For Boxing fans- Klitschko title fight Sat

[faba]

Klitschko Faces Unbeaten Opponent Brock

By BARRY WILNER, AP Sports Writer

document.write(getElapsed("20061110T180357Z"));48 minutes agoUPDATED 26 MINUTES AGO

NEW YORK - Calvin Brock will bring an unblemished professional record and very little acclaim into the ring Saturday night in his first heavyweight title bout.

Brock, a 2000 U.S. Olympian, has won 29 straight fights, 22 by knockout. The list of victims isn't particularly impressive, though. In fact, IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko has fought more established opponents in his last two bouts than Brock has in his career.

Still, with the other heavyweight titleholders uninterested in facing Klitschko, Brock is getting his opportunity. At Madison Square Garden, no less.

"This is something I've been aiming for my whole life, ever since I got into the ring," the 31-year-old Brock said. "And to do it at the Garden ...

"A lot of people asked me if I would think this ever was coming when I began to box at the age of 8 and when I went through the amateurs and the professionals. I always thought it would."

Now what will he do with it? Brock never has been in with anyone as talented as Klitschko (46-3, 41 knockouts), and will be outweighed 241 pounds to 224 1/2. The native of Kazakhstan _ he represents Ukraine _ whose brother Vitali once held the WBC crown, thoroughly dominated Chris Byrd before stopping him in the seventh round of his most recent fight.

"Klitschko is very good, he is the best and most respected of the heavyweight champions," Brock said. "That won't matter when we get in the ring. I have to hit him, man, that's the main thing. I know he don't want to get hit."

Brock, whose versatility is his biggest asset, might hit Klitschko, but can he hurt the champion? Byrd, a far-more accomplished fighter than Brock, didn't come close.

While Klitschko and noted trainer Emanuel Steward paid tribute to Brock, they also pretty much dismissed losing to him. Steward even predicted that Klitschko is about to join the level of great champions.

"At this point in time, I don't think there is any heavyweight in the class of Wladimir," Steward said. "Eventually, they'll all have to come to him, because he's the golden boy of the heavyweight class.

"I think you'll see the emergence of one of the great heavyweight fighters Saturday night."

Perhaps. But Klitschko's name rarely has been mentioned in association with Marciano, Louis, Ali or even Lennox Lewis. Except when Klitschko, who owns one thing the other famed champions didn't _ a doctorate, from the University of Kiev in Ukraine _ does the mentioning.

"It's been a long, long way and many years and many workouts to have a chance to fight at Madison Square Garden," said Klitschko, who also fought in the Garden in 2000, stopping David Bostice in the second round. "I will stay in the ring and have a chance to be attached to history. Think of all these great fighters who fought here: Rocky Marciano ... Muhammad Ali ... Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis.

"Don't miss any rounds, any minute. It's going to be an exciting event."

The fight will be telecast by HBO, which also will show highlights of Ali's daughter, Laila, in her defense of the WBC super middleweight belt against Shelley Burton. Laila Ali is 22-0 with 19 knockouts, and her father is expected to attend.

Local favorite Kevin Kelley fights Mexico's Manuel Medina in an IBF lightweight elimination bout. The winner among veterans who have a combined 149 ring appearances could get a title shot next year.

Klitschko is donating a portion of his purse _ at least $250,000 _ to UNESCO to support education in the third world.

[hiker]

I would love to see Calvin "the boxing banker" Brock become champ...er, well, one of the alphabet champs. He lives in Charlotte, works for Bank of America at their HQ. Thus the "boxing banker" thing, which doesn't sound even slightly intimidating. We will see. Maybe an American Golden Boy kind of thing could help bring boxing back just a little.

Well, nothing like it would be if the Congress would have ever passed Sen McCain's boxing reform legislation and created a national commission. I hope he tries yet again with a Democratic Congress and see what happens. Cross your fingers.

[Alk]

I'm confused, what does this thread have to do with boxing?

[Gainzo]

Bill Simmons on ESPN's Page 2 said it best today:

"Ultimate fighting and poker are both more popular than boxing."

That is sad. I used to love boxing back in the day.

[DireJet38]

I'll be working msg for this fight.

I've never seen live boxing, and this Russian is a beast...I'm pretty excited.

[Green DNA]

Kilitschko = Glass Jaw. This guy can dominate a fight for 11 1/2 rounds and bang, one big punch puts him down and out. He will have a short reign for that reason.

[joewilly]

Kilitschko = Glass Jaw. This guy can dominate a fight for 11 1/2 rounds and bang, one big punch puts him down and out. He will have a short reign for that reason.

isn't he like 8'5" or something? most guys can't even reach his jaw.

