Wladimir Klitschko Beats Ruslan Chagaev, Wins Heavyweight Title

Wladimir Klitschko beat Ruslan Chagaev to win the heavyweight championship of the world in a dominant if slow-paced performance on Saturday before an estimated 60,000 fans at Veltins Arena in Germany.

The bout was for the IBF and WBO heavyweight belts and, more significantly to those who follow boxing closely, made Klitschko the Ring Magazine heavyweight champion. Klitschko's brother Vitali Klitschko is the No. 2 ranked heavyweight in the world; they have said they will not fight each other.

Klitschko came out with a very simple game plan: to use his superior reach and his strong left jab to keep Chagaev at bay. The plan was effective, as Klitschko did some damage in the first round and then dropped Chagaev with a big right hand in the second.

After that knockdown Klitschko took an even more deliberative pace, and there wasn't a lot of action -- but what action there was consisted of Klitschko punches raining down on Chagaev's head. Chagaev simply didn't have an answer for anything the bigger, stronger Klitschko was doing.

Klitschko didn't knock Chagaev down again, but he did plenty of damage to Chagaev's face. Finally, after the ninth round, a cut on Chagaev's eye was ruled too severe for him to continue fighting, and Klitschko was declared the winner by TKO.

Klitschko improves his record to 53-3. Chagaev falls to 25-1-1.

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Heavyweight Clash in Germany

Ruslan Chagaev of Uzbekistan receives a punch from heavyweight boxing title holder Vladimir Klitschko (L) of Ukraine during their IBF/WBO and IBO world heavyweight championship title fight in the western German city of Gelsenkirchen June 20, 2009. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender (GERMANY SPORT BOXING)

Reuters

Heavyweight boxing title holder Vladimir Klitschko of Ukraine celebrates after defeating Ruslan Chagaev of Uzbekistan during their IBF/WBO and IBO world heavyweight championship title fight in the western German city of Gelsenkirchen June 20, 2009. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender (GERMANY SPORT BOXING IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Reuters

Heavyweight boxing title holder Vladimir Klitschko (L) of Ukraine celebrates after defeating Ruslan Chagaev of Uzbekistan during their IBF/WBO and IBO world heavyweight championship title fight in the western German city of Gelsenkirchen June 20, 2009. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender (GERMANY SPORT BOXING)

Reuters

German tennis legend Boris Becker (L) watches as his son Noah takes a picture before the start of the IBF/WBO and IBO world heavyweight championship title fight between Ruslan Chagaev of Uzbekistan and heavyweight boxing title holder Vladimir Klitschko of Ukraine in the western German city of Gelsenkirchen June 20, 2009. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender (GERMANY SPORT BOXING)

Reuters

German tennis legend Boris Becker (L) and his son Noah arrive before the start of the IBF/WBO and IBO world heavyweight championship title fight between Ruslan Chagaev of Uzbekistan and heavyweight boxing title holder Vladimir Klitschko of Ukraine in the western German city of Gelsenkirchen June 20, 2009. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender (GERMANY SPORT BOXING)

Reuters

German entertainer Verona Pooth (L) and her husband Franjo chat before the start of the IBF/WBO and IBO world heavyweight championship title fight between Ruslan Chagaev of Uzbekistan and heavyweight boxing title holder Vladimir Klitschko of Ukraine in the western German city of Gelsenkirchen June 20, 2009. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender (GERMANY SPORT BOXING ENTERTAINMENT)

Reuters

IBF, IBO and WBO heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine celebrates after winning his heavyweight boxing match against Ruslan Chagaev from Uzbekistan at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany, Saturday June 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Heavyweight boxing title holder Vladimir Klitschko (L) of Ukraine has his arm raised by referee Eddie Cotton of the U.S. after defeating Ruslan Chagaev of Uzbekistan during their IBF/WBO and IBO world heavyweight championship title fight in the western German city of Gelsenkirchen June 20, 2009. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender (GERMANY SPORT BOXING)

Reuters

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-20-2009 @ 6:14PM

Kyle said...

dr steelhammer needs to be mentioned when talking about the best of all-time

6-20-2009 @ 7:47PM

Bear said...

This was one of Klitchko's best fights.
{and it was still a bit inactive.}
How in the world did his opponent stay undefeated until now?

6-20-2009 @ 9:22PM

rmc154 said...

its sad when you dont even know of a championship match!!! thats cause everyone including me is more interested in MMA!!

6-20-2009 @ 9:53PM

elea1 said...

Klitschko also has a pretty good golf swing for a big guy. I was surprised.

6-21-2009 @ 12:33AM

vtman said...

David Haye owes Ruslan Chagaev BIG time. Odds are Haye's back ain't gonna get any better soon, and should a miracle happen, it'll always be too week for dancing in the square circle with any Klitchko.

6-21-2009 @ 9:43AM

chilco said...

Klitschko has NO heart and will QUIT when dazed by a bigger opponent. What a boring fighter!

6-21-2009 @ 10:58AM

ED said...

BOOOORING...klitchko fights yet another lame fight with no hype,i wanna see him in a fight with someone who isnt just a punching bag.is it my imagination or are there other fighters out there (not russian) who deserve a title fight?but klitchko has allready stated he wont fight his brother, well jeeze if two of the top heavyweights wont fight...i say strip them of the title and lets see some action, no wonder boxing has lost its appeal to so many.

6-21-2009 @ 11:08AM

talbottjrt said...

Your exactly right rmc154! If it was Tyson or any other gangbanger with a rap sheet it would be on HBO! Since Lewis, the media has tried to put boxing down for good. Hell I didnt even know he was fighting until after the fight was already over!

6-21-2009 @ 11:19AM

bobbyhustles said...

Oh please tailbottjrt, no one is interested in klisko because he fights bums..........wake me up when he fights a real heavyweight!!!!!!!!!!!

6-21-2009 @ 11:50AM

boxer129 said...

Klitschko has a ton of potential but fights too damn safe. If he was more aggressive and took chances, he could do a lot for himself and boxing. He's not perfect though. Right now he puts me to sleep when I watch him.

When he leaves his jab hang out there, fighters need to throw hooks and uppercuts at his elbow. Also when he throws that swooping left jab, you can get in on him, and lastly he drops his right hand a lot, down to his waist, after he throws it. It's gonna take a tough dude to do it, but it's possible.

Oh and for the guys saying he needs to be mentioned with the top 10 heavyweights of all time..... Quit smokin crack.

6-21-2009 @ 12:12PM

jbjota said...

boxing can be very beautiful and it is a sport full of history and incredibly difficult to master and or fully undrstand.
MMA is all out offense with shorter matches and more opportunities for KO es. submissions etc. etc.
This fight was boring and not as crazy as mma but no mma fighter could come close to the "polish" and cultured skills that Klitchko has..He simply neutralizes his opponents with sweet science..not anything goes ,knees .elbows etc. etc. More credit should be given to this. The best hands in mma cant touch this dude.

6-21-2009 @ 3:31PM

jimharron said...

Klitchko will never be in the same league as Louis, Ali, Frazier, Lewis and others. He's too slow and cumberson...and boring. Can't remember if he fought Tyson or Holyfield. Though smaller, both are skilled fighters with guts that could well take care of him.