Wladimir Klitschko: Unlike Floyd, His Lopsided & Boring Fights Don’t Sell In US

Published

11 years ago

February 10, 2014

The worst thing for an elite athlete is for him not to be cared about. Forget whether or not the fans think he is really good, the real death sentence is when they acknowledge that you’re formidable and good but couldn’t care less to watch you perform.

No athlete grasped that quicker and earlier than a young Cassius Marcellus Clay in the early 1960s when he did a radio show after flamboyant wrestler “Gorgeous” George. The young Clay met George and went to see him wrestle that night and was amazed at the crowd’s reaction, which was split. Many in attendance were cheering for the bombastic George to get his butt whipped, while others enjoyed his act and were there to see him perform. And what stood out most to Clay was that the arena was packed and everybody had an interest in the outcome. It didn’t matter if they were there to see “Gorgeous” George win or lose, what mattered most is they were in attendance to see “Gorgeous” George.

That’s when Cassius Clay realized that being good wasn’t enough and that an athlete had to be noticed. He also saw that being the “bad guy” wasn’t such a bad thing and happened to be great for business. He understood as a bad guy you’d attract fans who were hellbent on seeing you get beat and that there’d also be those who would like the persona and personality and would show up just to see and hear what you were going to do next. Thus “I am the Greatest” was born and Clay, who later became Muhammad Ali, became the biggest draw and star in boxing since Jack Dempsey. Muhammad Ali became a pioneer as to how athletes and entertainers presented themselves to their potential paying customers.

The most recent example of this occurred after the NFC championship game between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers on January 18th. After Seahawks defensive back Richard Sherman made the game saving play in the endzone with seconds left in the game, he went off a la Cassius Clay after beating Sonny Liston to FoxSports sideline reporter Erin Andrews. Forty million people saw Sherman go off about how he’s the greatest corner-back in the NFL and for the next two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, Sherman received more attention than Denver Broncos quarterback and five time MVP Peyton Manning. Sherman was a topic of discussion on both news, sports and interview shows nonstop leading up to the game which just so happened to be the most watched television broadcast in history. Before Sherman went off after the NFC championship game, he wasn’t that well known, except to hardcore NFL fans.

Sports history is replete with these type of scenarios. The best fighter in boxing, Floyd Mayweather, thrives on this type of projection and flamboyancy. Until Floyd fought Oscar De La Hoya back in May of 2007, nobody cared about the undefeated Mayweather to much extent. He didn’t posses the ring athleticism of Muhammad Ali or Sugar Ray Leonard and wasn’t a perceived destroyer like Mike Tyson. His fights weren’t terribly exciting and he didn’t posses natural charisma. Then he met Vince McMahon of the WWE who helped turn him into today’s biggest attraction and story in professional boxing after he defeated De La Hoya.

Enter multiple heavyweight title holder Wladimir Klitschko 61-3 (51). Since 2005 Wladimir has lost about as many rounds as Mayweather and has posted many more stoppage victories. Sure, some will say Klitschko hasn’t really fought any outstanding heavyweights during that run, but that’s not his fault. Exactly who would you like him to fight among those most qualified to fight him? On the other hand Mayweather has picked his spots fighting certain fighters after they’ve peaked, before they’ve fully blossomed or forced them to meet him at a catch-weight up or down from where they made their mark and fought their best. Yet Mayweather attracts substantial PPV buys and Klitschko can’t even get on either of the two major boxing broadcast networks in boxing, Showtime and HBO.

“I understand the criticism that the fights are lopsided and kind of boring. I’m getting it,” Klitschko said last week. Yes, his fights have been drama-less and many are quick to disparage his skill and ability as a world class fighter and champion, but if he’s so terrible, why doesn’t one of those fighters qualified to fight him go in there and beat him? The same applies to those who disparage Mayweather because he’s not a knockout puncher. To that I say, “he punches hard enough to win.”

“I’m missing the fans in the U.S.,” Klitschko said in an interview with The Associated Press. “The fan base is huge here and I would love to fight back in the States. I want to fight here but I need a broadcaster, either Showtime or HBO, and I need an arena,” Klitschko said. ”Of course I also need an opponent who is interesting to fans. I think the Arreola-Stiverne winner could be a good choice.”

