By John F. McKenna (McJack)
WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (43-2, 40 KO’s) has completed the first week of training for his February 18 title defense against Britains’ Derek Chisora (15-2, 9 KO’s). Klitschko held an open media workout accompanied by his trainer Fritz Sdunek at the Concha Zaspa Olympic base in Kiev, Ukraine. The WBC champion worked on his footwork, jumped rope and hit the heavy bag while fans and the media looked on.
Sdunek was quoted by Fightnews.com saying:
“Vitali is already gaining the necessary physical condition. Honestly I don’t envy Derek Chisora.”
Klitscko said:
“90% of my time is in politics. This sport in my life has become less important, but it doesn’t interfere and even helps. In the next week we’ll go to training camp in the Austrian Alps.”
Chisora lost a hotly disputed decision to Robert Helenius in December. Most boxing observers thought that Derek clearly won the fight, some giving Helenius only three of the twelve rounds. Vitali Klitschko also thought that Chisora deserved t he decision against Helenius, who had been hyped as a possible future opponent of the Klitschko’s.
Many boxing fans believe Helenius took the decision because the fight was held in his native Finland. In any case Chisora was chosen as Vitali’s next opponent.
Klitschko and Chisora will be squaring off in Munich, Germany on February 18. “Del-Boy”, as Chisora is known to his fans, was selected as Vitali’s opponent due to the delay in attempting to arrange a fight with David Haye. Vitali has made no secret of the fact that he wants to fight “The Hayemaker” so that he can as he puts it “send him to the floor.” Vitali has not gotten over the derogatory comments Haye made about him and his brother Wladimir in the lead up to the fight last July between Wladimir and Haye. Vitali has not given up on fighting Haye, but acknowledges that the fight is a long way off from being finalized.
Chisora appears to be confident of defeating Klitschko, and has predicted that he will KO Vitali in eight rounds. Dereck said that he will make himself difficult to hit using lateral movement and bobbing and weaving while he moves in on Klitscko.
Vitali is always in shape, even between fights and takes no opponent lightly. His training camp is always designed towards the challenger he will be facing. Against the smaller, faster Tomasz Adamek last September Vitali came in at a light 243 pounds.
