Klitschko vs. Chisora: Klitschko's Age Will Help Him Topple Dereck Chisora

Vitali Klitschko has been dominant in his seven heavyweight title defenses since retiring for four years due to injury.

Yet, every fight, his age comes up.

Klitschko faces the same questions heading into his bout with Dereck Chisora on Saturday, but the reality is, his age will actually help him against the determined and unpredictable 28-year-old.

Klitschko said on Friday, via ESPN:

"

I'm 40, but I never think about that. If I look in the past, I would be upset if someone told me when I was 20 or 25 that I would be fighting at 40. I never would believe that. But right now I feel like 25. I never think about age because I feel too good.

I had bad times with injuries, but that is all in the past. I know if I will be 100 percent healthy that nobody can beat me.

"

Chisora is certainly fearless, and he's certainly unpredictable (given he slapped Klitschko at the weigh-in), but that may actually come back to haunt him against Klitschko.

Klitschko has obviously been doing this dance for years. He's seen numerous challengers declare they were going to take him down, but he's gone 13-2 in world title fights with 11 knockouts: He's generally the guy taking people down.

Chisora does have the makings of a boxer who could surprise Klitschko. He has a lot to fight for after he was robbed against Robert Helenius in Finland, and he's a supremely confident challenger.

But Chisora doesn't have the experience needed to topple someone like Klitschko. He only has 17 fights to his name and he's not going to be able to get inside on the 40-year-old the way he did against Helenius.

It's great to be confident and aggressive in the ring, but I also think he's going to get caught with some huge counter-punches against a boxer leagues ahead of everyone else he's faced.

Klitschko, on the other hand, already sounds as if he's prepared for what Chisora will throw at him.

Klitschko said on Friday, via ESPN:

"

I'm looking into Chisora's eyes and I see a young fighter who wants to win the world title. When he said that he was going to finish me in Round 8, I realized that this guy is serious and I have never prepared as hard for a fight. But I've told him that he's not the one to stop me. No one can. I'm going to show everyone why I am the champion and why I have ruled for so long.

"

Klitschko is not only the superior fighter, he's ready for Chisora. In that regard, you can forget about the element of surprise.

You can bet Klitschko will be more prepared for Chisora than Chisora will be ready for Klitschko.

In the end, Chisora will be Klitschko's 41st victim via knockout.