Sunday, October 12, 2008 Quijano: The Vitali statistics By Jingo Quijano Last Round
I’M not exactly hooked on Vitali Klitschko’s (35-2, 34KOs) comeback.
The last time I saw him inside a ring, he was pummeling overmatched Danny Williams into an eighth round stoppage.
But that was almost four years ago and it’s doubtful if he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level in the heavyweight division.
After that fight, a spate of recurring injuries sidelined him and he eventually decided that he had had enough of the fight game.
A failed bid for the mayoralty position of Kiev and a stint as Unesco ambassador were apparently not enough to douse the competitive fire that burns inside Dr. Ironfist.
Today he will be facing a young dangerous puncher in Samuel Peter, (30-1, 23 KOs) who gave his brother Wladimir all that he could handle a few years back.
Can he pick up where he left off? Let’s examine how they stack up:
POWER. They say that a fighter’s punch is the last to go. Mike Tyson could be sitting in a wheelchair at age 60 but he can still level you with a left hook.
Despite the lengthy layoff, the same will hold true for Vitali. With all of his wins coming via the short route save for one, it’s quite obvious that he didn’t earn the moniker “Dr. Iron Fist” for the way he handles the family budget.
Peter isn’t too far behind in the power department. But in boxing, height equals leverage and when properly used, leverage is power.
Advantage: Klitschko
BOXING SKILLS. Let’s face it. This is no Roy Jones Jr. vs. James Toney (at least when Toney was still half the man he currently is) Forget about slick boxing or nifty defensive moves.
But because Vitali owns a better jab and Peter specializes in clubbing away at the back of his opponent’s head, Vitali will appear to be the more adept fighter in the ring.
Advantage: Klitschko
Best performances/ Experience.
Peter: KO2 Taurus Sykes (2005)
TKO 6 Oleg Maskaev (2008)
Klitschko:Loss by TKO6 Lennox Lewis (2003) KO 8 Corrie Sanders (2004)
FIGHTING STYLES. Vitali comes forward behind a long jab with an upright fighting style. His defense consists of leaning back his head while his arms try to create distance from an advancing foe.
Peter likes to attack and lunge with clubbing overhand rights. He also owns a vicious uppercut but is prone to being hit with the left hook.
ADVANTAGE: Even
EXPECT THE FIGHT TO BE: Ugly with lots of clinching and hugging.
Slugger Peter will continuously move forward and throw wide punches while Vitali will paw at him with a long jab and flail awkwardly when he moves in close.
Peter will probably have some early success if he applies the pressure and does not get frustrated. If Vitali weathers the storm he will time Peter’s lunges with a textbook one-two and hopefully catch the “Nigerian Nightmare” flush when he slugs his way in.
If they had fought at Vitali’s prime, there’s no doubt in my mind Peter would have tasted his first knockout loss. But too many years away from active fighting, too much time and space from feeling hard punches from a good strong opponent will be the deciding factor in this bout. It’s Samuel Peter by Unanimous Decision.
LAST ROUND. It’s on my cute inaanak Aron Ryan S. Lee who recently joined the Christian world. Cheers!
