IBF champ and current #1 ranked heavyweight on the planet Wladimir Klitschko is set to face WBO heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov this Saturday in a much needed unification bout on HBO.
It is the first unification bout in the division in 9 years.
Thanks to the MMA, boxing promoters have been forced to give fight fans better fights recently. These fights include showdowns between undefeated world champs like Floyd Mayweather and Ricky Hatton, as well as fights for the blood lusters out there like the 2 great fights between Israel Vaszuez and Rafael Marquez.
But, this trend has been hard to continue in the heavyweight division because there are so few viable names out there. Evander Holyfied is 10 years past his prime. Lennox Lewis isn't coming out of retirement and Vitali Klitschko can't stay health enough to even train for a fight, much less actually fight one.
Nevertheless, what boxing needs is a unified, undisputed heavyweight king, and after tomorrow we will be one step closer.
Most experts agree that Wladimir Klitschko is the man for the job. The younger Klitschko brother has hooked up with legendary trainer Emmanuel Stewart to revitalize his career after being exposed of being a blown-up Glass Joe from Mike Tyson's Punchout.
Meanwhile, Sultan Ibragimov has used some nifty matchmaking recently, outpointing aging warriors Shannon Briggs and Evander Holyfield to earn his shot at a unification fight. Ibragimov is a steady southpaw with a nice jab, but he really is no match for the motivated Klitschko.
"Whoever wins this fight," Klitschko says, "I hope he will go on to another unification fight."
That's a good thing to hear from the man that's certain to win.
Klitschko is simply a better fighter than his Saturday night opponent. He's bigger, faster, stronger and a lock to win the fight.
Frankly, this couldn't come at a better time for me, too. This win should get me back to .500 for my predictions so I'll be able to sleep at night! (Oh, I can sleep)
OFFICIAL FIGHT PREDICTION: Wladimir Klitschko wins by 7th round TKO.
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Original Story:
http://mccarson.3steps.com/7707
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January 20, 2009
