Is Brock Ready For Klitschko?
By Uncategorized August 29th, 2006Calvin Brock negotiating for Klitschko title fight
Rumors have been swirling as to who Wladimir Klitschko’s (IBF) next opponent will be. It was supposed to be Shannon Briggs, presumably, but not actually, a done deal; then it was Oleg Maskaev (WBC), fresh off his win over Hasim Rahman; then it was Sergei Liakhovich (WBO), who captured the crown from Lamon Brewster.
Now it seems as if Calvin Brock, aka the Boxing Banker, is leading the pack of potential Klitschko challengers.
First reported by ESPN and subsequently picked up here and there – “We’re negotiating,” Brock told ESPN.com – Klitschko and the Boxing Banker are working out the details for a Nov. 11 date at Madison Square Garden, and among those celebrating Brock’s entry into the heavyweight sweepstakes is the Charlotte Observer, Calvin’s hometown paper. (Brock grew up in Charlotte, graduated from UNC Charlotte, and still lives part-time in the North Carolinian city.)
Charlotte, whatever its virtues, isn’t known as a boxing hub. “Boxing isn’t big here,â€? observes The Observer. “Unless a city has a strong tradition or a large casino, boxing isn’t big anywhere. But a heavyweight title fight is.â€?
Brock’s perfect 29-0 record with 22 knockouts is deceptive. According to The Observer, Brock’s strategy has been to “avoid danger, pad record, fight champ.� That shorthand doesn’t do justice to Brock’s accomplishments in the ring, but does he have what it takes to dethrone Wladimir Klitschko?
Klitschko, 30, is a year younger than Brock, and he is 4 inches taller. He has also won his last four fights, after a string of “career ending� losses in 2003 and 2004. Brock hasn’t fought anyone of Klitschko’s caliber – is there a heavyweight alive who is of Klitschko’s caliber? – and his last fight, against Timur Ibragimov, belies the notion that the South will rise again any time soon.
Klitschko’s size, his experience, his jab, his cornerman, suggest that Brock, who is slow, doesn’t punch straight or effectively counter, will have his hands full if and when he challenges Klitschko for the heavyweight title.
August 29th, 2006 at 8:22 am
Alot ofwhat was said was true, after all Klitschko skill wise is unbelieveable. His weakness makes him very vulnerable to Brock, that is his chin. Brock is an ok boxer & a tremendous puncher. It is a typical boxing matchup either Klitschko on points are Brock by KO.
August 29th, 2006 at 8:41 am
This is great news i feel, other than peter and toney, he has got to be the next contender. briggs will fight liakovich. then valuev will have a tough fight at last with ruiz, and masakev will face toney or peter. then the unification will start, and brewster will be back. skelton deserves a shot to.
August 29th, 2006 at 9:10 am
I like Wlad K —-period. Good skills ,hard work and also shows sporting spirit. I think he would have the skills to defeat Calvin Brock, though I have not seen Brock fight yet. I agree , right now there is no fighter of his calibre in the heavyweights, the man has certainly worked his way back from the brink.
August 29th, 2006 at 9:54 am
There is no heavyweight today with better skills than Wlad K. Brock is average at best, his fight with Timor was a stinker. Hopefully, this fight will not be a PPV event. I’m still looking forward to this fight.
Prediction:
Wlad TKO 8 Brock
August 29th, 2006 at 1:00 pm
As I’ve previously mentioned in another note, Wlad may have somewhat of a ’soft set of whiskers’, but his heart doesn’t lack grit! If I remember correctly, every time he’s been knocked down, he’s gotten up! And when Peter ‘creamed his corn’ three times, it wasn’t blows to the jaw that dropped Klitch, it was mainly clubbing shots to the side of or back of his head. The guy can fight, can box, can punch, & does have championship heart, & is vulnerable to big punches, which certainly has provided us with excitement as we watch him!
August 29th, 2006 at 4:37 pm
Wladimir Klitschko is way too skilled, talented, and experienced. In his last fight, Brock proved he isn’t ready for the big time. I don’t think Brock has the desire, skill, or motivation to ever become a champion. Wladimir Klitschko will KTFO Brock within 6 rounds.
August 29th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
The only other person I think is anywhere near Klitschko’s caliber is maskaev. However, I think it is too short of a notice for maskaev to fight klitschko on nov.11.
I don’t think Brock would last to long in the ring with klitschko. He might have a slight chance at catching him with a power shot but i think it is unlikely. I say Klitschko will win by a late round tko/ko or decision.
August 29th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
I AGREE WITH QUINTERO THE ONLY FIGHTER CLOSE TO KLISCHKO’S CALIBER IS MASKAEV, BUT HE LACKS HEIGHT AND SPEED.DONT GET ME WRONG I THINK MASKAEV IS AN EXCELLENT “CHAMP” BUT HE SHOULD FIGHT SMALLER HEAVYWEIGHTS.
