Weighing 251 pounds, the heavy fisted Arreola promised victory in the ring, believing he had the edge against the bigger fighter in Klitschko. During the first few rounds, many hoped Arreola would break down his larger opponent. Vitali moved around the ring in a flawless manner, while the frustrated Arreola could not mount a tactical game. During the fourth round, it seemed that Arreola was finding the depth he needed.

It was only the fourth round that the judges gave to Arreola, as Klitschko’s punch count dropped dramatically. Arreola managed to land several decent shots that earned him the points he deserved in the fourth. During the fifth round we saw Klitschko picking up the pace once again, landing several hard shots. Arreola was effective to some extent, absorbing the unusual punishment; however gaining the shot to fire inside. As they say…too late and in some aspects to soon. The heavyweight challenger could not work his inside game with the bigger fighter in Klitschko.

By the seventh round, it was clearly a one-sided fight as Klitschko continued to dominate, and set the pace of the match. While Chris Arreola had the support of the fans, the excess was too little to overcome the odds of the great Vitali Klitschko. Both fighters deserved all the accolades that transpired. The frustrated Arreola went to his corner shaking his head trying to figure out a way to land the heavy shots that Klitschko was ultimately blocking.

As the tenth round came to close, referee Jon Shorle stopped the fight. Chris Arreola clearly was not ready to stop; the angry Arreola protested briefly, and marched into his dressing room.

During the post fight press conference, Vitali Klitschko was recorded saying, “I was shocked after his left hook! Chris shocked me a little bit; I’m very surprised of his chin.” The confident Klitschko addressed the crowd with the utmost respect for his opponent. When it was Chris Arreola's turn to speak, he cried, apologizing to the fans for losing, and cursed many times on live television. In regards to Klitschko’s performance, Chris Arreola was quoted, “Klitschko did everything he was supposed to. Vitali Klitschko just beat my ass."

Interesting enough, Chris Arreola's performance deserves credit in many ways. Chris has the heart of a lion, and he showed that in his losing effort. It’s rumored that Dan Goossen wants to get Arreola back again into the title picture first thing next year. As far as Arreola, his performance as a top contender gave way to many dilemmas. Who can beat Klitschko now? Dan Goossen, from Goossen Tutor promotions was quoted saying, “The only way to beat Klitschko, is for him to retire.” While this may seem probable, we still have hope in the heavyweight division.

Towards the beginning of next year, Eddie Chambers will face off against the younger brother of Vitali, in Wladimir Klitschko. However, there are many speculations regarding the potential outcome of this fight; can Eddie overcome big Wlad? Is the size difference an issue with the faster opponent being Chambers? Either way, we will see soon enough.

As for Chris Arreola, he was able to do all that he could against Vitali Klitschko. His great chin produced 10 rounds; more than a lot of Vitali's victims have endured. So what is Chris Arreola's next move? Will he ever meet Vitali Klitschko again in the ring? There are a lot of questions, which we can’t answer. However, I’m sure Chris would love to square off and avenge his first professional loss against Vitali Klitschko in years to come.

Quotes from the Klitschko Arreola Post Fight Press Conference

Dan Goossen (Arreola's promoter):

“The one way to beat Vitali Klitschko is to have him retire.”

Vitali Klitschko:

“I was shocked after his left hook! Chris shocked me a little bit; and I’m very surprised of his chin."

Chris Arreola:

"Klitschko did everything he was supposed to. Vitali Klitschko just beat my ass!"

See a full photo gallery from the Klitschko Arreola post fight press conference.

And if you haven't seen it yet, take a peek at our Klitschko Arreola round by round results.

Either way, two great fighters are rumored to be battling at the beginning of 2010. Wladimir Klitschko is the current WBO, IBF, and IBO heavyweight champion of the world. Of course, Wladimir Klitschko is much more than that. Wladimir Klitschko’s championship presence is felt all over the entire world. More importantly, most defeated fighters of current WBO, IBF and IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko would tell you, he is most felt in the ring with his crushing blows and still jabs.