Based on Klitschko’s above statement, Wladimir understands and fully grasps that it’s important to amass a U.S. following. However, American fans are fickle and appreciate and react to sizzle much more than substance and that doesn’t just pertain to boxing. Andre Ward and Mikey Garcia are perfect examples. They are every bit the fighter and technician that Mayweather is, but they don’t know how to or care to instigate the fans and media the way Mayweather has mastered in order to expand their popularity. Wladimir’s intentions are good and I believe he’s willing to fight the best of the best around today because he always has. Sadly his size, strength and power cause many of his opponents to fold up and worry more about what he might do instead of what they should be attempting to do to dethrone him.

And by the looks of the heavyweight landscape that’s not about to change unless Bermane Stiverne 23-1-1 (20) turns out to be a better fighter than perceived and catches Wladimir at the right time. In order for Wladimir Klitschko to change his marketability, he’d have to do something outrageous or be involved in some sort of controversy, something that is not likely to happen.

This is a man who was flirting with the idea of Don King promoting him and his brother – until they realized when they went to see King at his palatial mansion that King wasn’t actually playing the piano as he led them to believe, because it was a self playing piano. That turned them off and King never had a thing to do with either brothers’ career.

It’s amazing how a personality makes Mayweather’s often boring and lopsided fights must see. In America nobody would recognize Wladimir walking down the street, but in Germany he fights in front of fifty thousand fans regardless of who the opponent is and is greeted like a rock star.

It would be interesting to see how Floyd Mayweather would advise Wladimir about stimulating interest in his career. Is there any doubt that if Mayweather were Klitschko and possessed the same assets and liabilities as a fighter that he’d fight exactly the same way? Not in my mind. He even would’ve made the same mistake as Wladimir in agreeing to fight Ross Puritty early in his career.

You know what’s kind of interesting? Klitschko even has a more compelling personality than Mayweather. As boring as I find Wlad can be as a fighter sometimes, I’m always interested in what he has to say. Mayweather, on the other hand, completely puts me to sleep, except during those times when he’s actually annoying me. But perception is everything, I guess.

Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com

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Frank Lotierzo

Ringside at the Cosmo: Pacheco Outpoints Nelson plus Undercard Results

Published

6 hours ago

January 25, 2025

Arne K. Lang

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LAS VEGAS, NV – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Promotions was at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas tonight for the second half of a DAZN doubleheader that began in Nottingham, England. In the main event, Diego Pacheco, ranked #1 by the WBO at super middleweight, continued his ascent toward a world title with a unanimous decision over Steven Nelson.

Pacheco glides round the ring smoothly whereas Nelson wastes a lot energy with something of a herky-jerky style. However, although Nelson figured to slow down as the fight progressed, he did some of his best work in rounds 11 and 12. Fighting with a cut over his left eye from round four, a cut that periodically reopened, the gritty Nelson fulfilled his promise that he would a fight as if he had everything to lose if he failed to win, but it just wasn’t enough, even after his Omaha homie Terence “Bud” Crawford entered his corner before the last round to give him a pep talk (back home in North Omaha, Nelson runs the B&B (Bud and Bomac) Sports Academy.

All three judges had it 117-111 for Pacheco who mostly fought off his back foot but landed the cleaner punches throughout. A stablemate of David Benavidez and trained by David’s father Jose Benevidez Sr, Pacheco improved to 23-0 (18). It was the first pro loss for the 36-year-old Nelson (20-1).

Semi wind-up

Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz, who as a pro has never fought a match slated for fewer than 10 rounds, had too much class for Hermosillo, Mexico’s rugged Omar Salcido who returned to his corner with a puffy face after the fourth stanza, but won the next round and never stopped trying. The outcome was inevitable even before the final round when Salcido barely made it to the final gun, but the Mexican was far more competitive than many expected.

The Cuban, who was 4-0 vs. Keyshawn Davis in closely-contested bouts as an amateur, advanced his pro record to 5-0 (2), winning by scores by 99-91 and 98-92 twice. Salido, coming off his career-best win, a 9^th-round stoppage of former WBA super featherweight title-holder Chris Colbert, falls to 20-2.

