By James Slater: December 11th could prove to be a big and interesting night of boxing. First of all, we’ve just heard how the massively intriguing Amir Khan-Marcos Maidana WBA light welterweight title fight has been agreed for on that date, and now it has been reported how heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko will be fighting on that same night.
Fresh off his impressively dominant stoppage win over the well-trained Sam Peter, “Dr. Steel Hammer” will box, once again in Germany, a mere three months on. There is no word yet on just who the all-conquering 34-year-old with the telephone poll left jab will rumble with, but it is good to see the heavyweight champion remaining so active (take note, David Haye!).
Wladimir only fought one time last year (the beatdown of Ruslan Chagaev), but that was because of his shoulder injury. The younger of the two Klitschkos will make the most of a good, active year here in 2010 (as he did in 2008). But, just who will it be that the champ faces on Dec. 11th?
Alexander Povetkin, who fights a TBA on October 30th, still wants more time in which to fully prepare for his title shot, so he’s out. Odlanier Soils has a fight coming up, also against a TBA, so he’s unlikely to be Wladimir’s dance partner (this year anyway). David Haye, the man both Klitschko’s really want to get into the ring, faces former Olympian Audley Harrison in November, so he’s out. And Tomasz Adamek, the man Wlad’s trainer Emanuel Steward said is the most logical foe for his fighter, faces Vinny Maddalone on December 9th, so he’s out until next year at the earliest.
It does look as though Wladimir will have to be creative in choosing who to fight in December. The name of former cruiserweight champion Jean Marc Mormeck has been mentioned as a possible challenger – could he get the December shot? No, the Frenchman wouldn’t be given much of a chance of winning, but that doesn’t mean the fight won’t happen. No disrespect intended, but Wladimir may look at such a fight as a “stay busy” affair. Maybe Tony Thompson, the man who lost in the 11th-round to the Ring magazine, IBF, WBO and IBO king back July of 2008, will get the rematch he has been asking for ever since? Now that he is injury-free and ready to fight again, perhaps “The Tiger” will get the call. But could the 38-year-old southpaw possibly do any better in a return fight?
It seems we cannot expect a great opponent for Wladimir in December, but at least the best heavyweight on the planet likes to fight and fight often. Then again, when you’re as good as the Klitschkos clearly are, what is there to be afraid of in staying active!