Wembley Superfight: Déjà Vu For Dr Steel Hammer Or Joshua Exposed?

Boxingnews24.com

By Rob Blakeman: I can remember very well getting up early on a Sunday morning back in March 2003 for what I thought might be an interesting fight and then spilling my breakfast cereal as I watched incredulously as Corrie Sanders did a two round demolition job on the WBO World Heavyweight Champion Vladimir Klitschko in a fight that voted Ring Magazine Upset of the year.

After the fight South African Sanders explained how Lennox Lewis had telephoned him before the fight and told him; “Don’t let Klitschko settle into his rhythm. He starts slow so jump on him!” Like Joshua, Sanders was a real banger but with much faster hands than the Englishman. Klitschko too was a different man then. Complacent and not carrying a bead of sweat when he entered the ring he believed victory over Sanders was a foregone conclusion, having just stopped at that time highly regarded ‘Man-Monster’ Jameel McCline in his previous bout. Therefore, no one wanted this fight with Klitschko which was effectively a ‘ticking over’ match for him as he awaited greater glory against other heavyweight belt holders. Sanders, in contrast had been on the wrong end of a battle with Hasim Rahman just a couple of fights before but had bounced back with a two, quick knockout wins against fringe contenders Michael Sprott and Otis Tisdale. So with only a couple of rounds of activity in the last two years Sanders was viewed by most as a knock-over job for Klitschko. A mere journey man who had squandered his natural talent and had allowed his love of golf get in the way of his boxing potential.

Wladimir Klitschko swaggered to the ring was himself believing he was unbeatable. He was at that time an offensive fighter who was obliterating all before him. He was brutally exposed by Sanders who couldn’t miss with his punches on that fateful night in Hanover, Germany. I remember thinking at the time how amateurish Klitschko looked during this beating during which he was dropped four times and at one stage turned his back on Sanders to escape the pounding.

Since then of course, Klitschko has completely re-engineered himself. Under the tutelage of Emanuel Steward the Ukrainian has become a much more rounded, if sometimes overly cautious boxer who nevertheless, was unbeaten has a World Champion for 10 years until his lackluster performance against Fury cost him his titles.

Joshua on the other hand is still pretty much an unknown quantity at World level. Though he owns a World title belt he hasn’t really fought anyone of note. He won the title in two rounds from ‘Pretender’ Charles Martin (who himself had been crowned by default) in what can only be described as a laughable mismatch. That’s not Joshua’s fault of course but the fact remains he is almost totally untested. The only time he was pushed was by Dillian Whyte who rocked him severely before he himself was knocked out. This experience doesn’t appear to have made Joshua ‘Gun Shy’ but it’s still an awakening to vulnerabilities in himself that can’t be ignored or denied. That has to be on his mind going into this fight. And so must the method of Corrie Sanders’ win in what must be the most spectacular dismissal of Klitschko in his entire career. Will he want to equal that spectacle with his own performance against Vlad? Will he instead be wary of walking on to something and getting himself hurt? Did Klitschko really have a one off bad night with Fury? As it has been suggested was his “Head was just off” that night or did he just grow old in which case he could have his head literally taken off in this match! He could end up having Déjà Vu of the Sanders fight if he doesn’t come into the ring warmed up and focused with the same kind of multiple knockdowns and a quick stoppage win for Joshua.

I don’t personally think we’ll see that because he learned so much from that experience it changed him forever. Vladimir will be boxing for the first time in his forties. At the age of 41 he will be three years older than Lennox Lewis was when he retired, still on top but looking to be ring worn in his final fight against Vlad’s brother. He’s two years older than Mike Tyson was when he hung up his gloves, the once great Iron Man embarrassed by his two final fights; losses to Williams and McBride. Larry Holmes last fought at age 52 but hadn’t really been in shape since his mid to late 30’s.

Evander Holyfield on the other hand was, like Vlad always superbly conditioned and he managed to fight on until 48. In fact he still put in a killer challenge for the World title against Nikolay Valuev at age 45 in a fight many, including me, thought Evander won. Shannon Briggs is still around at 46 and most famously big George Foreman won the World title back in his mid 40’s-but these men are the exceptions.

The aim for Klitschko is, it seems to me is to join that Pantheon of greats and to be seated in history alongside Ali, Lewis and Holyfield as one of only four men who have become three times heavyweight champion of the World. This motivation may just concentrate his mind and enable him to get over those hurdles one last time-especially if the fight goes into the later rounds. Joshua has to finish things early if he is to succeed, it’s unlikely he will out box Klitschko. The Ukrainian is an expert at drawing out points victories and I could even see a late stoppage for the Vlad if Joshua doesn’t get to him early on-Joshua is untested at this level over the championship distance so it’s possible. Either way it’s time for both men to put up or shut up!

Let’s just see what happens when that first bell rings.