Heavies back in limelight

Finally, there’s a heavyweight fight that’s worth watching but the protagonists aren’t household names in the lucrative US market where the top ticket is still WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.

The departure of Lennox Lewis, Riddick Bowe and Mike Tyson has left a huge void in the heavyweight division, now dominated by fighters alien to American fans. Gone is the era when boxing was ruled by charismatic heavyweights like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes and George Foreman. Before that elite cast came along, boxing was about Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Jersey Joe Walcott, Floyd Patterson, Sonny Liston, Ezzard Charles and the other heavyweight legends who were the sport’s torchbearers.

On Saturday, two heavyweight champions will try to relive the glory days of Ali and company when they battle in a unification showdown at the 57,000-seat Imtech Arena in Hamburg. Not since the duel between Lewis and Tyson in 2002 has there been as much hype for a heavyweight bout.

In one corner will be Kazakhstan-born Wladimir (Dr. Steelhammer) Klitschko of Ukraine. He holds the IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles. At 35, the 1996 Olympic superheavyweight gold medalist is a giant in the ring – literally and figuratively. Klitschko stands 6-6 1/2 and has an 81-inch wingspan. He has won his last 13 bouts dating back to 2004 and is coming off a 10th round stoppage of Samuel Peter.

Klitschko and his brother Vitali – who is the WBC titlist – are the only fighters ever to boast of doctorate degrees. They both have PhDs in Sports Science.

While Klitschko has been a dominant force in the heavyweight division, ring experts aren’t convinced he belongs in the same class as Ali and the other heavyweight greats. The reason is simple – he has preyed on hapless and overmatched opponents. Besides, he was stopped by Lamon Brewster, Corrie Sanders and Ross Puritty – none of whom can be considered a top-echelon fighter. With venerable Emanuel Steward in his camp, Klitschko hopes to be as exciting in the ring as his idol Tommy Hearns. Klitschko has a powerful right hand and a jarring left jab but he’s basically a plodder who is often described as “robotic.”

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In the other corner will be Englishman David (The Hayemaker) Haye, the WBA king. He’s five years younger than Klitschko and at least three inches shorter. His wingspan is three inches less. Haye’s record is 25-1, with 23 KOs, compared to Klitschko’s 55-3, with 49 KOs. Haye has been a pro for eight years while Klitschko, 14.

Klitschko’s size doesn’t faze Haye who wrested the WBA crown from 7-foot Nikolai Valuev on a majority 12-round decision in 2009. His only loss was to Carl Thompson on a fifth round stoppage in 2004. Haye has won his last 15. A former world cruiserweight champion, he’ll use his speed and boxing skills to try to fluster Klitschko.

Haye has turned his fight against Klitschko into a grudge match. The cocky Londoner promised that before his retirement from the ring on his birthday Oct. 13, he’ll dethrone the Ukrainian brothers – first, Wladimir then Vitali. At a press conference, Haye showed up wearing a T-shirt with a caricature of the fighter holding the severed heads of the brothers with their decapitated bodies at his feet in the ring. On another occasion, Haye hurled a magazine at Vitali showing a picture of the Englishman holding the Ukrainian’s guillotined head in his hand. Haye’s fascination with decapitation has infuriated the brothers who obviously don’t think the gimmick is funny. If Haye’s goal was to get under the brothers’ skin, he has succeeded.

“I’m going to give him a lesson in good behavior,” said Wladimir. “First, I wanted to knock him out in the first round. But now, I want to make it a long process and I want to enjoy it and then I will knock him out in the 12th round. I hope he doesn’t go down too early.”

Haye countered, “There is no chance the fight will go to 12 rounds unless he gets a chin transplant ... it will be his last fight, when I beat him to bits, he will retire.”

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If Klitschko is the good guy, Haye is definitely the bad guy. For boxing’s sake, Haye should come out the winner because it will set up a super fight against Vitali for the undisputed world heavyweight crown. For as long as the Klitschkos are reigning, there will never be a chance to unify the championship.

Haye is more boxing savvy than Klitschko and if he’s able to dazzle the Ukrainian with his agility, the Englishman should find the angles to land his combinations. Klitschko’s predictability is a liability. He fights only one way and at one pace. In contrast, Haye is multi-dimensional.

Klitschko will try to crowd and overpower Haye who is expected to counterpunch. If Klitschko is on target, Haye will be in big trouble. The Ukrainian is a power puncher who can take out Haye with a single blow. If Haye sticks and runs, he might just be able to pull off a win on points.

“It’s a fascinating clash of fighting styles and personalities, not to mention a clash of two terrific punchers,” wrote Boxing News editor Tris Dixon. “It could be over in a flash. It could be a multi-knockdown thriller. Whatever happens, millions will be watching, finally getting to see the heavyweight championship fight that everyone wanted.”