On the other hand, WBO contender “Fast” Eddie Chambers is a heavyweight fighter ready to perform the greater good; stepping into the ring against WBO, IBF, and IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko at the beginning of next year. “Fast” Eddie Chambers is coming of a recent majority decision win against 6’7 Alexander Dimitrenko. “Fast” Eddie is a poised, yet smart fighter who has plenty of hand speed to affect his victims in the ring. However, is this enough ammunition for “Fast” Eddie to overcome the obstacles that Big Wladimir has to offer?

There is always one major question, when anyone steps into the ring against WBO, IBF, and IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko. Is the challenger going to be able to overcome Klitschko’s size and power advantages? Wladimir Klitschko has an enormous reach at 81 inches, sporting a 6’6 frame and plenty of power behind each punch. “Fast” Eddie Chambers is a 6’1 fighter with 75 inches of reach. Although Eddie Chambers has plenty of hand speed, will he be able to land clean effective punches against big Wlad?

Top WBO contender Eddie Chambers has shown in his last fight against the giant 6’7 Alexander Dimitrenko that he could deal with the size deficit, and the power behind such a large frame. Wladimir Klitschko provides a different yet tactical problem for “Fast” Eddie though. Wladimir Klitschko not only has much more power than Alexander Dimitrenko, he has better hand speed and plenty of weaponry to adjust and knockout his opponent.

Many of the tactical aspects that Eddie Chambers was able to perform against Alexander Dimitrenko: such as landing clean shots on the inside, throwing hooks and uppercuts, will not be quite as effective against WBO, IBF, and IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko. With this said, you can expect Wladimir Klitschko to adjust quickly against the faster opponent in Eddie Chambers and land heavy punches as “Fast” Eddie  ducks inside. Consequently, “Fast” Eddie will have to take his chance on landing the heavier shots when the chance permits. While this may seem logical or illogical, it’s simply the best chance Eddie Chambers has to win the fight.

Current WBO, IBF, and IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko is known for his pawing jab. This aspect is clearly shown in the majority of Wladimir Klitschko’s fights. Klitschko’s most recent victim was former WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev. Ruslan Chagaev is a very patient fighter, who a few years back broke the “Russian Giant" Nikolay Valuev's undefeated record by winning a majority decision. Clearly, Ruslan Chagaev was unable to land the clean and effective blows against Klitschko. In turn, Wladimir Klitschko pawed, and landed several heavy shots to the head of Ruslan, earning him a TKO victory in the ninth round.

While it’s logical to be patient, and pick your shots, Eddie Chambers cannot rely on these tactics. His superior hand speed is definitely a plus combined with his ring intelligence; he will need to be the busier fighter landing when he can, and not giving anything away. Wladimir Klitschko is known for taking advantages against mistakes. A prime example would be against Tony Thompson, and Calvin Brock. Wladimir Klitschko was able to land several heavy shots when they were out of sync, tired, and frustrated…and so it goes!

As the fight nears, and game plans arise and change; hype is what comes up closer to another heavyweight championship. Wladimir Klitschko will prepare for his upcoming bout with precision and highly accurate training. Eddie Chambers will do the same, with a little more training from the logical standpoint. I believe Eddie Chambers has a good chance like any other fighter that faced WBO, IBF, and IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko. However once again, the key role will be how quickly Eddie Chambers can adapt to the power, size, and tactical aspect of Wladimir Klitschko.  Come fight night all these preliminary talks will be put to rest as two great fighters will embark on continuing success for the heavyweight championship of the world.

“The Beast” turned pro in 2002, winning his first 18 bouts, and gaining the West Virginia heavyweight title. Brian Minto went on to face numerous heavyweight contenders such as: Vinny Maddalone, Danny Batchelder and Axel Schulz. Known for being a busy fighter, and an amiable presence outside of the ring, Brian “The Beast” Minto has captured the hearts of many in the boxing community.

