It’s not often that you can watch a world heavyweight title clash at 8pm on a Saturday.
That’s the situation we find ourselves in tonight however when Vitali Klitschko defends his WBC title against the challenge of Kevin Johnson in Switzerland, live on Sky Sports.
Despite the recent arrival on the scene of British upstart David Haye, the Klitschko brothers still dominate the division, with 38 year old Vitali 2nd in the rankings behind brother Wladimir. Nicknamed `Dr Iron Fist`, the Californian based fighter has remained undefeated since returning from retirement.
The older brother decided he had gone as far as he could in the sport after destroying Danny Williams in 2004. After a four year lay off the 6ft 7inch orthodox returned however and has enjoyed a trio of wins, picking up the WBC crown along the way, including a tenth round stoppage over Chris Arreola in his last. Despite having a strangle hold over the division, the Ukrainian born star hasn’t always had it his own way, with defeats to Chris Byrd and, rather more famously, Lennox Lewis leaving him with a record of 38 wins, 37 by KO, against 2 stoppage defeats. The 1/14 (Sportingbet) reflects how the bookies see this one going.
Unfancied American challenger Kevin Johnson doesn’t look to have a friend in the world despite being undefeated from twenty-three fights. Nicknamed `King Pin`, the Atlanta born puncher has bowled over each of his last three opponents inside six rounds. He hasn’t fought anyone in Klitschko’s class however and the 8/1 (Bet365) looks accurate.
Vitali isn’t getting any younger and will surely be thinking about giving the game up once and for all in the near future but a convincing win would put him on a collision course with Haye, paving the way for a money spinning send off.
There looked to be some genuine bad feeling between the two at the weigh-in but, since his return, Klitschko has re-invented himself as a patient fighter, with each of his last three progressing past the eight round mark. I fancy the championship belt to be retained via a knockout win at 1/2 (Stan James), possibly after 8.5 rounds (2/3 Skybet).