Other TV bouts

Ernesto “Tito” Mercado, a 23-year-old super lightweight, aims to become the next world champion from Pomona, California, following in the footsteps of the late Richie Sandoval and Sugar Shane Mosely, and based on his showing tonight against former Beijing Olympian and former two-division title-holder Jose Pedraza, he is well on his way.

After three rounds after what had been a technical fight, Mercado (17-0, 16 KOs) knocked Pedraza off his pins with an overhand right followed by short left hand. Pedraza bounced back and fell on his backside. When he rose on unsteady legs, the bout was waived off. The official time was 2:08 of round four and the fading, 25-year-old Pedraza (29-7-1) was saddled with his third loss in his last four outings.

The 8-round super lightweight clash between Israel Mercado (no relation to “Tito”) and Leonardo Rubalcava was fan-friendly skirmish with many robust exchanges. When the smoke cleared, the verdict was a majority draw. Mercado got the nod on one card (76-74), but was overruled by a pair of 75-75 scores.

Mercado came out strong in the opening round, but suffered a flash knockdown before the round ended. The referee ruled it a slip but was overruled by replay operator Jay Nady and what would have been a 10-9 round for Mercado became a 10-8 round for Rubalcava. Mercado lost another point in round seven when he was penalized for low blows.

The scores were 76-74 for Mercado (11-1-2) and 75-75 twice. The verdict was mildly unpopular with most thinking that Mercado deserved the nod. Reportedly a four-time Mexican amateur champion, Rubalcava (9-0-1) is trained by Robert Garcia.

Also

New Matchroom signee Nishant Dev, a 24-year-old southpaw from India, had an auspicious pro debut (pardon the cliché). Before a beaming Eddie Hearn, Dev stopped Oakland’s Alton Wiggins (1-1-1) in the opening round. The referee waived it off after the second knockdown.

Boxers from India have made large gains at the amateur level in recent years and Matchroom honcho Eddie Hearn anticipates that Dev, a Paris Olympian, will be the first fighter from India to make his mark as a pro.

Undefeated Brooklyn lightweight Harley Mederos, managed by the influential Keith Connolly, scored his seventh knockout in eight tries with a brutal third-round KO of Mexico’s Arturo de Isla.

A left-right combination knocked de Isla (5-3-1) flat on his back. Referee Raul Caiz did not bother to count and several minutes elapsed before the stricken fighter was fit to leave the ring. The official time was 1:27 of round three.

In the opener, Newark junior lightweight Zaquin Moses, a cousin of Shakur Stevenson, improved to 2-0 when his opponent retired on his stool after the opening round.

Photo credit: Melina Pizano / Matchroom

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Najee Lopez Steps up in Class and Wins Impressively at Plant City

Published

1 day ago

January 24, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Najee-Lopez-Steps-Up-in-Class-and-Wins-Impressively-at-Plant-City

Garry Jonas’ ProBox series returned to its regular home in Plant City, Florida, tonight with a card topped by a 10-round light heavyweight match between fast-rising Najee Lopez and former world title challenger Lenin Castillo. This was considered a step-up fight for the 25-year-old Lopez, an Atlanta-born-fighter of Puerto Rican heritage. Although the 36-year-old Castillo had lost two of his last three heading in, he had gone the distance with Dimitry Bivol and Marcus Browne and been stopped only once (by Callum Smith).

Lopez landed the cleaner punches throughout. Although Castillo seemed unfazed during the first half of the fight, he returned to his corner at the end of round five exhibiting signs of a fractured jaw.

In the next round, Lopez cornered him against the ropes and knocked him through the ropes with a left-right combination. Referee Emil Lombardo could have stopped the fight right there, but he allowed the courageous Castillo to carry on for a bit longer, finally stopping the fight as Castillo’s corner and a Florida commissioner were signaling that it was over.

The official time was 2:36 of round six. Bigger fights await the talented Lopez who improved to 13-0 with his tenth win inside the distance. Castillo declined to 25-7-1.

Co-Feature

In a stinker of a heavyweight fight, Stanley Wright, a paunchy, 34-year-old North Carolina journeyman, scored a big upset with a 10-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Jeremiah Milton.

