IBF Heavyweight Champion, Wladimir Klitschko is defending his title agaisnt Ray Austin on Saturday, but his dreams extend much further than that, he is dreaming on unification in heavyweight division, with himself as King.
Although the 30 year old Klitschko is probably the best boxer in the weight class, he has yet to really prove beyond doubt that he is the dominant force and a marquee name for the division.
Ray Austin looks go as far as his record is concerned, being unbeaten since 2001 and losing 3 of 31 professional fights. However Austin has never beat any big names, or any boxers worth noting. Wladimir Klitschko has been the top name in the heavyweight division basically since Lennox Lewis left, but he has yet to fill even 10% of the void left by the British world champion.
“Those watching the fight are going to be lucky enough to see the emergence of one of the greatest heavyweights ever, Wladimir Klitschko,” said Emanuel Steward, the Ukrainian’s trainer.
Klitschko, who has lost three of his 50 encounters, is more modest about his achievements and what he has to prove to the public.
“I think there is still a lot of work to do to be a real champion, not just a title holder,”Klitschko said. “I’m on the way, but I haven’t arrived.”
I think Klitschko is being very honest here, and he is completely correct in what he says. He knows that at the moment he is simply a title holder, not a heavyweight champion. In order to gain the respect that goes with the prestigious champion status, he will have to fight and beat the other title holders in the division to become the undisputed heavyweight champion, a true champion.
Therefore I think that all boxing fans would like to see Klitschko fight better names than Ray Austin, preferable heavyweight boxers with the other titles in order for Klitschko to prove himself beyond doubt. Mandatory defences like this one against Austin may keep the title in Klitschko’s cupboard and keep nice money coming, but it will not earn him the respect of boxing fans nor put his name in to boxing history.
Therefore Klitschko is right to dream of unification, but he must take action if he want these dreams to come true.
What do you think?
Should Klitschko be working to unify the heavyweight boxing division?
