Klitschko shrugs off crisis talk

MUNICH: Vitali Klitschko makes perhaps his penultimate world title defence today insisting his domination of the heavyweight scene, along with brother Wladimir, will not be remembered as a time of crisis for the division.

Ukrainian Klitschko, 40, defends his World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title for the 10th time against Zimbabwe-born, but Londonbased, Dereck Chisora at the Olympiahalle in Munich.

After winning the title in 2004 and retiring later that year through injury only to then return in 2008, Klitschko has enjoyed an untroubled reign as champion.

Creditable opponents are running out and Klitschko has said he plans one more fight after Chisora before considering retirement to concentrate fulltime on a political career in his homeland of Ukraine.

The 2.01m “Dr Iron Fist”, who last lost on cuts to Lennox Lewis in 2003, is not thinking about his boxing legacy just yet.

But Klitschko argued earlier this week that the heavyweight division is not currently in a slump despite his lack of serious rivals and close contests since Lewis nine years ago.

“Lewis was a big star, as was Mike Tyson, but now they’re retired and Evander Holyfield is over the hill,” he said. “My brother and I have stopped almost everyone. Of course, any moment can bring around a new guy and right now it’s Chisora.

“Anyone can win, but I won’t give them a chance. There’s no crisis in boxing. Many say that we have blocked the division, but that’s not true. The right motivation and skill can beat us.

“This fight won’t be easy. Everyone needs time to build their name. Both Wladimir and I are ready for anyone.

“A big name doesn’t always have the best skills, technique or chin. So, I can’t say right now just how I rate my performance overall.”

Klitschko, whose younger brother Wladimir holds the other three versions of the world title, will run for mayor later this year on an anti-corruption platform. – SAPA-AFP