Posted November 9, 200519 yr comment_3877141 WBC heavywight champion Vitali Klitschko retires November 9, 2005 FRANKFURT, Germany (Ticker) - Injuries ended up getting the best of Vitali Klitschko. Considered by many the world's heavyweight champion, Klitschko on Wednesday announced his retirement to a German wire service because of a knee injury. The German-based Ukrainian, who holds the WBC belt, postponed his mandated title defense against Hasim Rahman for the fourth time after tearing ligaments in his right knee in training last week. Adblock "Recently I have been bothered more by my injuries than opponents in the ring," Klitschko said in a statement. "It was a very hard decision for me to end my professional career, but I want to retire at the top and now make room for my successors. I want to thank my team, the media and the fans for their cooperation and their support." Klitschko, 34, came under heavy criticism for withdrawing from the fight, which was scheduled to take place Saturday in Las Vegas. After failing to respond to medical treatment for what originally called a sprained knee, Klitschko underwent surgery - performed by Dr. Neal Elattrache - in Inglewood, California earlier this week. Klitschko complied a 35-2 record with 34 KOs in his eight-year career. "Dr. Iron Fists" gained notoriety in June 2003 when he appeared to be winning against then-champion Lennox Lewis before the fight was halted in the sixth round because of the bloody condition of the Ukrainian's eye. In April 2004, Klitschko did not fail in his second opportunity at the title when he posted an eighth-round TKO of Corrie Sanders, who won the vacant championship by defeating Klitschko's younger brother, Wladimir. Vitali Klitschko fought just once more, earning another eighth-round TKO of Danny Williams on December 11. He was scheduled to fight Rahman, the former undisputed champion, in April but a thigh injury forced a postponement. Back injuries were cited as the reason he pushed back the next two scheduled matches. The politically active Vitali Klitschko, who holds a doctorate from the University of Kiev, stated that he will look to be more active in bringing reform to his native country. "I seek new social and political challenges in my home country the Ukraine," Vitali Klitschko said. Well that flushes the title down the tiolet yet again as he's the second champion in a row vacates the belt.
November 9, 200519 yr comment_3877822 So let's take a quick look at the heavyweights... Because of the Vitali's vacancy, the Ring Magazine title is not vacant as well. The IBF Heavyweight title is currently held by Chris Byrd, coming off a string of unimpressive title defenses against underwhelming opponents. Hasim Rahman as the interim WBC Heavyweight Champion becomes the champ there. Meanwhile, the WBA Heavyweight title sits vacant after James Toney tested positive for steroids following his decision win over John Ruiz. That vacancy will be filled in December, and if you need someone to tell you who one of those participants will be, you must not be very familiar with heavyweight boxing and the never-ending story of the cockroach known as John Ruiz. Ruiz fights Nicolay Valuev in December for the vacant WBA crown. Valuev's sole qualification for such a fight is that he is very tall (7 feet). Unfortunately, the great boxers aren't there and even if they were, they fight so sparingly that it's impossible to tell who's the best anymore. I don't think there's a sport that has fallen as far in 10-15 years as heavyweight boxing.
November 9, 200519 yr Author comment_3878264 John Ruiz has to be one of the most boring boxers I've ever seen.
November 9, 200519 yr comment_3878309 John Ruiz has to be one of the most boring boxers I've ever seen. The depressing thing about Ruiz is that he hasn't won shit, and he won't go away. He lost decisions to Sergei Kobozev and Danell Nicholson, David Tua knocked him out in 19 seconds, he lost a decision to Evander Holyfield, fought Holyfield to a draw in a rubber match when Holyfield was washed up, lost to Roy Jones Jr., won a decision against Andrew Golota in a fight where Ruiz was knocked down twice, and lost to James Toney. And he's STILL for all intents the WBA Champion.
November 9, 200519 yr comment_3878530 And I don't think I've ever seen Ruiz win a decision where I felt he actually won the fight. I suppose Ring Magazine will just keep the title vacant until there's some type of unification match for the alphabet soup titles.
November 10, 200519 yr Author comment_3879281 I take small comfort in the fact that I can totally job out Ruiz in Title Bout Boxing.
November 10, 200519 yr comment_3884421 I don't think there's really any need for concern, considering that he'll probably unretire nine months from now.
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