In Brian Minto's most recent match, he scored a fourth round technical decision over unbeaten Donnell Holmes and nabbed the NABO heavyweight title. “The Beast” looks to continue his success against top competition towards the ultimate goal of heavyweight supremacy.

MB: I understand there a little bit of controversy regarding your most recent win against Donnell Holmes, most of us didn’t get a chance to see that fight; can you tell us a little about that?

BM: umm, yeah we had a clash of heads at the beginning of the fourth round. I threw a left hook and he dips down with his head and as he was coming back up we clashed heads. He would have been coming from my right; I don’t know if he was trying to get under my hook or what, but it was kind of an accidental thing. We went through that round and the doctor stopped the fight because of the cut, and I was ahead, I think a…I won every round. I think on one score card they gave him (Donnell Holmes) maybe the first round, or the fourth round…I can’t remember. Yeah it was pretty controversial, that was something I definitely didn’t want it to end that way, but I guess with the rules of boxing that’s just the way it is.

MB: At the time the head butt occurred, did you realize a cut did develop over your eye?

BM: Well the initial impact I knew something was wrong and I looked down and a, just the type…the way I was butted I knew that I was going to be cut and I automatically seen the blood dripping down. It was like I tied him up and walked into the ropes, and you could actually see me turn to the referee, twice complaining that I got butted and he was shaking his head as you can see in the video. And his (Donnell Holmes) camp was trying to complain that it was from a punch, but if you watch the tape…ummm he hit me, I believe to the body, or he never really hit me with… I think his (Donnell Holmes) first claim was a right hand and then it became, or they changed it to become a left hook. I really don’t know where they’re coming from and I watched the tape many of times…not sure if you watched it but a… definitely its hard to see, you gotta kind of frame by frame it when we clash; and where I was complaining to the ref. It kind of took the announcers a little while to figure out I was bleeding. But until they figured it out, there was no punch landed by Donnell Holmes.

MB: Do you feel regardless of the outcome that it will affect your career?

BM: I don’t really think…I mean if it gets overturned to a no-contest I’ll be pretty upset. You know what, I think it will affect me because winning the NABO title will definitely could help me get another meaningful fight, because I have seven months to defend it before I get suspended for I think 45 days. Yeah I do believe it really could affect me but their (NABO) saying, I guess in the first meeting that they had their hearing that Donnell's manager was threatening that Donnell has a loss on his record that he was going to sue.

I mean his activity level has been very poor, he (Donnell Holmes) has only fought; I mean he fights sporadically and hasn’t stepped up and fought anybody in the last couple years. I think it would be more detrimental to my career for this to be overturned, which in the rules of boxing they can’t call it a no-contest. If they’ve seen factual evidence of a punch and I lose by TKO…I’m taking a big risk. If I know it was a punch I should be happy with the no-contest, knowing that this could be overturned in his favor. But I’m so confident that it was a head butt and he didn’t punch me.

And the referee seen it, basically I think it’s kind of turned into a debacle with the whole way its turning out, and the way the commission just tried to please him (Donnell Holmes) and call it a no-contest because people start threatening to sue. If you don’t want someone to sue you, why would you call against somebody that can actually beat you in court? I don’t think he has any evidence (if he was to sue) that he hit me with a punch and cut me. I definitely have the evidence there. I’m pretty upset the way it all turned out, but I’m still the winner by technical decision.

They (Donnell Holmes camp) covered it up by saying it was a recommendation after they put it in the press and called me and sent me a letter. Things could still happen, you never know when you go in these meetings, but when the referee is there I believe he’s the guy in charge and it’s his call. It’s like having a witness to a murder standing three feet from it seeing in the trial; I mean definitely you're not doing the right thing by convicting the murderer when you don’t have the witness there.

MB: I understand, to further get into depth in this; once again regardless of the outcome whether it’s ruled in your favor or Donnell Holmes favor, would you grant Donnell Holmes a rematch?

BM: If it’s ruled in his favor? Or my favor?

MB: Either way?