Wright carried 280 pounds, 100 pounds more than in his pro debut 11 years ago. Although he was undefeated (13-0, 11 KOs), he had never defeated an opponent with a winning record and his last four opponents were a miserable 19-48-2. Moreover, he took the fight on short notice.

What Wright had going for him was fast hands and, in the opening round, he put Milton on the canvas with a straight right hand. From that point, Milton fought tentatively and Wright, looking fatigued as early as the fourth round, fought only in spurts. It seemed doubtful that he could last the distance, but Milton, the subject of a 2021 profile in these pages, was wary of Wright’s power and unable to capitalize. “It’s almost as if Milton is afraid to win,” said ringside commentator Chris Algieri during the ninth stanza when the bout had devolved into a hugfest.

The judges had it 96-93 and 97-92 twice for the victorious Wright who boosted his record to 14-0 without improving his stature.

Also

In the TV opener, a 10-round contest in the junior middleweight division, Najee Lopez stablemate Darrelle Valsaint (12-0, 10 KOs) scored his career-best win with a second-round knockout of 35-year-old Dutch globetrotter Stephen Danyo (23-7-3).

A native Floridian of Haitian descent, the 22-year-old Valsaint was making his eighth start in Plant City. He rocked Danyo with a chopping right hand high on the temple and then, as Danyo slumped forward, applied the exclamation point, a short left uppercut. The official time was 2:17 of round two.

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Japanese Superstar Naoya Inoue is Headed to Vegas after KOing Ye Joon Kim

Published

2 days ago

January 24, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Japanese-Superstar-Naoya-Inoue-is-Headed-to-Vegas-after-KOing-Y-Joon-Kim

Japan’s magnificent Naoya Inoue, appearing in his twenty-fourth title fight, scored his 11^th straight stoppage tonight while successfully defending his unified super bantamweight title, advancing his record to 29-0 (26 KOs) at the expense of Ye Joon Kim. The match at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena came to an end at the 2:25 mark of round four when U.S. referee Mark Nelson tolled “10” over the brave but overmatched Korean.

Kim, raised in a Seoul orphanage, had a few good moments, but the “Monster” found his rhythm in the third round, leaving Kim with a purplish welt under his left eye. In the next frame, he brought the match to a conclusion, staggering the Korean with a left and then finishing matters with an overhand right that put Kim on the seat of his pants, dazed and wincing in pain.

Kim, who brought a 21-2-2 record, took the fight on 10 days’ notice, replacing Australia’s Sam Goodman who suffered an eye injury in sparring that never healed properly, forcing him to withdraw twice.

Co-promoter Bob Arum, who was in the building, announced that Inoue’s next fight would happen in Las Vegas in the Spring. Speculation centers on Mexico City’s Alan Picasso (31-0-1, 17 KOs) who is ranked #1 by the WBC. However, there’s also speculation that the 31-year-old Inoue may move up to featherweight and seek to win a title in a fifth weight class, in which case a potential opponent is Brandon Figueroa should he defeat former Inoue foe Stephen Fulton next weekend. In “olden days,” this notion would have been dismissed as the Japanese superstar and Figueroa have different promoters, but the arrival of Turki Alalshikh, the sport’s Daddy Warbucks, has changed the dynamic. Tonight, Naoya Inoue made his first start as a brand ambassador for Riyadh Season.

Simmering on the backburner is a megafight with countryman Junto Nakatani, an easy fight to make as Arum has ties to both. However, the powers-that-be would prefer more “marination.”

Inoue has appeared twice in Las Vegas, scoring a seventh-round stoppage of Jason Moloney in October of 2020 at the MGM Bubble and a third-round stoppage of Michael Dasmarinas at the Virgin Hotels in June of 2021.

Semi-wind-up

In a 12-round bout for a regional welterweight title, Jin Sasaki improved to 19-1-1 (17) with a unanimous decision over Shoki Sakai (29-15-3). The scores were 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112.

Also

In a bout in which both contestants were on the canvas, Toshiki Shimomachi (20-1-3) edged out Misaki Hirano (11-2), winning a majority decision. A 28-year-old Osaka southpaw with a fan-friendly style, the lanky Shimomachi, unbeaten in his last 22 starts, competes as a super bantamweight. A match with Inoue may be in his future.

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