Vitali Klitschko comes through Sosnowski test
Vitali Klitschko’s reign over the heavyweight division continued with a relatively comfortable win over Albert Sosnowski on Saturday night at the Veltins-Arena.
Once again the gigantic Ukrainian relied on his trusty jab and kept Sosnowski frustrated all night as the Pole hovered around him like a bumble bee trying to protect the queen. Yet the former European heavyweight champion couldn’t find a way to rock Klitschko and was picked off in 10 rounds.
This was a horrendous mismatch of size. At 6ft 8in and with a longer reach, Klitschko was comfortably able to keep Sosnowski at a safe distance, like he has with many of his opponents during his career. Despite being the younger man by seven years “The Dragon” couldn’t make his added energy count as he was kept too far out to pick off the champ and couldn’t slip past that jab to get to the inside.
To be fair to Sosnowski he tried his best. He was industrious, but he didn’t have the footwork or hand speed to trouble the WBC champion. At times he landed a few decent body shots but “Dr Ironfist” never seemed too bothered and took everything that was thrown at him in his stride.
It wasn’t anywhere near as one-sided as the Kevin Johnson fight, at least the Pole gave it a go unlike the American who just ran like h**l for 12 rounds.
The Germans sure know how to put on a boxing match, the ring looked spectacular and the entrances promised much. Sosnowski’s was complete with a big fire-breathing dragon by the side of the ring, as per his noum de guerre. Sadly the Pole couldn’t roar the flames out once he went through the ropes, winning maybe just two of the ten rounds.
You know what to expect from Klitschko, he is never going to start dancing around the ring throwing lightning fast combos with some Roy Jones Jnr footwork.
Although wouldn’t that be an incredible and bizarre sight?
Nope, Klitschko and his left jab have a good thing going, so why rock the boat? He patrols the centre with his left out in front and his six-shooter of a right tucked in its holster, with the safety off.
The first few rounds were a case of feeling each other out. The Dragon flew around the insurmountable Ukrainian looking for a way in. A couple of times the big man struggled to contain the marauding Pole as he shuffled around trying to find an angle like a painter sizing up a new canvas.
Sosnowski, who looked like he trains with Arnold Schwarzenegger rather than in a boxing gym, even managed to get through and land a few jabs which seemed to annoy the gigantic Klitschko. Particularly in the fifth round when The Dragon’s work ethic paid-off as he doubled up on the jab, which took the giant back a bit.
These moments were few and far between though, whenever Sosnowski buzzed Klitschko jabbed his way out of danger, looking like a hungry and confused bear.
Eventually he became tired of Sosnowski pestering him and started to up the tempo by throwing a few combinations in the eighth as he began to assert his dominance. A big right stunned Sosnowski before the bell in the ninth and the end was clearly near. Dragon was saved by the bell, but just before it dinged, Klitschko showboated by raising his arm towards the crowd. That was as close as most have ever seen to Klitschko looking like he is enjoying himself, he almost smiled.
It was all over soon in the tenth as Sosnowski trapped in the corner felt the full force of Klitschko’s power bomb of a right which handed the Ukrainian his 40th win by knockout.
It was a workmanlike performance, at times the champion seemed a bit laborious and you get the impression that had Sosnowski been a bit quicker he could have caused Klitschko some real trouble.
This of course begs the question could David Haye do it with his speed? Even Tomasz Adamek would be a good shout to take on the cumbersome heavyweight if he could get behind that jab on this showing.
However many boxers must have fancied a way to take down one half a heavyweight boxing dynasty and few can say they have succeeded. On Saturday night he looked far from invincible but anyone with that much power is always going to be a threat.
That Haye v Klitschko question for the time being looks like it will go unanswered. For now he is just going to have to be content spending his time slaying dragons.
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