ENDING THE UNIFICATION PROCRASTINATION

Once upon a time when the heavyweight division was the centerpiece of the sport a unification bout would have been all the buzz in the boxing world. Now, not so much. Bookended between such compelling fights as last week’s Kelly Pavlik- Jermain Taylor rematch and next week’s Israel Vasquez- Rafael Marquez III “can’t miss” event, the Wladimir Klitschko-Sultan Ibragimov fight this Saturday seems to have, perhaps unfairly, flown under the radar.

It’s a shame too, because we’ve been pleading with the heavyweight belt holders to get together and give us a champion to rally around. Now the IBF titlist Klitschko, 49-3 (44), and WBO belt holder Ibragimov, 22-0-1 (17), are beginning the process by participating in the first heavyweight unification match since Evander Holyfield vs. Lennox Lewis in 1999, and the response seems to be considerably less than the electric feeling that one normally associates with a heavyweight title bout of any consequence.

If nothing else these guys should be credited for their intentions. Both could easily have fought pending mandatory obligations and no one would have questioned it. But they chose to step up, which says a lot of good things about both of them.

After winning the title in June, 2007, against Shannon Briggs, Ibragimov and his team went straight for WBA title holder Ruslan Chagaev. When a mysterious illness forced Chagaev to cancel the fight, Sultan kept the date and soundly defeated the legendary Evander Holyfield in a lucrative fight in Russia. Soon after that he signed to fight Wladimir, considered by most as the best and most dangerous heavyweight out there today. Sultan aims high; good for him.

It was the only possible unification available and he took it. In the WBA, Ruslan Chagaev, who won his title last April, now seems destined for a rematch with former titlist Nicolay Valuev, who just beat Sergei Lyakhovich for the privilege of a shot to take the title back. So he’s tied up.

In the WBC, the epic (Two years in the making!) Oleg Maskaev-Samuel Peter fight will finally come to fruition on March 8, with the winner obligated to fight Vitali Klitschko, assuming that Vitali doesn’t get an ingrown toenail or something before that. So that group is tied up as well.

It’s a slow process, this unification business.

Maybe the reason for the apathy is the fact that the participants are from the old Soviet Bloc, Ibragimov from Russia and Klitschko from Kiev, Ukraine, and now residing in Hamburg, Germany. I mean here you have two Eastern Bloc athletes performing for the greatest title in the sport at Madison Square Garden, the Mecca of boxing, and I just can’t help but think that fans really just want a formidable American champion with concussive power instead.

Call it National pride, jealousy, or whatever you want, but on their best day the best that Wladimir and Sultan can hope for is respect from the American fans; love is not forthcoming. Lennox Lewis was in the same boat until he retired. He was only appreciated by American fans when they realized how shallow the talent pool was to fill his shoes.

American fans want the knockout artist, a Mike Tyson for example, or the ultimate warrior Holyfield, willing himself to victory, or the bigger than life persona with limitless potential such as the Riddick Bowe of the early nineties. Forget the charges of rape, steroid use, and kidnapping. They want the show horse, not the plow horse, and they want him to be American.

Which brings up another problem– there’s a lot to be said for a huge personality backed up with talent. That’s news. Tyson, Holyfield, and Bowe were human quote machines. They drew large media crowds because no one wanted to miss the next outrageous statement. Tyson could draw 10 years after he stopped being Tyson. Ibragimov and Klitschko don’t fit into that category by a long shot.

Sultan seems to be a good guy, but he is still somewhat challenged on the English language, and says little before any of his fights. Klitschko doesn’t like interviews, generally asking for the questions in advance, and the most you’ll hear from him is the orchestrated pabulum served out to writers en masse as part of a fight promotion. Both conduct themselves as perfect gentlemen, an excellent personal trait that doesn’t sell tickets.

As of this writing, the top ($1,000) and bottom ($100) tickets are sold out for the fight. The $600, $300, and $200 tickets remain available. I sincerely hope they do well as it may encourage others to take risks.

SO WHO WINS?

I’m going to be in the minority and pick Ibragimov to box circles around the larger Klitschko and win a 12 round decision. Klitschko is about a 5-1 favorite as of this writing, but I do have my reasons.

Wladimir, 31 years old, has the advantage in almost every area on paper. He’s 6’7”, 245 pounds, and has an 81” reach. By comparison, Sultan, 32, is 6’2”, 220 pounds, and has a 75” reach. Wlad was a Gold Medallist in the 1996 Olympics, Ibragimov took the Silver in 2000. Klitschko has more experience and has fought better competition. He owns an excellent jab to keep opponents at bay, and has knockout power with his right cross. The southpaw Ibragimov has a decent straight left and right hook, but relies more on his hand speed and combinations.

But styles make fights. And even if that term is more overused than a presidential candidate’s stump speech, it’s essentially the explanation for every upset since James J. Corbett beat John L. Sullivan. Further, pitting two contrasting styles is an art practiced by the premier matchmakers to produce crowd pleasing fights.

Comparisons have been made to common opponent Ray Austin. Klitschko crushed Austin in two; Ibragimov was held to a draw. But I think that the Klitschko supporters who are hanging their hat on that one are overlooking a major factor.

After Sultan plumped up to 232 against Austin, he added the talented, underrated trainer Jeff Mayweather to his team. (Jeff is the sane brother.) Ibragimov returned to 220 and there was a subtle yet still discernable change from boxer-puncher to clever technician.

Using more speed, angles, and head movement along with his natural hand speed, counter punching ability, and working a methodical style designed to slow a fight down to his pace, the new Sultan Ibragimov outboxed a stationary Shannon Briggs for the WBO title and followed it up with the win over elder statesman Holyfield, using that same style.

Now, be warned that Ibragimov may not be quite as exciting as when he went toe to toe with Austin, exchanging knockdowns in their draw, but he’s not as easily touched either. Maybe he just doesn’t know any better, but he’s shown no fear of Klitschko, unlike Austin who shamefully dived for the canvas from virtually the wind of the first punch thrown by Wladimir.

It’s that new style that makes me think that he has a good chance to pull off the upset. His hand speed, quick counters and combinations along with his defensive posture and patience may very well frustrate Klitschko. And while he’s not in Wlad’s league as a puncher, he can crack a bit himself, and Klitschko is at his absolute worst when moving backward.

So, it may not be as stimulating as last week or next week, but I’m feeling an upset here. You can write to congratulate or castigate me on Sunday morning.

The Klitschko-Ibragimov fight will be televised on HBO World Championship Boxing on Saturday, February 23 at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT, and will be preceded by a replay of the Pavlik -Taylor fight.