THE RETURN OF VITALI KLITSCHKO - PART I

Technically, I'm supposed to be writing another project, but my brain needs a rest and, as a result, I've decided to write about something else.  I know the quality of this blog doesn't really measure up to past blogs, but I'll go back and fix it later...

Anyway, as all of my friends can tell you, I'm a huge boxing fan and it's very rare that I'll miss a megafight.  In June of 2003, my friend, Charlie, and I bought tickets to see Lewis vs. Johnson, which was set to take place at the Staples Center here in Los Angeles. 

Charlie, being from Britain, was and still is a big Lennox Lewis fan.  Personally, Lewis never managed to capture my imagination or inspired awe in me in anyway.  Sure, I thought he was robbed in his first fight with Holyfield, but I also thought Holyfield was robbed in their rematch.  Regardless, Lewis was inarguably the top heavyweight in the world in '03 and, whether I was a fan or not, even I was excited about the prospect of seeing a big heavyweight title fight in my own backyard. 

Lewis' opposition, Kirk Johnson, was an up-and-coming heavyweight from Nova Scotia with a few entertaining KOs under his belt.  In fact, he had dispatched future WBC champion, Oleg Maskaev, in brutal fashion just a few fights before.  In other words, Johnson was a legitimate threat. 

Then, a week before the bout, Kirk Johnson tore a pectoral muscle during training and had to pull out of the fight.  Because Lewis was in shape and anxious to fight, the promoters began searching for a replacement, hoping to save the event. 

Vitali Klitschko stepped forward. 

A lot of people hadn't heard of Vitali Klitschko at that time, including, I'm embarrassed to say, myself.  Everyone, however, had heard of Wladimir Klitschko.  Wladimir, Vitali's younger brother, was an Olympic Gold Medal-winner and had been on a hot streak until earlier that year, racking up KO wins against top heavyweights, and was clearly the heir apparent to Lewis' throne.  (The two even fought in a Steven Soderbergh's remake of "Ocean's 11.") 

Unfortunately, several months earlier, Wladimir suffered a surprise and brutal TKO loss at the hands of South African journeyman, Corrie Sanders.  After that fight, Vitali approached Sanders in the ring and asked him for a revenge fight.  It was clear from the way that Sanders dismissively patted Vitali on the cheek that the South African wasn't too terribly worried about the elder Klitschko's challenge. 

In fact, nobody was worried about Vitali Klitschko.  Although, like his younger brother, Vitali had racked up impressive KO wins early in his career, his heart became questioned when he retired on his stool in a fight he was winning against Chris Byrd in 2000 due to a torn rotator cuff.  The loss cost Vitali more than his WBA title.  It cost him the respect of American boxing fans.  After his recovery, Vitali continued fighting and winning in relative obscurity.  His boxing career in the States, however, was over before it ever really began.  Vitali watched from ringside as he was passed over and his younger brother became a star. 

So, when the offer to fight Lennox Lewis for the WBC heavyweight crown in Los Angeles came through, Vitali jumped at the opportunity, despite the short notice.  He was already training for a fight with Cedric Boswell and, therefore, was already in decent shape.  And the opportunity to fight a legend was too good to pass up.  When I asked Charlie what Vitali's chances were against Lewis, Charlie scoffed, "He's not even the best fighter in his family.  Lewis has nothing to worry about." 

That was pretty much everyone's sentiment.  Although Vitali had the highest KO percentage of any boxer in history and his only loss was due to injury, everyone thought it would be a relatively easy fight for Lewis. 

It wasn't. 

[Note: Be sure to turn the music down on the following clip.] Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq1_IA5Ssbk

The cut Vitali suffered over his left eye is the worst cut I've ever seen in a professional boxing match.  It was caused by an unintentional headbutt.  In the State of California, if a fight is stopped due to a cut caused by an unintentional headbutt, the outcome of the fight is determined by the scorecards.  At the time of the stoppage, Vitali was leading Lewis -- four rounds to two -- on all the judges' scorecards.  Therefore, Vitali Klitschko should have been crowned the new WBC champion.  Unfortunately, the referee mistakenly attributed the cut to a punch.  And so, Vitali lost.

The audience at Staples Center was vocal in its response to the ruling, chanting "Bullshit" for ten minutes.  The look on Lewis' face was priceless.  Even he knew that he escaped with a win he didn't earn.  Vitali, upset by the ruling, went to the corner and raised his hand.  The crowd went wild, cheering for the fighter everyone knew was the real victor.  A star was born. 