BM: You know what? I would, but who’s going to pay for it? I paid for this last event; you know it was my own expense, and risk. I paid for the sanctioning fees for the title (NABO), T.V wouldn’t buy him. We heard specifically from Showtime, that hey “We will not buy Donnell Holmes” because I believe he fought someone on an undercard. Gary Shaw has the Showtime date, and they didn’t like him. ESPN is pretty much committed to Oscar De La Hoya…they got all the dates; through I believe a beer sponsor “Tecate” for ESPN.

So, I don’t really see it possible that it’s gonna happen. It’s kind of crappy the way it happened, but it’s boxing. I’m sure if it happened the other way around he (Donnell) wouldn’t be saying “Oh I’ll give you a rematch.” Obviously in a business sense, you’re going to move on to bigger and better things. I don’t believe that a rematch is a smart thing for me to do it. I’m going to be 35, I’m looking to get my shot and keep advancing.

I was definitely was beating him every round. I don’t think he’s (Donnell) is that great of a fighter, I mean he’s (Donnell Holmes) pretty basic and methodical guy; wasn’t like he was overwhelmingly strong or fast or anything like that. I mean, I don’t see it being a smart decision for me to go backwards. I’ve already dealt and got the decision so, obviously after this hearing which I’m confident that it’s going to still stay in my favor; I’m going to move on to bigger and better things.

MB: Coming into your most recent fight you trained with Freddie Roach. What kind of Impact has he had on you?

BM: I think Freddie just sharpened me up and showed me a couple new punches; didn’t really try to change me. We just worked on angles a little bit. Which, before my old trainer did show angles, but didn’t explain it as good as Freddie. The conditioning program they have out there is the same as Pacquiao, Amir Kahn, and other fighters; it was a great experience. The sparring and the gym was probably by far the best sparring I’ve had for a fight yet. I usually have my way around here with the guys in the gym but when I went out there it was very competitive. It’s not really sparring; it’s more or less of a fight out there. It was definitely a great experience.

MB: So far in your career, who do you feel has been toughest opponent that you’ve faced?

BM:  The toughest…the hardest fight I’d say probably Krasniqi. I think he was probably the toughest fight. I mean he was probably the more skilled guy, definitely hit the hardest than anybody I’ve fought. For his (Luan Krasniqi) size, he was very athletic and quick. A lot of people say, “Well you know, he can’t punch that hard,” but believe me that guy hits pretty hard. He (Luan Krasniqi) is a world class athlete…very fast. I just don’t know the last couple of fights he’s had, I know that it really doesn’t mean, I mean he got caught in the liver. He didn’t do too good against Tony Thompson, but from my perspective I think he’s the best fighter I’ve been in the ring with. As far as toughness, I’d say my first fight with Maddalone. He’s (Vinny Maddalone) probably the toughest guy I’ve been in with.

MB: Well Brian, thank you very much, and good luck to you in the future.

BM: Thanks Mike, take care.

How do most observers of the sweet science define success? Is it the number of wins, knockouts, losses, or even an opponent a fighter has faced? Or is it a general bias or opinion when the fight is announced? Generally, before two fighters climb into the ring, most observers have an immediate fighter that they favor. Whether it’s based on statistics, or personal preference, the idea, the excitement, and the what if; sparks a keen sensation of pure enthrallment.

The pound for pound kingpin Manny Pacquiao is set to square off against the hard hitting, WBO Welterweight champion Miguel Cotto on November 14,2009. With the fight nearly around the corner, most are favoring IBO light Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao. Currently, the IBO light Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, is coming off two fresh wins against former light Middleweight champion Oscar De La Hoya and former light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton. While these two wins are notable, they are exploited, and causing a wave of limited probabilities towards the upcoming fight; thus, giving Miguel Cotto, a rare but undeniable chance to gain success.

