Sharkie's Machine April 22, 2006
“It’s Official: Wladimir Klitschko Is Back!”
By Frank Gonzalez Jr.

Congratulations to the new IBF Heavyweight Champion, Wladimir Klitschko, who used his jab and combination punching to pummel Chris Byrd in their rematch in Mannheim Germany Saturday night. Wladimir has experienced the glory of success and the agony of defeat since his first meeting with Byrd back in October of 2000. Though Klitschko utterly dominated Byrd in 2000, this time it was worse.

In the opening moments, it was a tactical boxing match that the six-foot-six, Wladimir slowly started to control with his long, menacing jab. Byrd managed to score a few good shots to the body but nothing of any consequence.

By the second round, Klitschko was turning his jab into a hook and catching Byrd with regularity. Byrd went defensive and focused more on avoiding being hit than anything else. Though Byrd bobbed, weaved and blocked many shots, he was getting tagged enough by jabs alone to lose the round. Wladimir let loose his right hand a few times to punctuate the point before the bell.

By the third, it was clear that things weren’t working out well for Byrd, who couldn’t get inside, couldn’t fend off Klitschko’s jab and was starting to take a lot of punishment from the big man who jabbed and threw combinations to a crescendo. At one point, Chris Byrd rallied and landed a few body shots and when Klitschko clinched, Byrd threw hooking rights to the ribcage. That was the extent of Byrd’s offense.

Under the guidance of Manny Stewart, Wladimir has learned how to clinch well, and he did so often enough to draw a few informal warnings from the referee but for the most part, they were strategically applied clinches that kept Byrd out of his rhythm, frustrated and disabled him from mounting any real offense. Klitschko capped off the round with a clean left, right combination that rocked Byrd. At the end of the round, Byrd’s face was a swollen mess, his eyes puffing on both sides, his forehead and cheeks inflated with pain.

The fourth round featured Klitschko turning up the heat and blasting Byrd with combinations that flowed from the jab. The confusion encapsulating Byrd was covered by his gloves, which he wore up high to protect his face as best he could from the onslaught before him.

Somehow, the notion that Byrd might be trying to wear Klitschko out by letting him, ‘punch himself out,’ didn’t seem reasonable. In the fifth, Wlad landed a left-right combo that sent Byrd to the canvas hard! Byrd got up and went into a defensive shell that did little to prevent the pounding he proceeded to take. I swore the ref was going to stop it. Byrd’s wife could be heard screaming instructions to her beleaguered hubby, who was getting splattered about the ring. It was not a pretty sight. The bell rang with mercy as the blood drenched Chris Byrd took a seat at his stool.

The brave Chris Byrd, who had just experience what had to be his worst nightmare of a round in boxing, fought tactically and at a safer distance early in the sixth, trying to get his legs back under him and some oxygen in his blood. Byrd was definitely hurting and looked slower and unsteady. Klitschko could have tried to close the show at that point but he fought smart, he didn’t over do it. He paced himself nicely, worked his jab and followed up with an occasional right here and there, to coast his way through the sixth.

In the opening moments of the seventh, Klitschko landed a left-right combination that put Byrd down again. Byrd got up, his face a sea of red, with blood coming from multiple cuts all over his face. The referee mercifully stood before him and waved the fight off. It was the right call. Wladimir Klitschko was the new IBF Champ.

* * *

During the post fight interview, Klitschko was humble and honest. There was no chest pounding, no bragging, just a good sport who openly mentioned his own failings and success. He credited Byrd for having a BIG heart. If Chris Byrd proved anything Saturday night in Mannheim, it was that he is a man of honor. He took the beating of his life and didn’t make excuses.

With all the punishment Chris Byrd took Saturday night, it was amazing that he stood up so straight and spoke so clearly during the post fight interviews, face all blown up. He was also gracious, crediting Klitschko for being, “big and strong” and giving the impression that he may continue to fight, even after this loss of all loses for him.

Chris Byrd is an unusual kind of HW for this era; he’s not very big (for this era), at six feet, 220 pounds, he lacks noticeable power and is basically a defensive fighter. He’s a ‘pure boxer’ who relies on his reflexes and slick defensive boxing style to outscore his opponents to victories that are not often well remembered. His victory over DaVarryl Williamson put me to sleep.

When Chris fought in the Olympics, he was 168-pounds. When Wladimir fought in the Olympics, he was about as big as he is now.

Wladimir Klitschko is an unusual kind of HW too; he actually uses his jab consistently, exhibits quality boxing skills and is considerably athletic for a man his size. His victory over Samuel Peter demonstrated that his boxing skills were enough to do away with a big puncher with poor boxing skills. Against Byrd, he showed how he beats a man with good skills and limited power.

The HW is more interesting with the addition of Sergei Liakhovich of Belarus, who out-boxed and upset American Champion Lamon Brewster to take the WBO Title. There’s Hasim Rahman, who inherited the WBC Title when Vitali Klitschko retired last year and the very large Russian, Nicoli Valuev, who is the least accomplished of the lot. His biggest fight was beating default Champion, John Ruiz in a fairly close fight in Germany last December to win the WBA Title that Ruiz got back from James Toney, who beat Ruiz—but tested positive for steroids and was stripped of the title. It’s like a damn soap opera, but at least it’s starting to wake up the sleepiest division in boxing.

Of course, in a perfect world, there would be a Tournament to decide who really is, “the HW Champion of the World.” But, don’t hold your breath. With all those huge sanctioning fees to be paid from having so many Champions, its unlikely that those who control boxing will ever allow it to the great sport it could be. It’s too bad the moguls of boxing can’t see how much money they’d make if they gave fans what they really want—ONE Champion in each division. The process of getting there alone would sell a lot of tickets and probably renew the interest of even the most casual sports fans.

If there was a HW tourney, here’s how I’d like to see it go: Wlad Klitschko vs. Hasim Rahman, the winner to fight the winner of Sergei Liakhovich vs. Nicoli Valuev, or Wladimir vs. Liakhovich and Rahman vs. Valuev. Shuffle the cards however you like but in the end, let the last man standing be called the Heavyweight Champion of the World. Throw in the battle for 2nd place and wow, there’d be great fights on all the time.

Wladimir has shown what he can do against a man he has beaten in the past, but he’s yet to avenge a loss of his own. It’s too bad he never had a rematch with Corey Sanders or Lamon Brewster or even Ross Purrity for that matter.

I’d really like to see Wladimir take on Lamon Brewster, if another belt holder is not next on the menu. As for Chris Byrd, should he continue to box, James Toney would be a most interesting opponent.

Wladimir looks to have renewed confidence, balanced with some hard earned humility. Life is about now, not yesterday. At 30 years old, with his size, boxing skills and overall improvements, he might just be the guy who could win all the marbles. Time will tell.

* * *

Comments can be emailed to dshark87@hotmail.com