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Like It or Not Boxing Fans, Wladimir Klitschko Is As Good As There Is

Colin Linneweber
Mar 21, 2010

IBF, WBO, IBO, and Ring Magazine world heavyweight champion Wladimir โ€œDr. Steel Hammerโ€ Klitschko successfully defended his titles by knocking out โ€œFastโ€ Eddie Chambers in the 12th round Saturday in Duesseldorf, Germany.

Klitschko (54-3, 48 KOs), who has won 12 consecutive bouts since he suffered a fifth round TKO loss to Lamon Brewster in April 2004, thoroughly dominated the entire contest with a steady dose of effective jabs.

Regardless of the fact that he was in utter control, Klitschkoโ€™s trainer, Emanuel Steward, was displeased with his fighterโ€™s aggressiveness and he urged โ€œDr. Steel Hammerโ€ to knockout the overwhelmed native of Philadelphia.

Finally, Klitschko accepted Stewardโ€™s advice and he landed a vicious left hook that rendered Chambers (35-2, 18 KOs) unconscious with only moments remaining in the final round.

โ€œI have to give him credit, he was very fast,โ€ said Klitschko, 33, a Ukrainian national. โ€œHe doesnโ€™t have much punching power and his game plan was gone by round six.โ€

Klitschkoโ€™s methodical style of fighting is not popular among boxing fans who yearn for ferocious and savage punchers in the heavyweight division.

For many onlookers, Klitschkoโ€™s approach is further frustrating because he is hesitant to throw powerful bombs despite the enormous size advantage that he has owned over all of his professional opponents to date.

โ€œUnwatchable,โ€ said Brad Sherwood, 29, a resident of South Boston who is a personal trainer at Goldโ€™s Gym in Medford. โ€œBoxing is basically a fistfight. Klitschko makes it a match of pawing.โ€

Granted, Wladimir Klitschko is not exactly the definition of excitement as a prizefighter.

Nevertheless, as previously noted, he hasnโ€™t lost since George W. Bushโ€™s first term and, considering his relatively young age and the dearth of quality fighterโ€™s presently competing in the heavyweight division, he likely wonโ€™t lose in Barack Obamaโ€™s first term either.