[hiker]

Boxing being somewhere around 90% mental, Klitschko looked like a genius tonight. He imposed his will from the opening bell, even though he conceded the first 4 rounds. Brock was throwing all the punches for 4 rounds, while VK tied Brock up and leaned his body weight on CB. He let the young guy use himself up in those early rounds, smothering CB's punches while having to carry VK's body weight around like dancing with a dead man. Then in the fifth, the jab took over. Brock just stood there, flatfooted and tired after 4 rounds of wasting his energy, never even trying to duck or sidestep the left hand shots that were turning his face into hamburger. The end of this fight, that beautiful knockout, was in the works from the start. VK's patience for the first 4 rounds of this fight was...well, it was ugly to watch, but from a tactical standpoint, it was perfectly done.

VK had his gameplan coming in, and played it all on schedule without a hitch. Just a masterful performance against an overmatched and lesser experienced fighter, using CB's own youthful exuberance against himself. (Which is actually not a very valid comparison, being as how VK is a year younger than CB) It was the best tactical fight from a heavyweight in many years, and it was the best effort from VK that I have ever seen. I hope this leads to a few unification bouts in the coming months, though it will take a few months before VK's cut heals 100% (Cuts heal at 1% a day, goes the old boxing saying.) I would love to see either Maskaev or Briggs next, even though I believe Briggs will be no more of a challenge than Brock was to VK since VK got this good. (He wasn't always this good, before his time with Steward, he fought that klunky upright style they train in Eastern Europe.) Maskaev just keeps coming forward and throwing, with a chin made of granite and no reverse gear, so that I would love to see. As for Valuev...not so much. Don King's sideshow act shouldn't have a belt. Let him fight Butterbean a few times, recreate the Fridge Perry-Manute Bol fight for laughs.

[Sharrow]

Imo, Klitschko didn't really fight his fight until that cut put a sense of urgency into him, and after that it didn't take long.

[Untouchable]

Boxing being somewhere around 90% mental, Klitschko looked like a genius tonight. He imposed his will from the opening bell, even though he conceded the first 4 rounds. Brock was throwing all the punches for 4 rounds, while VK tied Brock up and leaned his body weight on CB. He let the young guy use himself up in those early rounds, smothering CB's punches while having to carry VK's body weight around like dancing with a dead man. Then in the fifth, the jab took over. Brock just stood there, flatfooted and tired after 4 rounds of wasting his energy, never even trying to duck or sidestep the left hand shots that were turning his face into hamburger. The end of this fight, that beautiful knockout, was in the works from the start. VK's patience for the first 4 rounds of this fight was...well, it was ugly to watch, but from a tactical standpoint, it was perfectly done.

VK had his gameplan coming in, and played it all on schedule without a hitch. Just a masterful performance against an overmatched and lesser experienced fighter, using CB's own youthful exuberance against himself. (Which is actually not a very valid comparison, being as how VK is a year younger than CB) It was the best tactical fight from a heavyweight in many years, and it was the best effort from VK that I have ever seen. I hope this leads to a few unification bouts in the coming months, though it will take a few months before VK's cut heals 100% (Cuts heal at 1% a day, goes the old boxing saying.) I would love to see either Maskaev or Briggs next, even though I believe Briggs will be no more of a challenge than Brock was to VK since VK got this good. (He wasn't always this good, before his time with Steward, he fought that klunky upright style they train in Eastern Europe.) Maskaev just keeps coming forward and throwing, with a chin made of granite and no reverse gear, so that I would love to see. As for Valuev...not so much. Don King's sideshow act shouldn't have a belt. Let him fight Butterbean a few times, recreate the Fridge Perry-Manute Bol fight for laughs.

Klitchko vs Maskaev would be awesome.

Maskaev may be getting old, but I like the dude's heart and toughness. His second fight against Rahman was the best I've seen in a while.

I love Klitchko (he's no joke) but I'd have to pull for "the big O" in that one.

[hiker]

Imo, Klitschko didn't really fight his fight until that cut put a sense of urgency into him, and after that it didn't take long.

I know that was the way both the commentators and Steward were seeing it as the rounds went by, but I was watching this thinking about how smart he was. Why exchange with a faster, mobile target and take chances when you can lean all over the guy and let him bear your weight for a few rounds. When he tires out, he will stop being a mobile target and instead become a flatfooted stiff, so tired he can't even keep his guard up. The only thing the cut may have done to change the strategy was to possibly make VK start his offense a round or two earlier than he planned.

I'm not going to say I know more about what was going on than Steward, Merchant, et. al. But it was obvious while ES was imploring VK to start throwing, that he was losing rounds, that VK knew what he was doing and was pretty much ignoring the advice.

[Smizzy]

The slow mo cam is amazing. Did you see VK knockout on that slo mo cam? Sick.