Steve Molitor and Wladimir Klitschko retain their titles
Steve Molitor and Wladimir Klitschko will be happy to come out the weekend with their belts intact.
Canadian super-bantamweight Molitor held on to his IBF strap, despite a stiff test from comeback kid Jason Booth, while Klitschko renewed acquaintances with Samuel Peter putting his WBO IBF and IBO heavyweight titles on the line.
It wasn’t to be for Booth, whose dream and probable subsequent Hollywood deal had to be put on ice as he succumbed to the tough Molitor on Saturday night.
As you would expect it was all heart from the plucky challenger. The former alcoholic’s fall and rise from world champion to tramp then back up to contender once more has been well documented, yet Molitor had clearly not read the script because his stubborn show of skill and accuracy stopped “2 Smooth” completing the fairytale.
It was a fairly even contest in the first half. Booth was buzzing about, keeping busy, even catching Molitor just above the left eye in the third round. “The Canadian Kid” showed championship pedigree with a solid defence and proficient attack landing punches well. However Booth was going all out for the win and was possibly even shading it midway through the fight.
Unfortunately Molitor’s size and strength were starting to put pay to the bouncing Booth and after an explosive seventh round he stepped it up a gear. Every time 2 Smooth looked like breaking through, the champ would rally back and take the round late on.
The Canadian was looking for his second Booth scalp having already taken brother Nicky’s early in his career and he kept the pressure on by picking the Nottingham fighter off and opening a small cut on his right eye in the 10th. The last two rounds grinded out the final bit of energy both men had, a head clash in the 11th looked nasty, and in the 12th both fighters appeared to be surviving purely on vapours.
In the end Molitor claimed the fight with a bit more class and composure than the hard-working Booth, taking a majority decision of 116-113, 114-114 and 116-112 on the cards.
Although his Cinderella story turned into a pumpkin, Booth can take a lot of comfort from his showing. It was much improved from his bout with Matthew Marsh in his previous fight, in which he was lucky to shade through. It was a gutsy show and he can take great pride in the way he performed and he will surely get another crack at a world title again soon.
Meanwhile in Germany the crowd were probably discussing how the best thing about a Klitschko fight these days is the ring walk. “Dr Steelhammer” went all out for this one featuring a series of cleverly edited shots of him hanging out with Muhammad Ali. Could the Ukrainian be in possession of the driest sense of humour in boxing, comparing his robotic, granite and predictable style to the freewheeling, charismatic and exciting style of “The Greatest”?
No it was a Klitschko’s homage to the “Louisville Lip” who fought against Karl Mildenberger 44 years ago also in Frankfurt.
You know just what to expect from Klitschko and can basically predict a fight in its entirety before the first bell. It’s not really his fault, more of a lack of opposition and now he’s taken to recycling former rivals there is even less scope for fans enjoyment.
In fairness, the last time Peter and Klitschko clashed it was quite entertaining with the big man going down three times before securing the win. This fight was a lot less enjoyable.
It was routine stuff for the champ, he started cagey with those knockdowns and Peter’s powerful punches still fresh in his mind, however as the fight wore on the champ grew in confidence and steamrollered through.
At best Peter had a puncher’s chance, but that had all but evaporated by the sixth round. Klitschko was firing on all cylinders sat deep behind that dastardly jab. Sometimes he punches so stiffly it looks like his joints have seized up. It’s as if someone has trained the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz.
Peter in contrast just stumbled around the ring like a drunken long-distance runner at the end of a marathon. In the 10th “The Nigerian Nightmare” was put to sleep with a series of sloppy if destructive swings by the Ukrainian before flopping on the floor. The referee had seen enough and this lop-sided bout was laid to rest.
So Klitschko wins again, but the heavyweight category loses once more as the search goes on for someone who can slip past the jab of the Ukrainian brothers in this division of desolation.
Still at least in many years time Ali’s grandkids can say their granddad was honoured by the great Wladimir Klitschko.
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