Current WBO Welterweight champion, Miguel Cotto, is a proud champion who for many years was viewed as a boxer willing to take on the stiffest competition in the Welterweight division. More importantly, WBO Champion Miguel Cotto showed a professional side of his boxing capabilities that few knew existed prior to his only untimely loss to former WBA Welterweight champion Antonio Margarito.

Prior to this match, Miguel Cotto was referred to as a stalking presence in the ring. Miguel Cotto would simply stalk and wear down his opponents with relentless pressure and counter punching precision. However, the loss to former WBA champion Antonio Margarito potentially caused the public to generate a bias belief that Miguel Cotto has a rare chance against IBO light Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao due to his track record against a similar style opponent. This is simply due to the fact that like Manny Pacquiao, former WBA champion Antonio Margarito was relentless while pursuing Miguel Cotto.

Like most professional fighters, a loss is a loss. You gain a certain amount of confidence, or lack of, that causes an immediately careful approach towards your next opponent. With the illegal hand wrap incident looming over Antonio Margarito VS Shane Mosley is still lingering, we wonder whether the same instance happened during the Margarito/Cotto fight. Luckily, WBO champion Miguel Cotto is a superior fighter in every way than the primitive fighting Manny Pacquiao. Manny Pacquiao has the exceptional skill of hand speed; is this enough to beat a quality fighter like Miguel Cotto? WBO Welterweight champion Miguel Cotto was able to overcome the hand speed deficit against current WBA Welterweight champion Shane Mosley when he faced him in 2007…and so it goes!

There are apparently many different tactical aspects to the upcoming fight. Will Manny Pacquiao be able to adjust to a hard hitting fighter like Miguel Cotto? Will Miguel Cotto be able to adjust to a quick southpaw like Manny Pacquiao? And, can Manny Pacquiao become the first ever to win a 7^th world title in his 7^th weight division. More importantly, will Miguel Cotto hit Manny Pacquiao as much as Juan Manuel Marquez did? If so, will Manny Pacquiao be able to hold up under that type of excruciating punishment?

It’s IBO light Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s speed and his use of angles that makes it difficult for any fighter to land quality punches. Consequently, Miguel Cotto will have to show is greatest ability which is patience to overcome the supposed deficit. More importantly, I see WBO Welterweight champion Miguel Cotto working the body throughout the fight to stop the slick movement of Manny Pacquiao. Steady pressure, patience, and short quick punches are the keys to success for WBO Welterweight champion Miguel Cotto.

While the public still slightly overlooks Miguel Cotto, it’s this inspiration that’s earned him the title of a people’s person. Miguel Cotto's great ring ethic provides a calm and alluring possibility of supporters around the world. As for Manny Pacquiao, he is a champion inside and outside the ring. His presence is stellar, constantly looked over for the good of the sport.

Once the two great champions step into the ring on November 14, 2009, the question still arises regarding Manny Pacquiao. If WBO Welterweight champion Miguel Cotto starts pummeling Manny Pacquiao as much as former champion Juan Manuel Marquez did, will Manny Pacquiao start breaking down physically? Either way, the Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto fight has all of the intriguing possibilities surrounding this historic fight that you could ask for. With all these implications aside, the question of “what if” continues to haunt both fighters until a winner is declared and the true champion is crowned.

Boxing's welterweight division in the 1990s was extremely popular, and extremely loaded with talented fighters. The fights they waged with one another are still remembered and talked about to this day. Here's a look at the top 10 welterweights of the 1990s. This list of the top boxing welterweights of the 90s focuses on fighters who were at their prime in the welterweight division during this time and doesn’t include any of the surrounding weight classes, which is why someone like Shane Mosley doesn't make the cut.

1. Felix Trinidad - Started his professional boxing career in March of 1990. Who knew this amazing fighter would win his first world title three years later against another fellow workhorse Maurice Blocker. Felix held his Welterweight title for 6 years, and was a skilled fighter, whose work rate often dismayed, and out dueled opponents in the ring. While remembered most for his power, he was a complete and dominant fighter at welterweight.

