Klitschko.com - English

1. Wladimir Klitschko (53-3)


Klitschko has been the dominant heavyweight of the past few years and has two mandatory defenses to deal with because he holds two alphabet _title_s. One is Russia's Alexander Povetkin and the other is American Eddie Chambers. It looks as though Chambers will get first crack. The sides are negotiating a bout that likely would take place in December.
Next: TBA.

Wladimir Klitschko-Eddie Chambers Close To Being Signed For December 12th

Klitschkoby James Slater - It seems both Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, will be in action against top US talent before the year is out. WBC king Vitali's September fight with unbeaten Mexican/American Chris "The Nightmare" Arreola is signed and a definite go, and now, according to Philly.com, IBF and WBO ruler Wladimir will face another Goossen Tutor-promoted fight in Eddie Chambers in December.

The second fight involving a Klitschko is not a done deal yet, but according to Philly.com, "Fast" Eddie's promoter Dan Goossen said yesterday that if all negotiations are "nailed down" the two men will fight at the end of the year, most likely December 12th, and most likely in Germany and on HBO. This, naturally, is great news for Chambers. Coming off his most impressive win to date - when he travelled to Germany to totally outclass and outwork the huge and previously unbeaten Alexander Dimitrenko - the once-beaten 27-year-old is in the best condition of his entire life and his he chomping at the bit to get at Wladimir - or any recognised world heavyweight champion for that matter..

"I've been thinking about this happening for - you don't want to know how long," Chambers told Philly.com yesterday. "I've worked really hard to get here. Now all I need to do is cash in."

With Klitschko's IBF mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin (the only man to have beaten Chambers, of course) opting to listen to his new trainer Teddy Atlas and take one more fight before going into his earned shot at "Dr. Steel Hammer," Wladimir is free to face his WBO mandatory, Chambers. It seems then, that the 35-1(18) contender from Philly is close to getting the chance to achieve his lifelong dream. But can the approx 208-pound, 6'1" Chambers beat the approx 245-pound, 6'7" Klitschko?

Chambers proved against Dimitrenko that he can handle the biggest of guys, and even though Dimitrenko is no Wladimir Klitschko, the win can only serve as a huge confidence boost for the new and improved, svelte version of Chambers.

Eddie's trainer and manager, Rob Murray Senior, certainly feels his fighter can handle Wladimir's size and strength.

"Eddie has no fear of fighting big guys," he told Philly.com. "In a way Dimitrenko was the perfect guy to fight before we fight Klitschko. He [Dimitrenko] may even be more athletic than Klitschko."

There are indeed some interesting and exciting times ahead for the heavyweight division once again. In yet more news, Goossen told the website that should both Arreola and then Chambers both win this year, the two Americans would eventually meet up in a huge unification clash. How's that for something to get excited about!

Wladimir Klitschko Recovering From Minor Shoulder Surgery, Will Likely Be Out Of Action Until Next Year

by James Slater - It looks like the remainder of 2009's heavyweight world _title_ action will come from WBC champion Vitali Klitschko and WBA ruler Nikolia Valuev. According to his manager, Bernd Boente, in speaking to ESPN.com yesterday, IBF and WBO king Wladimir Klitschko will probably be out of action until spring of next year.

According to Boente, who spoke with Dan Rafael, "Dr Steel Hammer" injured his left shoulder during his dominant, one-sided stoppage win of Ruslan Chagaev back in June. Minor tendon surgery was necessary and Wladimir is now in rehabilitation..

"His rehab is going well, making good progress," Boente told ESPN.

As has been reported, Klitschko was in talks with his WBO mandatory challenger, "Fast" Eddie Chambers, and a talked of date for the two fighting one another was December. However, this now looks extremely unlikely, due to the shoulder injury and, as Boente says, a lack of available American T.V dates for the rest of this year.

"We want U.S TV to be on board," Boente said.

The new target date for Klitschko-Chambers is thought to be some time in the spring of 2010, although it will depend on Wladimir's healing process and available arena and TV dates.

This is slightly depressing news, it must be said. Wladimir is on a roll right now, and his dominance has continued. Chambers was really looking forward to testing the Ring magazine champion, and the fans were looking forward to seeing yet another promising U.S heavyweight getting his shot at a world _title_ - unbeaten Chris Arreola being the other one, facing big brother Vitali as he is on September 26th.

The September fight, and maybe a November date between WBA champ Nikolai Valuev and Britain's David Haye, will now be the only heavyweight _title_ action we will get to see out the year. But with the WBA still having to reach a decision as to whether or not they will sanction Valuev-Haye as a _title_ bout, there could be just one further "world" _title_ fight up at heavyweight this year.

It will be interesting to see if Philadelphia's Chambers will take another fight in the meantime as he waits for his date with destiny; after all a potential seven or eight months is a long time in which to remain idle. And how will the layoff affect Wladimir's sharpness?

Knowing Chambers, he will likely opt to box another fight as he waits for his big chance. Klitschko-Chambers will surely now be one of the fights to look forward to in the first quarter of 2010.

Klitschko rehabs from shoulder surgery

By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
Archive

Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko is rehabilitating a left arm injury and likely won't fight again until 2010, manager Bernd Boente told ESPN.com on Saturday.

Boente said that Klitschko had "minor tendon surgery on his left shoulder six weeks ago." The injury had not previously been disclosed.

Klitschko (53-3, 47 KOs) injured the shoulder during his June 20 demolition of Ruslan Chagaev, who took a pounding and retired on his stool one second into the 10th round of their fight in Germany, Boente said.

"His rehab is going well, making good progress," Boente said.

Klitschko, who had the surgery in Germany, planned to make a mandatory defense against American Eddie Chambers (35-1, 18 KOs) in the fall. Klitschko's team has been in talks with Chambers' promoter, Dan Goossen.

However, between the injury and a lack of American television dates for the rest of the year, Boente said 2010 was more realistic for the fight with Chambers "because we want U.S. TV to be on board."

Boente said it would likely be in the spring, depending on the "final healing process, arena availabilities and TV dates."

Klitschko has won 11 fights in a row, including eight by knockout, as he has unified two belts.

His older brother, Vitali Klitschko, also holds one of the heavyweight belts and will defend it in Los Angeles against American Cristobal Arreola on Sept. 26.

It's impressive that Wlad destroyed chagaev with injury. And he did not even mention it after the fight. I like it