How the Klitschko Brothers can become more Popular in America?

by Evans on Oct 9, 2009 8:03 PM EDT Comment 14 comments

Vitali Klitschko had another impressive performance on September 26th, 2009. He easily beat Chris Arreola. He did not even lose a round. However, Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko are still somewhat unknown in America. The average American sports fan does not even know who the heavyweight champion is today. Nevertheless, they are utterly dominating the heavyweight division. They are by far the best fighters in the heavyweight division. They are very popular in Germany. They sell out 50,000 seat arenas in Germany. But, how can the Klitschko brothers become more popular in America?

The Klitschko Brothers could become more popular in America if they changed their fighting style. They fight cautiously in their boxing matches. The Klitschko's play it safe in their fights. They fight tall and they fight from a safe distance. Klitschko Brothers wear down their opponents until they knock them out. If they fight a more aggressive style similar to Mike Tyson they would attract more fans. It would draw more interest than the wins their getting by using good technical boxing skills. American fight fans like boxers that fight aggressive and exciting styles such as Mike Tyson, Arturo Gatti and Manny Pacquiao. Likewise, most boxing fans like knockout artists.

If they could persuade a big name fighter to fight them that could make them more popular. They can try to persuade Lennox Lewis to come of retirement. They could also try to get a big name smaller boxer to fight them such as Bernard Hopkins, Tomasz Adamek or Roy Jones. Fighting a well know fighter would create tons of attention even if the boxer was smaller. It would be challenging because the Klitschko's look very hard to beat right now. Yet, the Klitschko's defeating a big name fighter would help give them more recognition for their talent and ability.

The Klitschko Brothers fighting each other would be a huge fight. The chance of the fight happening are very unlikely because they said at one time they would never fight each other. "As we've said countless times, it's just not realistic. We promised our mother Natasha that the two of us would never fight," said Vitali Klitschko (boxing.fanhouse.com). They have been paying attention to the huge demand for the fight. "When we first began in boxing, our first goal was to win an Olympic gold medal. Wladimir did that. Then, it was to both win heavyweight titles," said Vitali Klitschko. "But we didn't anticipate that there would be such an outcry for us to fight each other" (boxing.fanhouse.com).

It has gotten to the point where Wladimir Klitschko has actually seriously considered fighting Vitali Klitschko. "We are going to talk to our mother again, because we know how much interest such a fight would create, and it would mean that one of us would be the Supreme Heavyweight Champion. Of course, she would not be happy, and if we did fight, I would be very worried about the health of my brother because it would be very bloody and very bad. We are very competitive, and it would be for real. There would be no fix. I am the better technical boxer, but he is the stronger of the two of us. It would be interesting." said Wladmir Klitschko (russiatoday.com).

This boxing match could lead to the first unified champ for the first time since Lennox Lewis retired. It would draw tons of attention from the media. It would help the winner gets tons of attention because then, they would be considered the best heavyweight in the world. It still possibility could happen.

Works Cited

2 Oct. 2009 http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2009/09/30/vitali-klitschko-vs-wladimir-klitschko-never-say-never/

2 Oct. 2009 http://russiatoday.com/Sport/2009-06-08/Klitschko_brothers_to_fight_each_other_.html

FanPosts do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors of Bad Left Hook or SB Nation. They might, though.

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I don’t think it’s just a matter of switching up styles. First of all, if Wlad did that, he would get KTFO. The reason he is so dominant is due to his jab-and-grab style. Vitali’s elusiveness and counterpunching isn’t boring to watch, just like Ali’s similar style wasn’t boring to watch, although some would say both of them clinched a little too much (truer for Ali then for Vitali K).

But rven if they did become more aggressive and did not get kayoed for it, how would the American public become aware of them? They need interesting opponents to challenge them. This is why Haye mucked things up so badly… He was an interesting guy! He made a lot of noise, and got people talking about the division again. When he weasled out of his contracts and into the W.B.A. clown car (Valuev, Holyfield, Ruiz, etc.) the division took another shot in the balls. “Savior of Heavyweight Boxing” my ass.

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Oct 10, 2009 9:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd agree on the opponents angle

Almost no one holds anyone else in the division in high regard, and therefore, it gets difficult to really respect the Klitschkos. Chris Arreola is interesting enough, but does anyone honestly think he’d be an elite contender in any other era in heavyweight history?

by bailorg on Oct 15, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chris Arreola is interesting enough, but does anyone honestly think he’d be an elite contender in any other era in heavyweight history?

Sure he would. He would have been a contender in the early 80’s, in the mix for a belt with dudes like Tate, Weaver, Coetzee, Smith, Thomas and Page. He would have fit right in with that lowly crowd. He wasn’t as good as Dokes or Witherspoon, but could have beaten either of them on any given night due to how inconsistent and lazy they both were. Holmes would have outclassed and retired him similar to the way Vitali did it.