August 30th, 2006 at 2:17 am
WOW! Quintero and gaoloco have the audacity to say that the best fighters are 2 ex-Soviet bums with glass jaws? Wlad has skills but he is too flawed and beatable, if you have power, a chin and some boxing skills, you can knock out Klitschko easily. Maskaev is a bum who beat the the one-hit wonder of the 21st century. Maskaev is a china-chinned fool who got knocked out by Tua, Johnson, Sanders, he’s a stepping stone, it doesnt matter whether Toney or Peter wins, either man will wipe out Maskaev and wreck the man. TOney has the best caliber of all heavys, next would prolly be liakovich.
August 30th, 2006 at 7:23 am
If Wlad stays behind his long jab, he is unbeatable, he is so big and has skills, there is no one out there to beat him. Like they say, never box a boxer, to beat Wlad you must go after him, put pressure on him, go after his chin. Brock looks impressive to me. Thats why we love boxing, you just never know.
August 30th, 2006 at 7:26 am
I think Jackman is living in a dream world. Klitschko is head and shoulders (quite literally) above any heavyweight out there at the momment. Do you think that one of the greatest trainers of our time is off with the fairies. Stewart took a guy who had been knocked out and turned him into a world beater, I am talking about Lennox Lewis, Klitschko’s physique and skills are very similiar to Lewis, Stewart helped Lewis and he is doing the same with Vlad. Yes he can be vulnerable to a big punch even under the tutilidge of a great trainer, this was shown when Lennox got lazy against Rahman in South Africa, but when in good form and cautious Vlad will measure up to a legacy such as Lewis has left. So yes I would certainly say and agree with Stewart, Vlad will dominate the heavyweight scene for a long time yet.
August 30th, 2006 at 8:16 am
In reply to Jerry, what youhave to remember is Wlad can punch too, so dont discount him to get the KO.
All in all, good fight…
August 30th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
Toney has the best calibre? Nonsense….Toney is a big talker thats all. Lewis would have made mincemeat out of him. Toney is by no means the best or even a great heavyweight; but the way he runs his mouth, people believe he is the second coming of Muhammad Ali. He sinks as low as to call Peter a “slave” and an “immigrant mo$#@#$”.
And stop calling fighters ex soviet bums or whatever, they are no 1 because they worked hard and fought well. Even Rahman was graceful enough to accept that.
Ex Soviet bum Wlad shows a lot more class than Toney and can easily take him to pieces.
August 30th, 2006 at 8:41 pm
Spirited discussion. This is why we need a heavyweight tournament, to determine who is THE MAN. In answer to the first question, is Brock ready for Klitschko….probably not yet and that is why Wlad is willing to take that fight right now. Brock is looked at as the next American hopeful but he’s not there yet. Who is the second best heavyweight?? I can’t agree with you guys who are talking about Maskaev. I just can’t trust a guy who got knocked cold in two rounds by “Goofi” Whitaker. Right now, number two is probably Toney, but he’s so undisciplined and out of shape, he’s blown title fights against inconsistent Rahman and bone-clutcher Ruiz. Liahkovich looked real good against Brewster, but again it was Brewster who went life and death with Kali Meehan and lost to the felonious Black Rhino. But then again, Brewster knocked out Wlad, so who knows. Valuev….he’s still a sideshow freak until he beats someone better than John Ruiz. So all that said…..I got nothing, and that’s why we need a tournament.
August 30th, 2006 at 10:17 pm
Vincent, this isnt a question of who the classiest and most gentleman-like fighter is, its about who’s the best. Wlad’s skills are overrated because he is a big guy who can move well and box well for his height. Wlad may not be the big talentless lutt that Primo Carnera was, but he’s nobody special, definitely does not have Toney’s skills. If Wlad was a normal heavyweight, like 6′2 240 lbs, he would prolly be a B-level talent at best, he is A-level just because he is that big, he is really rather ordinary. Just because you dont like a man doesnt mean you should deny him his skills. Toney is head and shoulders (though not literally) over all boxers in terms of talent and skills.
August 31st, 2006 at 9:06 am
True, Jackman, you are absolutely correct; if Wlad were small, like 6′2 , everything else being the same, maybe he’d be a much lower ranked fighter. All I’m saying is that even if JT has all the talent in the world (he’s good but not that good.), it’s getting real lame to see him mouth off all the time. And especially because, none of his victories at heavyweight are any better than Wlads. There are other champions .. not heavies, but still… who talk less and fight much better…blood and guts.
It was Sugar Ray Robinson I think who said, a champion should behave like one outside the ring. Toney for all his ‘talent’ is not fit to lace the boots of some former champions.
And just my opinion, I do think Wlad would easily manhandle JT, even if only because of size.
November 8th, 2006 at 8:07 pm
owww my dear! get ready for the new champ nov 11,comprende? the banker’s dream has come true.
nostradomus.
November 8th, 2006 at 8:18 pm
listen to what you are saying oh! hight is what? what is hight guys?,lamon fryed wlad’s tall ass you have forgoten? corrie sanders,ross purity?,man you know nothing about boxing man!
makaev is what you call a good boxer? ask hem about oliva m,
ask hem about lance whitaker,man,hihihiii! stay tuned for sat nov 11,and learn some thing about boxing GATOLOCO.