18.01.07 – By Scoop Malinowski: Late in 2005 the World Boxing Council designated Vitali Klitschko as “WBC World Champion Emeritus”, which grants Vitali the right to become the immediate WBC mandatory official challenger if someday he would wish to come back to professional boxing. So it is true, If Vitali were to decide his body and mind are ready to endure two months of training, he could challenge current WBC champ Oleg Maskaev this spring.
The unfortunate loser in this possible but seemingly improbable scenario would be current official mandatory Samuel Peter. Peter’s manager Ivalyo Gotzev suggested in an indirect way that Vitali Klitschko vs. Oleg Maskaev could be in the works.
“(Maskaev’s) out there trying to sell the belt to the highest bidder, and that’s something that should be beneath the dignity of a WBC champion. We’ve earned our position not once but twice, so they should do the honorable thing and face us instead of trying to cash out against one of the Klitschkos.”
Wow. Did you catch that? “…ONE of the Klitschkos.” This should set off alarm bells.
You can almost sense the hint of frustrated concern in the words of Gotzev who surely knows that his man Samuel Peter would have to get in line behind Vitali Klitschko.
And if this scenaro does indeed play out, it would be a wonderful boon to the heavyweight division and the imminent unification tournament. Vitali Klitschko vs. Lennox Lewis II is still by far the biggest, most attractive heavyweight event that can be made in 2007. I don’t have to remind you how much Vitali wants this rematch, do I? And in the last 12 months Lewis has publicly hinted of having an interest in the rematch but seemed resigned to the fact it could never happen because of Vitali’s unreliable body constantly breaking down.
If Maskaev does sign to fight the older “one” of the two Ukrainian brothers as Gotzev seemed to imply, would this spark some kind of competitive reaction in the fighting spirit of Lennox who looks in superb fighting condition at each of his HBO commentating appearances?
Would the return of Vitali Klitschko be the stimulus which could spark massive excitement back into the heavyweight division, which is the most prestigious, exciting and fascinating realm in all of sports?
Let us wait to find out which one of the Klitschko brothers, as Gotzev says, Oleg Maskaev is considering signing to fight next.
Scoop Malinowski has completed his first book “Lewis vs. Tyson Heavyweight Armageddon! The Inside Story About The Biggest Money Fight In Boxing History”, which will be published in 2008.