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Oct 15, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree.It’s not about JUST styles.I seen Vladimar Klitschkos weakness in the Brewster and Sanders fights. He is very beatable providing u get in on him.That’s my debate!!The jab is dominant though !! That’s the factor of both their reigns!! It’s the safe way to fight considering their size ! But the scraping of the barrel is becoming more apparent in finding an American challenger that can actually raise eyebrows and actually be a serious threat.. I just shake my head sometimes.The Klitschkos are more or less uneventful.They’re boring. People want to see heads crack in the heavyweight division and that’s the bottom line.One fight is not gonna change their popularity.If they’re not popular now with American fans,chances are they’ll never be!!

by killah27 on Oct 10, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Vitali’s elusiveness and counterpunching isn’t boring to watch

Agreed. I really don’t like the opinion that it is. It has almost become a preconception in boxing the k brothers are dull to watch but that is only true of their really dominant performances, most of which have come in recent years. In the case of Vitali I personally really enjoyed his fight with Arreola despite his dominance over that bout.

It’s nice to hear other people say these things

by Drunken cutman on Oct 11, 2009 5:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Dominance is often boring to watch. When I was growing up, everybody hated Holmes and thought he was as dull as dishwater. He was fighting a bunch of guys that were nowhere near his skill level, and had very little chance of beating him. That’s part of the reason that Holmes-Cooney became a megafight promotion. When Cooney iced Norton in one round, you got the sense that Cooney had the sort of punch that would take Holmes out of his gameplan and lure him into a firefight. It was very similar to the way they were building up Arreola’s chances… “Vitali/Holmes will crumble when he feels that giant left hook/overhand right… Arreola/Cooney can surprise him and bomb him out of there early.” Cooney put up a better fight than Arreola, but the result was the same: they were outclassed and punished to the point that their corners threw in the towel.

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Oct 12, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The only way to make them go out there all guns blazing would be to handicap the fight.

Arreola vs Vitali;

Arreola gets an unlimited point start on the cards, and a 6 Round start in the fight itself (meaning that the best Vitali could do is a draw, unless he stops the guy inside 6 rounds.)

If Vitali and Wlad knew that they had to go for finishes earlier, then there would be fireworks….

(and before anyone shoots this down, it is meant as a tongue in cheek proposal.)

Kind of interesting idea, though…
Vitali KO 9 changed to a draw because he didn’t finish the guy inside 6.
Wlad UD = Opponent UD, due to the unlimited point start on the cards afforded to his opponent.

Let battle commence!! :D

Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)

by Chaos100 on Oct 12, 2009 8:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Fight each other

Brother vs. Brother could be a real sell

by mason_beer on Oct 12, 2009 7:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No way

Nobody would believe it would be anything close to a real fight. It would be a twelve round light sparring session, and they would probably orchestrate a draw.

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Oct 13, 2009 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They're probably ok as it is

They make enough money and there’s no serious US draw for them to fight. They would most likely stack up pretty well in the previous eras, given that Vitali was winning the Lewis fight before it was stopped. I personally think that they are both pretty proud and competitive and a fight would be for real, you can’t orchestrate it like Venus-Serena, but there’s no mileage in it. Maybe when they retire they’ll be better appreciated?!

I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)

by BrianBrock on Oct 13, 2009 9:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why couldn’t they orchestrate it like Venus-Serena? It’s not like tennis, where the worst that can happen is hurt feelings.

I just don’t think people could take a Klitschko-Klitschko bout seriously enough to generate interest. Maybe if Wlad had stole Vitali’s wife or something, but otherwise what are we talking about here? I had a brother two years older than me, and we had many vicious and bloody fights both in and out of a boxing ring growing up. We don’t live and breathe boxing like the Klitschkos do, but here in 2009 as adults we won’t be hurting each other for money, pride or anything else. I just don’t see a precedent for this anywhere. Did Khaosai fight Khaokor? Did the Quarry brothers fight?

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Oct 13, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There might be that morbid car crash interest, you would have to watch to see what happened, as it would be completely without precedent, you’re right. I did say there was no mileage in it, which means I don’t think it’ll happen either, but theoretically I would definitely be interested in seeing the two best heavweights of this era, who would frankly grace any era, go at it. Who would be more controlled, how would they react to being hurt?

I get your analogy, same with my brother (never in a ring though). I would want to be the best by myself and not jointly with my brother, but thats not a Klitschko view. It would just be a complete farce and obvious if they did orchestrate it, but they seem kind of too intelligent to seriously consdier the whole thing anyway.

I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)

by BrianBrock on Oct 13, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs