Apr 01 - HBO 11:00 pm
Vitali Klitschko vs. Chris Byrd
I've been looking forward to this day for the past year or so, every since I
started reading about this heavyweight that was stopping all comers in Europe. He stopped
Will Hinton in Oct 97. His sixth KO victim in a row after Will was the tough Louis Monaco
on Mar 7, 1998. Vitali dispatched Louis in 3 rounds, a feat that took both Lawrence
Clay-Bey and Kirk Johnson 7 rounds. Then 13 day's later he stopped Levi Billups in 2. He
then stops Julius Francis in 2 (latest Tyson victim), Dick Ryan in 5 and then Jose Ribalta
in 2 on June 5th! From Mar 7 98 to June 5 98 Vitali stopped 5 people in 15 rounds!
Not just 5 nobodies either, some were former world contenders.
I was intrigued.
He wins four more inside the distance, then Vitali stops Herbie Hide for the WBO
championship in two rounds June of last year. Until that point Hide had not lost a bout
since 95 and had held the title since 97. I was sold.
He stopped undefeated Ed Mahone in 3 last Oct (as predicted),
and stopped Obed Sullivan last Dec in 10 (as predicted).
I predicted a year ago Vitali is the heavyweight champion of the new millennium. He's a
huge 6' 8" and has heavy hands. He is currently 27-0, all by KO. A huge puncher with
range and size - a tough combo to beat.
Chris Byrd will be his toughest test to date. Well, perhaps not his toughest, or his
hardest hitting, but definitely his slipperiest!
Chris is a crafty southpaw who has a propensity to make whoever he fights look clumsy and
slow. He is essentially a blown up middleweight, and when placed with heavy handed
opposition, has proven to have a less than solid chin. Ike Ibeabachi was the only to prove
my theory by stopping the Byrd Man in 5 this past Mar 99. Since then Chris has fought
twice, stopping John Sergant in 2 then Jose Ribalta in 3. He will be a tough target to hit
for Vitali early, but Vitali's shear size and power will dominate the short notice
replacement Chris.
Originally, Vitali was to fight Donovan Ruddock and Chris was to fight Adolpho Washington.
The scheduled changed late last week.
Expect Chris to open with fast light handed pitter pat combinations. He will land well
(yet not effectively), then Vitali's counter shots will hurt Chris in the late rounds.
Chris will hold his own for a while, but will succumb to the devastating punching power of
the tough Ukrainian.
Look for bigger fights from Vitali and his brother Wladamir this year. HBO's Lou DiBella
has confirmed they have negotiated some air time for the Klitschko brothers.
Klitschko inside 8
Apr 02 - FOXSN 07:00 pm
Robert Davis vs. Keith McKnight
Davis is a relatively unknown heavy who is keeping active and cranking up quite
an impressive undefeated streak at 20-0, albeit to virtually unknown and untested
opposition. McKnight has attempted to step up in competition and was stopped in 7 rounds
by Obed Sullivan in Feb 98. Keith has won his past 5 bouts since getting stopped by the
journeyman Obed Sullivan. In Oct 97, he did score an impressive decision to Phil Jackson
though. I believe this is a match to tout the up and coming Columbus native Davis. Expect
a tough test for Davis, but he will end with his arm extended.
Davis by decision
Augie Sanchez vs. Jorge Paderas
Augie is a tough up and comer I've had my eye on this past year. Augie turned pro
around 96, but burst on the boxing scene about a year and a half ago and is now ranked 7th
by the IBF and 9th by the WBC. In his last bout, Augie stopped former IBF feather weight
champ Jorge Paez last May in 7. (as predicted)
Jorge is just fodder for the rising Superstar. Jorge's only claim to fame was his last
outing - an impressive 10 round decision win to two time world champion and Olympic gold
medalist Kennedy McKinney. And??
Face it. Jorge has a weak record, and most important, a weak win to KO ratio. With a
record of 17-5-4 and only 4 KO's, he poses no danger to the feather weight contender
Augie. The confidence gained from his win to McKinney will contribute to his dismantling
by Augie. The heavy handed Augie sports a 25-1 record, 23 KO's. Much power!
Jorge may try to exchange with the young banger and get chin checked. None the less, Jorge
will end the bout on the back of his lap.
Sanchez inside 6
In Retrospect:
Vitali Klitschko vs. Chris Byrd
Not as expected! Vitali quit on his stool between rounds 9 and 10. It was UNBELIEVABLE!!!!
He was ahead on all score cards (88-83, 89-82, 88-83), and didn't have to throw another
punch to win the fight; Yet he quit on his stool! A true champion NEVER quits. Vitali
doesn't posses a champions mentality.
Vitali had a lot of trouble with Chris' movement, granted. He displayed a horrible connect
percentage, and his size seemed to be a handicap. He moved with the finesse of Learch from
the Addams family on Valium, and his stand up (typical European) style and lack of upper
body and head movement not only left him open for Chris' fast combinations (which at times
surprisingly had Vitali stepping backwards), but also scored him the nickname "" from me. Vitali did not perform at
ALL like I had anticipated. In the highlights of the Ed Mahone fight he showed good
lateral and head movement, nothing like last night. He telegraphed all his punches and
didn't display good form in the delivery of his right crosses or left hooks. He seemed to
push the punches out rather then sitting down on them and rolling them out. All Chris had
to do was bend at the waist to make Vitali miss. Vitali needs an opponent that comes
straight in, not from angles. A true champion should be able to adapt to ALL comers.
Chris beat Vitali mentally. He made Vitali miss big time, which may have truly caused
damage to Vitali's shoulder from those big air hooks. (we'll give it a day or two to see
if x-rays are released)
This say's something for Chris. Not that he beat Vitali. He didn't. Not that he is hard to
hit and elusive. That's a given.
It say's that Chris will cross the ocean and climb the mountains to get a world title, and
he will step into the ring with the supposed best in the business on short notice and live
to tell about it. He deserves the belt.
The man has the courage and determination of a champion.
That my friend, you can not learn in the gym. . . .
Robert Davis vs. Keith McKnight
Almost As Expected - I expected for Keith to be more aggressive. Davis started slow, but
turned up the heat on Keith, knocking him down twice in the second round. Keith regained
composure in the fourth, but was knocked down again near the end of the round. Then at
2:07 of the fifth round, Robert stopped Davis to win by knockout. Davis brings his record
to 21-0 with 13 KO's.
Augie Sanchez vs. Jorge Paderas
As Expected! Augie looked impressive in this outing. He brings his record up to (26-1, 24
KO's), and proved my theory that Jorge was just fodder for the rising superstar. Augie
knocked Jorge down in the 2 round, and continued to pummel and land bombs on the poor
Jorge until Joe Cortez called a halt to the bout at 1:55 of the 6th round.
I'll continue to keep my eye on Augie.