In an attempt to avoid controversy, the WBC ordered an immediate rematch between the two fighers.  Lewis-Klitschko II would take place in December of that year.  Lewis attempted to scuttle the fight, claiming that the cut over Vitali's eye wouldn't have had sufficient time to heal, and, in an unprecedented move, asked the WBC to have an independent physician inspect the Vitali's eye.  When that physician said Vitali's eye had healed and cleared him to begin training for the rematch, Lewis announced that he wouldn't be fighting again that year.  Lewis-Klitschko was put on hold and, again, the organizers of the event searched for a replacement. 

Ever since pulling out of the original June fight with Lewis due to injury, Kirk Johnson made it clear to the press that, if it had been he who'd been in the ring with Lewis that night instead of Vitali, he would have been crowned the new WBC champion.  Furthermore, since since he was still the WBC's top-ranked contender, Johnson argued that he should fight Vitali in December and that the winner should be given a shot at Lewis. 

The WBC agreed and Klitschko-Johnson was set for December.  Vitali knew he had one opportunity to stake his claim that he was the real heir to Lewis' throne.  And he seized it.  This is what happened. 

(Note: You can see the whole fight at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb6CyHRNSEo&feature=related)

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZxE4iBwR0A

After the fight, Vitali, the WBC's new top-ranked contender, called out Lewis.  Rather than face Vitali, Lewis retired from boxing.  His decision was a great disappointment to boxing fans around the world, many of whom believed that Lewis had finally found the opponent who would finally force him to prove his greatness.  Just as Robinson needed La Motta, Ali needed Frazier, etc., Lewis now needed Klitschko.  But Lewis walked away from the sport, becoming the first champion to do so with his title intact in recent memory. 

Now, since Lewis hadn't lost his title in the ring, the WBC needed Vitali to fight someone for the vacant WBC belt.  Then, in an incredible twist of fate akin to a Hollywood movie, the WBC announced that Vitali would be fighting none other than Corrie Sanders, the very same South African fighter who had made a name for himself when he vanquished Vitali's younger brother the previous spring. 

Klitschko-Sanders was set for April and the pressure on Vitali must have been immeasurable.  Not only was he fighting for the most legitimate title in boxing, he was also fighting for the Klitschko name.  It was the revenge fight he sought, but surely even he couldn't have predicted such an alignment of the stars. 

This is what happened. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pffSDq0xjAI&feature=related

At long last, Vitali Klitschko's dream had come true.  The man, who wasn't even regarded as the best boxer in his family, made history. 

Afterwards, Vitali hoped to secure a fight with the legendary Mike Tyson.  His hopes, however, were dashed when Tyson was knocked out by Britain's Danny Williams.  So, in his first defense of the title, Vitali fought the "Tyson conqueror." 

This is what happened.  Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nSRa5pa_Jg

Sadly, due to recurring injuries, this was Vitali's last appearance in the ring.  He retired in 2005.  Since he never lost his WBC title in the ring, the WBC named Vitali its "champion emeritus," giving him the right to immediately fight the current WBC champion, should he ever decide to return to the ring. 

In the years since, Vitali's younger brother, Wladimir, slowly came back from what many perceived to be career-ending losses to Sanders and, later, Lamon Brewster and is now both the IBF and WBO champion. 

Then, in 2008, after three years of retirement, Vitali announced his return to the ring.  The world awaits...

KLITSCHKO-PETER FIGHT SET FOR OCT. 11 IN BERLIN

1 day ago

BERLIN — Vitali Klitschko's long-awaited comeback against WBC heavyweight champion Samuel Peter will take place in Berlin on Oct. 11.The title fight will be Klitschko's first since he announced his comeback last year. He has not been healthy enough to fight since then. The venue and the date were announced Friday by RTL television, the broadcaster of the fight in Germany. It will take place in the new 02 World arena, with a capacity of 13,000.The two fighters' camps reached a deal on the fight in May.Klitschko, the 37-year-old older brother of IBF and WBO heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko, was entitled to a fight with Peter because the WBC named him its "interim champion" nearly four years ago when he first left the sport with a series of injuries."Samuel Peter is an exceptionally dangerous puncher who has already beaten some worthy opponents," Klitschko said in a statement distributed by RTL. "I know that it will be a very tough fight, I will reach my dream of winning the world championship for the third time and being champion at the same time with my brother."Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs), who lost his WBC title to Lennox Lewis by knockout in June 2003, hasn't fought since reclaiming the WBC title by knocking out Danny Williams in December 2004.Peter (30-1, 23 KOs), a native of Nigeria who lives in Las Vegas, claimed the title with a sixth-round knockout of Oleg Maskaev in March in Cancun, Mexico.Though he still craves a unification rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, who handed Peter his only defeat in September 2005, the champion has said he'll be patient for his shot at both brothers."For me there is no doubt at all. I will defend my title. Klitschko is an experienced and very difficult opponent but I am younger and better. I will beat him and then his brother Wladimir - I have an old account to settle," Peter said.-Dax