‘Simple’ fight of two contrasting boxers
SOCHI: Formula One frontrunner Sebastian Vettel led a Ferrari one-two in Russian Grand Prix practice yesterday with the resurgent Italian team appearing to have a clear edge over champions Mercedes.
The German four-time world champion enjoyed the afternoon sunshine with a best lap of one minute 34.120 seconds – 0.263 quicker than team mate Kimi Raikkonen and 0.709 clear of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
Raikkonen had been fastest in the morning.
Valtteri Bottas, a close second in opening practice, was third in the afternoon for Mercedes and 0.670 off Vettel’s pace, while team mate Hamilton was fourth.
Sochi’s street circuit has favoured Mercedes since its debut three years ago with the champions leading every lap of every race there.
Triple champion Hamilton won in 2014 and 2015 with now-retired team mate Nico Rosberg triumphant last year on his way to the title.
“This is a circuit that suits them,” commented Vettel, despite evidence that the threeyear Silver Arrows’ domination is on the wane. “They will be strong tomorrow.”
Raikkonen and Bottas also have good records in Sochi, however, with the 2007 world champion finishing third last year and his fellow-Finn taking the first fastest lap of his Formula One career in 2014 when he also came third for Williams. Vettel was second in Russia in 2015.
The morning session was halted briefly when the engine cover blew off Esteban Ocon’s Force India.
Russian reserve Sergey Sirotkin replaced Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg at Renault for the opening session but the car broke down on track before he could do a timed lap, and was pushed off by marshals.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen had problems in the afternoon, pulling over and complaining of a lack of power, while McLaren struggled, with Belgian rookie Stoffel Vandoorne resigned to starting the race at the back after an engine change. – Reuters
WHEN Anthony Joshua won the world title last April he was a novice in his head, in his movements and in the ring. That big kid has gone, he vanished behind a year of hard education.
When Wladimir Klitschko tumbled from his heavyweight recliner in late 2015, hitting the floor in a puff of magic smoke on the night, he was too old to continue, finished in the game he dominated and retirement was winking seductively at him. That old geezer has gone, replaced by a Wladimir not glimpsed for a decade.
This is a fight of two contrasting figures, their devoted teams and the total desertion of boxing sense and reason. Joshua does not know enough, Klitschko is too old, both facts in the fighting business, and somewhere in the middle of the claims, dreams, hype and glorious denial, a perfect fight is likely. It has felt like a real fight for a long time, their week together has only reinforced my belief that too much pride can now be added to the expectation and that is always good.
Tonight under the inevitable twinkling canopy of 90 000 hot telephone flashes, the two fighters will jog to the ring and the smooth claims by the men from the inside of the rival camps will no longer matter; there will inevitably be harsh truths mixed with blood and thunder as the delusions of both men risk shattering. It will either be too late or too soon, the simplest of fights are never complicated – and Joshua against Klitschko is in many ways the simplest of fights.
It is possible that Joshua is the finest 18-fight boxer in the heavyweight division’s beautiful history. There is no doubt Klitschko is the greatest 68-fight heavyweight in history.
It is, make no mistake, a fight of extremes. One boxer is 27, one 41. Both won Olympic gold medals, separated by 16 years, and as they have slowly come closer and closer this week there still remain some classic unknowns.
There has not been a single moment of odd insight revealed as they have performed their contracted rituals in public; I have not spotted a furtive glance, not heard a slight.
Joshua has changed since last year, he acts differently than the man who biffed his way through three world title fights during the last 12 months, rarely having to dab the sweat from his brow.
In the gym Joshua is a sponge, living a stark life in pursuit of boxing greatness.
His devotion to learning his art, to becoming a better boxer has been furious to witness. His raw statistics are truly misleading and if he was as inexperienced as he seems, this fight would be an unpleasant massacre. There are some that believe it will be.
Klitschko comes loaded with a brain of ancient boxing tricks, a history packed with every possible outcome.
Big Wlad has been dropped, stopped, rocked, defied odds, boxed like a dream and he has total recall of every second of a truly remarkable career. If his legs work as smoothly as his mind this fight holds no mystery, Joshua would have no chance. In bewildering contrast, Joshua only has a tiny list of boxing memories, none of them based on hardship. Joshua will be fighting in an alien place, probably from the first bell and the old man of Kiev will know that. “I will help you get over losing,” Klitschko cheekily offered on Thursday. “It is not so bad, you recover quickly, don’t worry.”
However, there has to be decline somewhere in Klitschko’s towering frame and Joshua will target the weaknesses, exploit the flaws. It could be the pace, it could be the power and it is more likely to be a combination of both.
Klitschko will have to fight, will be forced to fight at an uncomfortable speed. Well, that is the thinking. Joshua is capable of being a bit wild and will probably need to take a risk or two to unsettle Klitschko. A comfortable Klitschko will return to Germany with the belts, a savage Joshua will be celebrating inside four rounds.
“I looked at him, he looked at me – two tall heavyweights, no need for drama,” Joshua said after the traditional eye-toeye that followed the weigh-in at Wembley Arena yesterday.
Big Wlad left without a smile, Joshua departed and for the very first time all week there was a different look on his face, part boredom and part intensity; he needs to fight.
“No more talking,” he added as he was shuttled through the backstage at the grand old hall to a van and the start of about 30 hours of waiting.
At 11:01pm (SA time) today, we will all find out whether Joshua is ready and whether Klitschko is finished.
Joshua is ready, he just needs a steady heart once that first bell tolls, but I’m not as convinced Klitschko is ready to quit just yet. In other words, this will be a proper fight and when they have stopped throwing punches Joshua’s life will never be the same again.
Joshua weighed in more than 4kg heavier at 113kg than Klitschko (109kg) yesterday.
Klitschko, 41, signalled a V for victory sign as the pair faced off before nearly 5 000 chanting supporters.
The Joshua v Klitschko title fight will be televised live on DStv Channels 251 and 261 at 11pm tonight.