2. Oscar De La Hoya – Nicknamed the “Golden Boy", De La Hoya's Golden years took place during the 1990’s. Oscar compiled an amazing 31-0 record with an astounding 25 KO’s during his reign. Arguably one of the best Welterweights in history, this “Golden Boy” cemented his place in boxing for years to come.

3. Pernell Whitaker – Good ole “Sweet Pea,” Whitaker was well known during his Welterweight years as an excellent defensive fighter. His extensive amateur career and defense led to his dominant force in the ring throughout the early and late nineties. Officially recognized as one of the best fighters ever in the Welterweight division, “Sweet Pea” was feared, hard to hit and a true champion during the 1990’s.

4. Ike Quartey – Ike "Bazooka" Quartey was considered to have the best jab when he was in his prime. This former Welterweight champion from 1994-1997 primarily relied on a “peek-a-boo” or “clam-shell” defense. This defensive style allowed punches to land on his arms, elbows and gloves; which he held tightly to his cheeks and ribcage.

5. James McGirt – James "Buddy" McGirt fought many tough opponents, and finally won his Welterweight title from Simon Brown in 1991. McGirt then went on to carry the champion tradition, fighting his game, and had a knack of seeing angles that most fighters never seen. Hence, the reason for becoming a trainer after he ended his career in 1997.

6. Oba Carr – Brought fierce competition to any fighter who would oblige. Carr never earned the championship title he deserved; however he fought the best, and always put up a good fight. With this said, Oba Carr was one of the top Welterweights of the 1990’s.

7. Maurice Blocker – The late 80s was a great time for an ever changing society. Maurice Blocker changed his outlook on boxing at the beginning of 1990. Maurice held the WBC Welterweight title and the IBF welterweight title during the early nineties. Blocker was an all around good fighter, even though at times luck was not on his side.

8. Jose Luis Lopez – Was originally handpicked as an easy opponent before he won his first WBO Welterweight championship in 1996. He then went on to challenge Ike Quartey and the outcome was a draw. Lopez went on to hold his Welterweight crown for 2 years before losing to James Page in 1998.

9. James Page – Slowly worked his way through the Welterweight division during the 1990s. However, it wasn’t until 1998 until he was granted his first title shot. He won the title via TKO against Andrei Pestriaev and held the WBA title for 3 years.

10. Vernon Forrest – "The Viper" started his career in 1992 as a relatively quite fighter. Forrest did not win a world title during his undefeated span from 1992-1999 (30-0 (25KO’s). However, this voracious fighter didn’t go unnoticed. Vernon Forrest fought some fierce competition during the 1990s, and most fighters did not want to step into a ring against an undefeated fighter for a title defense. Vernon Forrest dominant presence alone earned him a spot on the Welterweight list of the 1990s.

Check out more all time lists at Pro Boxing Fans, such as Mike's top 10 heavyweights of all time and all of the top 10 lists in the Best of Boxing section.

Photo Credit: Matt Borowick from Wikimedia Commons

Trying to make a list of the best boxing heavyweights of all time is a difficult task. Throughout history, the heavyweight division in boxing has been one of the premier areas of any sport. Great champions, groundbreaking individuals and dedicated athletes have all graced the division and made an impact on the sport and in the world. Here's a look at the top 10 heavyweights in boxing history.

1. Muhammad Ali: 56 - (37 KO’s) – 5

Widely considered to be the best heavyweight boxing champion of all time. Ali was a three time world heavyweight champion, and was crowned “Sportsman of the Century” in 1999. The self proclaimed “The Greatest of All Time” became the first Heavyweight to win titles three times and revolutionized the sport by introducing a style that went against the games teachings.

2. Rocky Marciano: 49 - (43 KO’s) – 0

Rocky Marciano’s career is easily defined by his impeccable record. Marciano is the only fighter to retire undefeated putting up a total of 49 wins. Considered by many to be the hardest raw puncher in the game. Marciano posed a relatively short reach at only 68 inches; which had plenty of power behind each swing. One day before his 46 th birthday Marciano died tragically in a plane crash en route to his birthday party. Rocky Marciano was able to redefine boxing in the late 1940’s with pure punching power. There is no doubt Marciano’s legacy will carry on for centuries.

