By James Slater: The great career of long-reigning WBC heavyweight king Vitali Klitschko looks set to come to an end this coming September 1st. Reports from various sources state how the 40-year-old “Dr. Iron Fist” will defend his crown against unbeaten 27-year-old Manuel Charr at the huge Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kiev in his native Ukraine; and the word is this will almost certainly be Vitali’s final fight.
Looking at heading into politics full time (Fightnews.com reports how Vitali will take part in parliamentary elections in Ukraine on October 28th), the hugely popular heavyweight will be missed when he’s gone. Rest assured though, Vitali’s swansong will be a victorious one. At least most experts, fans and betting people are sure the largely unknown Charr, 21-0(11) will not cause the upset..
Known as “Diamond Boy,” Charr, born in Syria but based in Germany, has nothing on his record that suggests he is capable of competing with Vitali, much less of defeating him. Like Vitali, Charr was at one time a kick boxer, coming to The Sweet Science relatively late in life. Aged 21 in 2005, Charr went pro. Wins over debutants, novices and journeymen came in Germany, before, in 2009, Charr was stepped up somewhat and picked up wins over the likes of Gbenga Oloukun (who was then 16-0), Sherman Williams, Owen Beck, Zack Page, Danny Williams and, last time out, in March of this year, Taras Bydenko.
A reasonable puncher if not an especially dangerous one (more a grind-you-down type guy), the 6’3.5,” approx 245-pounder will face a tough time getting inside Vitali’s long jab and getting home with hard shots – as has almost every fighter Klitschko has faced in recent years. Vitali simply looks too big, too strong, too powerful and too experienced for the still-raw Charr.
Of course, whenever a fighter has one eye on the exit door, their motivation to win a tough fight comes into question. But both Klitschko brothers are notoriously professional. Vitali will take no shot-cuts in training camp, nor will he underestimate Charr; a tough young fighter who has absolutely nothing to lose. Vitali will not risk going out a loser.
I think Vitali, 44-2(40) will take a good look at his man as he usually does, before unloading his big guns in the second half of what will almost certainly be a sell-out fight. Another almost certainty is Klitschko winning by stoppage. Look for a game Charr to give it a go, but get taken out in around 8 or 9 rounds.
Then the historians will get busy deciding Vitali’s place in heavyweight history.