 – long live the King

09/15/201612/01/2013 Ben Thomsett

KlitschkoBanks001_PublicAddress If the road to the top in any sport is beset with challenges and hard physical graft, then boxing must rank amongst the toughest. But despite the obstacles to greatness, boxing continues to make people rich and famous, just as surely as it leaves most fighters with questionable futures. In general terms, boxing is the oldest and most maligned sport in the world today, but that doesn’t stop the support, and it certainly doesn’t stop the money. Most eyes used to be on the Heavyweights – the blue ribbon event – but a continued dominance since the Klitschko brothers gained the titles in…erm… 1694, has brought attention to the other weights, culminating in the Mayweather deal; which still beggars belief in most third world countries and gives promoters across the USA cold sweats on dark nights. Floyd is a boxing freak though, a supreme talent, and a fighter like him only comes along once every 25 years. We owe it to ourselves to make the best of the time he’s giving us in the ring. But, like the saying goes “Make hay while the sun shines” and that sun is dipping low on Floyd no matter how hard we want to tell ourselves it’s not true.

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Hopkins, Klitschko: When Dirty Fighters Play by their own set of Rules!

10/28/201310/28/2013 Izyaslav Koza

wlad793 wlad793 All of you know that in the past I have always praised both Wladimir Klitschko, and Bernard Hopkins for their work ethic, fighting skills, and accomplishments. In the past they were somewhat deserving of said praise even if it was interspersed with shades of holding, rabbit punching, pushing on the head, and just generally speaking dirty fighting. Hopkins had always employed this as part of his style, while Klitschko only began doing so post-Sanders knockout while working with Emanuel Steward.

For a time both showed less of these illegal maneuvers and more pure skill in some of their more brilliant victories.
However, with Klitschko’s win over Alexander Povetkin, and Bernard Hopkins victory over Karo Murat it has become clear that both of these superstar fighters are now simply ignoring the rules of boxing completely.

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Wladimir Klitschko Says He Plans On Keeping His “Boring” Style

10/23/201310/22/2013 Vitali Shaposhnikov

wlad793 wlad793 The giant Ukrainian boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko has taken the heavyweight division hostage. His smart and well seasoned approach to using his size as an advantage, popping his thundering long-reaching jab, he seems to be able to overcome his competition with certain ease and comfort in the ring. He is effective, there is no argument there. He is exceptionally smart and careful in the ring, at least ever since his losses to Sanders and Brewster. His 1-2 combination, if lands clean, has a devastating outcome for his rival. There is one thing missing from Wladimir’s arsenal of skills: the ability of making the fights exciting.

For years now, boxing fans as well as the media have given the younger Klitschko a hard time about his lackluster action in the ring. Whether it’s throwing jabs the entire fight, or leaning on his opponents tying them up, the audience is rarely pleased with his effort to please them.

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Why Kubrat Pulev is the best fight out there for Wladimir Klitschko

10/18/2013 Stephen Marks

Kubrat_Pulev_2 Wladimir Klitschko (61-3, 51 KOs) has been widely criticized in these latter stages of his career for cherry picking his opponents. Going into his fight with Alexander Povetkin many people thought it would be a good match up, but as I feared, even though Povetkin was tougher than most, he completely failed to give Klitschko a good fight. A fighter’s challenge to a title is validated by who they have fought. This is what makes a man deserve a shot to take down Klitschko.

However, Alexander Povetkin didn’t fight a single top ten heavyweight leading up to his dull showdown with Wlad, Neither did Klitschko’s four previous opponents Francesco Pianeta, Marius Wach, Tony Thompson, and Jean Marc Mormeck. This is disgraceful and it’s no wonder that none of these men’s fights with Klitschko were even competitive. However, a fight with Kubrat Pulev could very well be the most competitive heavyweight championship fight we have seen for some time.

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