3. Jack Johnson: 71 – (40 KO’s) – 13

Jack Johnson was the first ever African-American Heavyweight champion; taking the initiative by crashing through the color bar that defined two classes of boxers. Jack Johnson was a bold and gaudy character who refused to accept anything less than equality. Johnson was repeatedly denied a title shot for the world Heavyweight championship in the United States. However, his chance was granted against heavyweight champ Tommy Burns of Canada. Johnson won a technical knockout in the fourteenth round to become the first black Heavyweight champion of the world.

4. Joe Louis: 66 – (52 KO’s) – 3

“The Brown Bomber” was one of the greatest fighters in the history of boxing. He held the world Heavyweight title from June of 1937 to June of 1948. Louis made an astounding 25 successful title defenses during his reign. Besides his superb skills inside the ring, Joe Louis was a great man outside the ring as well. Louis was inducted into the boxing hall of fame in 1990.

5. George Foreman: 76 - (68 KO’s) – 5

George Foreman is a living legend in boxing. His unsurpassed power and his ominous approach in the ring led him to numerous world titles. Most notably, Foreman embarked one of the most successful comebacks in boxing history. In 1994 at the age of 45, Foreman defeated Michael Moorer to regain the Heavyweight crown. A living legend indeed, George Foreman will always be one of the best the sport has ever seen.

6. Joe Frazier: 32 - (27 KO’s) – 4

“Smoking Joe” Frazier actually became a professional fighter by accident. He first went to a gym to work himself into shape. Shortly after, he began competing; and eventually became one of the best Heavyweights of all time. Most notable for the “Thrilla in Manilla” Joe Frazier fought the best and proved he was indeed one of the greatest this century has ever seen.

7. Mike Tyson: 50 - (44 KO’s) - 5

Mike Tyson was the first ever to become the youngest undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world. Tyson was able to win the WBC Heavyweight title at the tender age of 20 years old. Fighting as a relatively small Heavyweight Mike Tyson battled his way through the ring with amazing punching power; and was able to knockout more than 90% of the opponents he faced. Known as “Iron Mike,” his reputation is long lived, and respected throughout boxing.

8. Lennox Lewis: 41 – (32 KO’s) – 2

Lennox Lewis was no doubt the pride of Brittan. The 6’5 boxer was a determined fighter who held numerous Heavyweight titles for a combined total of 15 years. Lennox Lewis was inducted into the boxing hall of fame in 2009; and serves as a commentator for HBO’s Boxing after Dark telecasts.

9. Larry Holmes: 69 – (44 KO’s) – 6

As a professional Heavyweight, Larry Holmes managed to beat a plethora of great fighters like: Muhammad Ali, Ken Norton, Gerry Cooney and a variety of others. As a champion, Holmes successfully defended his title a lineal 20 times, only second to Joe Lewis. In December of 2007, Larry Holmes was voted into the boxing hall of fame.

10. Floyd Patterson: 55 – (40 KO’s) – 8

When Rocky Marciano retired in 1956, Patterson seized the opportunity. With the Heavyweight title vacant Floyd Patterson became the world Heavyweight champion at the age of 21 years old. Floyd Patterson was an all around great fighter, especially with his three matches with fellow champion Ingemar Johansson. In 1995 Patterson was named Boxing Commissioner for the state of New York.

Photo Credit: Public Domain from Wikimedia Commons

Meet the Fighters

Wladimir Klitschko

52 (46) - 3
Height: 6’6” Reach 81”
IBF and WBO Heavyweight Champion

Ruslan Chagaev

25 (17) - 0 -1
Height: 6’1” Reach: 74”
Former WBA Heavyweight Champion

Klitschko vs Chagaev Preview

The Klitschko-Chagaev matchup is unusual in that the replacement fighter is more accomplished than the original opponent. Haye is a former cruiserweight champion who has fought over the cruiserweight limit of 200 lbs only four times. Chagaev is the WBA Heavyweight champion in recess and holds an undefeated record after campaigning at heavyweight for his entire career. Plus, Chagaev is a southpaw, and Klitschko has been preparing for an orthodox fighter in Haye.

