Bad Left Hook Fight Night: Wladimir Klitschko v. Sultan Ibragimov

I will tell you this, though: It's a better fight than I credited it at first. I thought it was good -- now, I'd say it was really good, close to great. I think my initial disappointment just came from it not being at all like the first fight, which still blows it out of the water. But this was an excellent show of boxing from both guys.

Also, after a second viewing I'm now really sure that Taylor is going to be outstanding at 168. He took some good shots from Kelly Pavlik and took them well. I think the added weight is really going to benefit him.

What Jermain did that lost him the fight on the cards, I believe, is he did let himself nap too frequently. A lot of Pavlik's long unanswered punching rallies didn't get home, but you can't let someone throw 10, 12, 15 punches in a row without throwing anything back. I totally understand anyone that scored for Kelly.

Klitschko, in fact, isn't dong anything but hitting his hand. Ibragimov is just putting his right hand up there to get knocked down. This is kind of absurd actually.

The height difference is also very, very obvious. Wlad looks like a giant.

Really actionless opening round. "Tactical" if you want to be really nice about it. I think Sultan landed one halfassed hook to the body, and there's a jab to the body.

The boo birds are coming out near the bell. It's a minority, but you can hear them.

Ibragimov 10-9

A minute in, and the boos are becoming more apparent. Someone has got to punch. This is like that infamous Shamrock-Severn fight, for longtime MMA fans.

Jab from Klitschko gets Sultan to step back, and does it again. Jab to the body from Sultan. Ibragimov is now ducking Klitschko's jab.

Back to the pawing and slapping of Ibragimov's right hand. Ibragimov tries to work his way in a little, but fails twice.

And now the boos are the majority.

Klitschko 10-9
19-19

Ibragimov seems almost scared of Klitschko. I mean, how else can you explain the fact that he is basically refusing to throw anything? You gotta get hit to hit a guy with the big reach advantage.

More right hand sticking out, more right hand knocking down.

Halfway through the third and we're still not getting any kind of real show.

Now Ibragimov storms in, but his attempt fails pretty badly. Wlad landing a few really shitty jabs (basically body lunges where his outstretched hand connects with Ibragimov's chest) is winning rounds.

I got a text from a friend just now: "This fight sucks so far." Well said.

Klitschko 10-9
Klitschko 29-28

I don't know what the hell to tell you about this fight. If you're watching and this goes 12 rounds, then God be with you.

Klitschko's jab is winning this fight. It's not even impressive, really. He's just hitting him now and again, and that is good enough.

Slow, ugly overhand left from Ibragimov. The most that happened as a result of that punch is Ibragimov looked like he almost lost his balance when it lovingly caressed Klitschko's skin.

Ibragimov goes to the body with roundhouse lefts, back-to-back.

Terrible fucking fight so far. God awful.

Klitschko 10-9
Klitschko 39-37

There's a right hand from Klitschko, and Ibragimov is shaken a little. Sultan drops his hands to showboat, but Klitschko doesn't bite on it.

Showing you're not hurt is such a great way to get killed. If you're not hurt, fuck, let the other guy think you are. Then wail on him when he storms. I've never understood the strategy. The only guy that acts like something didn't hurt is hurt.

Another slow round. Klitschko is doing his thing and winning rounds. Ibragimov can't do fuck all.

Klitschko 10-9
Klitschko 49-46

Straight left to the gut from Ibragimov.

That was about a minute ago. The crowd has well turned on this.

Ibragimov is lunging a lot more now, seemingly getting desperate as we steadily approach the halfway mark. And two right hooks do land. Not flush, and not exactly precise punches. But they landed. And you know what? Good enough to win the round.

Ibragimov 10-9
Klitschko 58-56

Ibragimov does have good hand speed for a heavyweight. You would never know it watching this fight.

Wlad is actually starting to open up in spots this round. I think he knows he can knock Ibragimov out. I think he now is 100% sure he has nothing to fear from Ibragimov's power or style.

Klitschko is now consistently sticking him with the jab. Well, a few of them anyway.

One good thing I can say about this: No clinching.

Ibragimov gets backed against the ropes, but Klitschko lets him get out without a fight. The crowd buzzes every time Sultan is backed against the ropes -- he's there again, and Wlad is doing NOTHING.

What the hell IS this fight?

Klitschko 10-9
Klitschko 68-65

THERE is a straight right following the jab, and Klitschko snapped Sultan's head back there. Sultan gets thrown to the mat. That's a psychological move.

Ibragimov hurt by another right hand. He is being thoroughly outclassed now. That straight right is nasty when he's choosing to employ it.

This proves once and for all that beating Shannon Briggs and a 44-year old Evander Holyfield does not mean you're one of the best heavies in the world. This Ibragimov looks a lot like the guy that was so awful against Ray Austin.

Wlad with a flurry, most of it ducked, but the right did land again. ibragimov's ugly lefts to the body just aren't landing hard at all.

Best round of the fight! Not saying much.

Klitschko 10-9
Klitschko 78-74

Klitschko hits him again, and Ibragimov very nearly avoids going down. That SHOULD have been ruled a knockdown. The ropes and Wlad's leg kept Ibragimov up. Two rights put him down, the referee just didn't score it as such.

Now Ibragimov misses a right hook and starts to wrestle Wlad with a waistlock. Ibragimov is just awful tonight. He doesn't look like a top 15 heavyweight, let alone top five.

Right hook to the body from Ibragimov, again all but ignored by Klitschko. Wlad swings at him again, and Ibragimov is now legitimately fearful of Klitschko.

Jab from Wlad. Now Ibragimov is hugging more.

Vitali givees his brother water.

Klitschko 10-9
Klitschko 88-83

Klitschko continues to easily win the boxing match after that ridiculous shit is over with.

Klitschko 10-9
Klitschko 98-92

He's imploring him to utilize the right hand more, but I don't see it happening. This is in the bag, no reason to risk anything at this point. A knockout isn't going to make people have a better opinion of this snoozefest.

There's a 1-2 from Ibragimov. Actually, more of a 1..........2.

Klitschko BARELY misses a home run shot that followed a huge whiff from Ibragimov.

The commentators are just totally bored to death.

HUGE counter right hand from Klitschko, and Ibragimov wobbles badly before being saved by the bell. That was punch No. 1 of a KO combo. A flat KO combo.

Manny: "To win a decision in this fight is not good at all."

Klitschko 10-9
Klitschko 108-101

Klitschko is pressing a little more, and I don't like the strategy. Max said it right: This fight is over with. Just box for three minutes and look forward to Povetkin.

Now Wladimir is back to just jabbing and controlling. This has been some kind of easy fight for Klitschko. He'll say it wasn't, but it was. Ibragimov never tested him.

And he's winning another round with total ease. Ibragimov has long since given up on winning this fight.

10 seconds to go. Let's see if ANYTHING happens.

Nope.

Klitschko 10-9
Klitschko 118-110

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
NEW WBO HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
STILL IBF/IBO HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION

Easy, easy fight to score.