This past Saturday brought us another Klitschko beatdown, this time against veteran underachiever Shannon Briggs. Briggs didn't put up much of a fight, but he did stay on his feet the entire time despite the numerous jabs and straight right hands he was eating all night. Vitali Klitschko had a 90% knockout ratio going into the fight, so I suppose Briggs lasting until the final bell, despite twelve rounds of punishment, was an accomplishment in itself. Some would call it a glimmering display of courage. I call it cowardice.
The fight was eerily reminiscent of Vitali Klitschko's fight with Kevin Johnson last year. Briggs, like Johnson, seemed to barely let his hands go the entire night, apparently satisfied with just surviving and staying upright. The result? Both fighters in their respective fights avoided exposing themselves to even worse punishment and were able to avoid a brutal knockouts by seeing every punch coming, while at the same time discounting themselves from any chance of victory. For the fans, it was more disappointment. It takes two to tango, and when only a Klitschko is throwing leather, you aren't going to see many fireworks.
I know, I know. it's tough fighting a taller man who has a good defense. It requires work. You have to swarm your opponent for an entire twelve rounds while constantly exposing yourself to retaliatory abuse. You often have to constantly duck, bob, and weave to avoid the onslaught from the taller man, who has an easier time hitting you than you hitting him. Frazier could do it. So could Tyson. So why can't anyone do it from this era? I'm not asking for someone to be the next heavyweight great. I just want to see a heavyweight contender go out there and try.
Granted, part of what makes the Klitschkos so great is their ability to exploit their height as a defense, but that doesn't mean they're impossible to hit. In some ways, I get the impression that the Klitschkos have an intimidation factor, much like Tyson had in his prime. Opponents train with tall but mediocre sparring partners, but by the end of the first round of their actual fight, they quickly realize it's not going to be a simple "I hit you and you hit me" affair and cave mentally. Well guess what fellas – it ain't gonna be easy. Ask Lennox Lewis if his six round war with Vitali was easy. Lennox was only an inch taller than Briggs, yet had no trouble finding his target all night. The reason? He put himself on the line.
Perhaps it's that fight that puts the fear in Vitali's opponents in particular. The "even if I catch him, he ain't going down" factor. But if that's the case, then the opposite should be thought about brother Wladimir. After his performances against Lamon Brewster and Corrie Sanders, Wladdy's opponents should be driven all night to throw bombs in hopes that one lands and the tall man goes down. But it often doesn't seem to happen that way. Props go to Sam Peter for both of his spirited efforts against Wladimir. Did he get knocked out the last time around? Sure, but nobody is going to view that performance as any worse than Sultan Ibragimov's, who came into his fight against Wladimir undefeated, yet didn't manage to win any second of the fight, let alone a single round.
In the end, while it may take a very good opponent to catch a Klitschko regularly, it will likely take a very special one to take them down. Is David Haye that guy? Haye is definitely very slick and has skilled counter-punching skills, but I just don't see him as being busy enough in the ring to wear down or win a decision against either of the brothers. His best shot – like just about every other Klitschko opponent – is the one punch knockout. Word on the street is that Teddy Atlas is trying to teach Alexander Povetkin some prime Tyson-esque defensive skills while keeping him busy fighting tomato cans to gain more experience before feeding his pupil to the wolves. But does anyone really think he's doing anything beyond simply prolonging the inevitable?
In the meantime, even if there are no ferocious opponents to turn a Klitschko match into a Gatti-Ward firefight, enjoy the K. Brothers' fights for the simple spectacle of superiority in boxing skill and technique. Appreciate this era's dominant champions building their legacies instead of the paper belt swapfest we were forced to sit through for the good portion of the first few years after Lennox Lewis retired. And who knows – maybe that special fighter will eventually come along to put them to the test.