VITALI ADMITTED STEROID USE
Alameda, CA-There is nothing easier than writing about a fighter, after his career is all said and done. And with the retirement of WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, we have the opportunity to look at the fighter, who finished at 35-2, with 34 stops. Turning pro in November of 1996, Vitali did so after being bounced out of the 1996 Olympics, after testing positive for Steroids. Originally, younger brother Wladimir, the Gold Medallist at super heavyweight, was supposed to box at heavyweight or 200 lbs., WENT 27 STRAIGHT WITHOUT A SETBACK
Mowing through the likes of Herbie Hide, Phil Jackson, & Ed Mahone, Vitali was favored, poised, and highly motivated when in 2000 he met Chris Byrd. Towering over Byrd by seven and a half inches, and a 34 lb. weight advantage, Vitali seemed well on his way to a pretty easy 12-round decision. But, between the ninth and tenth rounds, with Klitschko up 89-82, & 88-83 twice, he surprised everyone by not coming out for the tenth!
QUITTER TAG APPLIED RIGHT THEN & THERE
Although the shoulder injury was legitimate, the fact that he had quit, this left a negative impression with many. In his nine subsequent fights, the now 34-year old Vitali, did everything he could to dispel that notion. Not only that, Vitali, hes had to often perform in the shadow of his brother Wlad, who was considered the better of the two. Like the quitter tag that turned out to be debatable, if not wrong all together, Vitali was surely the better of the pair.
BIG MAN BESET BY MANY INJURIES
To be 67 Ω, and 250 lbs., this is not the norm. That being said, athletes, they vary in the breaking down process. NFL flops Brian Bosworth, Tony Mandarich, two humungous men, and both said to have used synthetic supplements, they burned out in the blink of an eye. Vitali, he lasted until the age of 32, when the Klitschko tire began a slow leak. The most serious, turned out to be the Arthritic spurs on his spinal column. Surgery was required because the spurs were touching against a nerve. From this, he never fully recovered.
WHAT IS A RETIREMENT OF CONVENIENCE?
And while it was a knee injury that brought about what Larry Merchant of HBO called, a retirement of convenience. Appearing on Ring Talk Radio Saturday night, I pressed Larry Merchant, just what did he mean? Its a retirement of convenience, because he probably knew they (WBC) were going to strip him, said the HBO Godfather.
THERE IS NO LEAGACY HERE FOLKS!
Unfortunately, because of the injuries that caused four postponements of his clash with Hasim Rahman, the elder of the Klitschko brothers, Vitali, his career falls short of being able to have any kind of legacy. Look, Vitali was tough, always in shape, and he put forth all what he had. But his claim to fame is losing on cuts to an out of shape Lennox Lewis in 2003. Since then hes faced three fat guys in a row, Kirk Johnson, Corrie Sanders, and Danny Williams.
VITALI WAS WORKING TO ESTABLISH LEGACY
Looking to solidify a legacy, Klitschko, wanted badly to meet and defeat Hasim Rahman, Chris Byrd, and he hoped for a finale, to lure Lennox Lewis out of retirement. And while his brother Wlad continues to fight, and his legacy seems to be that of a failure, well never be able to assess Vitali Dr. Iron Fist Klitschko, the professional fighter.
P. Fernandez