18.04.05 – By Bradford Scott: There was a time when the name Wladimir Klitschko meant something to hardcore boxing fans. A time when other fighters shook in the fear they might have to face him in the ring one day, and his amazing offensive arsenal. Ladies and Gentlemen, that day has passed. Enter the April 23rd bout between once WBO Champion Wladimir Klitschko and Eliseo Castillo on HBO Boxing After Dark.. This bout should be an easy one to call right? Wait, this is the new Wladimir Klitschko, not the old one that pummeled Chris Byrd, Jameel McCline, and Monte Barrett. Wladimir has since slipped something serious.
Eliseo Castillo was pretty much a nobody until a not so exciting decision win against Michael Moorer on July of last year. Remember, this is not the Michael Moorer of past, this is a faded, knocked out by David Tua version of Michael Moorer. Check out the rest of Eliseo’s resume and you can see that once again HBO is giving us a fight that should be nothing but a one-sided beating by the once great Wladimir Klitschko. Eliseo has faced no one in his career with 5 percent the talent of Wladimir.
The keys for this fight for Wlad would have to be work behind the punishing jab, not get too over anxious, and finally when he’s worn Castillo down, go for the knockout. No more sugar knockouts or Vaseline slathering.
For Eliseo, it should be obvious. If he can connect on Wlad with one good shot, it might be the end for Klitschko who in his last 5 fights has been TKO’d twice. Castillo should go in there looking for blood and go for the
kill as soon as possible before he takes extended punishment.
This fight was originally and ridiculously being considered as an IBF Eliminator with the winner facing Byrd. Thank goodness that has been resolved and it is not an eliminator fight.
Both times Wlad and his team had excuses as to why he ate canvas. The excuses should end on Saturday night.
Catch this fight on HBO BOXING AFTER DARK as HBO presents its first heavyweight program of the year when the show travels to Dortmund, Germany, for WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO VS. ELISEO CASTILLO on SATURDAY, APRIL 23 at 9:45 p.m. (ET/PT), from the Westfalenhallen Complex.
Bradford Scott can be reached at hirebrad@hotmail.com