By John F. McKenna (McJack)
WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (43-2, 40 KO’s) who faces Britain’s Derek Chisora (15-2, 10 KO’s) on February 18, 2012, says that Chisora may be the toughest fight of his career. He followed up those comments by saying that he rates Chisora’s chances of beating him at “50/50”.
“Dr. Ironfist” was quoted in Yahoo! Sports saying:
“I will fight like it’s my last fight” and further stated that he would “Knock him out with my right.”
For his part Chisora said he would give Vitali “The shock of his life.”
Many people were surprised when Klitschko picked Chisora to be his next opponent. There has been much talk about a possible fight between Vitali Klitschko and former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye who lost a one sided decision to Wladimir Klitschko last July.
There had been talk of a Haye – Klitschko fight as early as March 2012. But that fight was pre empted when the fight between Wladimir Klitschko and Jean-Marc Mormeck on December 10 was postponed due to Wladimir’s kidney stone surgery. That fight was rescheduled for March 3, the same tentative date that a fight between Haye and Vitali had been proposed.
The Haye and Klitschko camps have been in communication with each other and “The Hayemaker” is not worried in the least that Chisora is fighting Vitali ahead of him. It is thought that if Vitali gets past Chisora a Haye – Klitschko fight will take place in June or July of 2012 in a huge outdoor stadium.
Chisora was most likely chosen as an opponent for Vitali because of his performance on December 3 when he lost a highly controversial decision to Finland’s Robert Helnius. In that fight many boxing observers including Freddie Roach who was a commentator for the fight, thought that Chisora was robbed of the decision. British promoter Frank Warren was also irate over the decision. Many boxing fans gave Helenius no more than 3 rounds in the fight.
In any case Vitali clearly thought that Derek deserved the decision and that is why he selected him as his next opponent. In his fight with the 6’6”, 240 pound Helenius, Chisora was not bothered by his opponent’s size advantage. Helnius is roughly the same size as Vitali.
In all probability Vitali is attempting to add drama to his match with Chisora when he states that he gives him a “50/50” chance to defeat him.
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