However, the public at large is not giving Ruslan Chagaev much of a chance against Klitschko. Many are predicting that Chagaev will be beaten easily as Wladamir cruised against former world champion Sultan Ibragimov in a one-sided 12 round decision. But it would be unwise to discount his chances entirely. Most American fight fans have not even gotten a chance to see him fight.

He may not talk the game of David Haye, but he is the number 3 heavyweight in the world, he's never lost before and he's hungry to topple the division's best. Chagaev’s chin will also allow him to stick around a lot more than many of Wladimir’s previous opponents. He is a slick fighter with plenty of stamina to possibly elude Klitschko's devastating stiff jabs while landing his own crisp, hard shots in return.

Klitschko recently earned a technical knockout over former world champion Hasim Rahman. Klitschko is a hard worker with great technical skills but has many questions surrounding his reign as champion. Many question his heart, his chin and his mentality in the ring, as despite his huge physical advantages he is not very aggressive. Most of his fights start off the same way, always leading with the pawing jab. Interesting enough these same tactics are similar to Chagaev who previously beat then undefeated Nikolay Valuev. Chagaev was able to overcome the height deficit and land the cleaner shots.

Klitschko vs Chagaev Prediction

Wladimir Klitschko will start off in normal fashion establishing his jab in the early rounds. Look for Chagaev to find his openings, and then work from the outside. Ruslan Chagaev is very good at keeping his opponents off balance and striking with two sometimes even three punch combinations. Both fighters have very good footwork, but Chagaev's will prove to be better as he edges out Klitschko to the punch.

The question is if Klitschko will be able to respond to some diversity and rise to the challenge, or will he crumble against the top challenger he has faced in quite some time? Klitschko was geared up for a major grudge match, so it must also be asked if he is mentally prepared for the replacement fight. Look for Klitschko to rebound after losing some of the middle rounds to come on in the second half of the fight, landing hard power punches set up by his jab.

Klitschko will take the unanimous decision and could possibly score a knock out in the late rounds, but look for Ruslan Chagaev to make it an interesting fight stinging when the opportunity presents. Chagaev has a better chance at an upset than anybody has had recently against Klitschko.

IBF, WBO, IBO and newly crowned Ring Magazine Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko scored a tenth round TKO over previously unbeaten WBA champion in recess Ruslan Chagaev.

Wlad and his team chose the ideal tactics against unbeaten southpaw Ruslan Chagaev. Klitschko having the huge advantage in size and strength managed to punish Chagaev through ten rounds. Klitschko dropped Chagaev with a big right hand in round two, but patiently continued his fight plan to wear the defenseless Chagaev.

Ruslan Chagaev constantly marched forward with his tight defense, but was unable to land anything clean. A bad cut was opened over Ruslan's left eye late in the fight, and Wladimir took advantage by trapping Chagaev against the ropes. Throughout the fight, the frustrated Chagaev was looking for openings, but Klitschko's pawing jab kept Ruslan at bay. Chagaev's trainer Michael Timm made the decision to stop the fight after the ninth round. It was the correct decision seeing as Chagaev was the beaten fighter and only would have received more punishment if the fight continued.

What’s next for Wladimir Klitschko?

In recent reports one of the Klitschko brothers will try to land a fight against the WBA champion Nikolay Valuev. With Ruslan Chagaev vanquished, the Russian Giant holds the only missing piece (WBA Belt) that’s not currently in the Klitschko family.

The rest of the heavyweight division is severely lacking in challengers. Klitschko will have a mandatory defense to take care of between the winner of the Eddie Chambers and Alexander Dmitrenko fight. Wladimir may also opt to setup the fight with David Haye that was cancelled.