Convicted Artist Magazine

So, Shannon Briggs stunk out the joint, threatened his own health, and was given too many chances in losing every minute of every round against Vitali Kltischko.  People may recall this was my prediction, but I predicted the corner or referee would take him out after round seven.  I guess if people were doing their jobs, maybe my prediction would have been more accurate.

However, the honest truth is that he shouldn't have been in there in the first place... nor does Derek Chisora belong in their with Wladimir, as will be the case in December.  Briggs did not nothing to prove he deserved this title shot.  His qualifications since his WBO title loss to Sultan Ibragimov were four first-round knockouts over journeymen fighters.  Lately, it seems that going rounds has been the goal in fights against the Klitschkos.  This will happen even with the most legit contenders, but you are adding to the likelihood, by allowing two dominant champions to defend against even weaker challengers.

This will be the case when a four-fight tournament takes place to determine Klitschko's next challenger.  The tourney features two former cruiserweights, a fighter small enough to be a cruiserweight, who has already been defeated by a Klitschko, and a big oaf who lost to that same small fighter.  Alexander Dimitrenko and Eddie Chambers look to be headed toward a rematch of their eliminator bout, in which Chambers gave the big man a boxing lesson.  All they have to do is defeat cruiserweights.

Jean-Marc Mormeck is in his late 30's, and has been KO'd at 200lb limit by David Haye and O'Neill Bell.  Chambers is not a puncher, but a straight-forward fighter is still tailor-made for him, and he will likely counter his way to an easy decision.  Dimitrenko defeinitely stands a chance of being outboxed by former cruiserweight title challenger Jonathan Banks, but given Banks shaky chin, which was dented often at 200lbs, it should only take a big shot or two to end the American's heavyweight aspirations.

Barring a lousy decision, which is always a possibility in Germany, Chambers should again outbox Dimitrenko.  Since no one wants to see Chambers vs. Klitschko 2, perhaps including even Chambers, you might want to cheer for a lousy decision.  Dimitrenko lacks the movement to get away, as well as the durability to hang tough.  Pointless?  Yes.  But we would at least see an early round knockout for once.  Chambers can do nothing differently the second time, exept take more chances, which will just make his exit earlier.

This is where David Haye and Tomasz Adamek come in.  Alexander Povetkin wants no part of the Klitschkos.  Neither does Denis Boystov.  No matter what reason they publicly give, they are waiting until the big Ukranians retire.  Period.  It doesn't matter, because they would probably do what most would... stink out the joint, and lose late.  With Haye and Adamek, we are still likely to see a Klitschko victory, yet it would be exciting while it lasted.  Adamek cannot be in a bad fight, and Haye's strong punch and weak chin almost guarantee excitement (Valuev can stink any fight out, but he is a rare exception).  It's too bad that the two men sell too many tickets in their own backyards, and don't want to risk a loss.  Boxing needs them to fight the Klitschkos, or fight each other.

Chris Strait
www.convictedartist.com

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