by James Slater — Now holding all but one of the four recognised world heavyweight titles, Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko want to make it a perfect set and win the one belt they do not yet have; the WBA version. Currently held by the once-beaten seven foot colossus that is Russia’s Nikolai Valuev, the WBA belt is the only thing left in terms of world titles for the brothers from Ukraine to add to their collection..
Speaking at the WBC’s annual convention in China, Vitali Klitschko, the current WBC champ and eldest of the two brothers, threw down the challenge to Valuev.
“Valuev is the biggest heavyweight champion in history,” Vitali said. “He’s huge and dangerous, this won’t be easy and I don’t want to underestimate him. It will be a difficult fight, but we have a dream, and we are going to make it come true, by taking the last belt for the Klitschko family.”
Though Vitali’s comments make it sound as though he is personally issuing the challenge to Valuev, the 37-year-old later made it clear that is doesn’t matter whether it is he or brother Wladimir who fights the WBA ruler.
“[This] won’t amount to a dispute between close brothers,” Vitali said. “My message to Valuev is that this isn’t about size, but internal quality, so let’s see whose the strongest and the best. Why not Kiev, Moscow or London? We’d have to do this in a stadium which holds thirty of forty thousand people or more.”
A fight between either Klitschko and Valuev would indeed be a huge fight (both literally and figuratively!) and it would be great to have a unified heavyweight king. Or as close to one we will get it seems. For both Vitali and Wladimir have made it clear, no matter how much money they are offered, they will never fight each other. So the closest we will come today to a undisputed heavyweight champion is the two Klitschkos holding all four belts between them. But which would be the better fight, Vitali Vs. Valuev, or Wladimir Vs. the giant?
Either fight would be very interesting, but judging by his one-sided pounding of Sam Peter last month, Vitali remains the better fighter of the two siblings. “Dr Iron Fist” hits harder than “Dr Steel Hammer,” he has a better chin and he is meaner in the ring. Therefore, with nothing less important than a dream on the line, I think it would make sense for Vitali to box Valuev. This is not to say I think Wladmir would lose to the Russian, just that Vitali would get the job done with less of a fuss. Maybe we’d even see boxing’s biggest heavyweight champion knocked out by Vitali? And wouldn’t that be a sight to see!
Also, Wladimir has his sights set on a certain former cruiserweight champion from London, a fighter who must be accommodated. Let Vitali fight Valuev and let Wladimir fight David Haye. That way all the fans are sure to be happy.