Is Klitschko Looking Past Austin?
Klitschko, 30, has won five straight but it's impossible to forget him reeling around the ring and getting stopped by Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster. Austin, 36, has 16 knockouts among his 24 wins but has never beaten a big-name fighter -- his best win is against either Owen Beck or Jo-el Scott, take your pick. In fact, Austin apparently earned his title shot by virtue of fighting to draws with Larry Donald and Sultan Ibragimov -- not exactly the typical path to a championship fight. The best thing Austin may have going for him is his size -- at 6-6, 245 pounds, he's the same size as Klitschko, who generally enjoys a significant size advantage over his opponents. Does Ray Austin have one Buster Douglas night in him?
Prediction: Austin's jab may allow him to be competitive for as long as it lasts ... but it probably won't last long. Klitschko will eventually hurt Austin and once he does, it's over. Klitschko by fourth-round TKO.
Comments
The Rainman makes the height factor his major psychological point going into this one based on the fact both Byrd and Block couldn’t touch Wlad but he’s really talkin about the other guy’s chin… The Steel Hammer and Manny Steward make the Level factor their case cos Wlad has been there with top league guys and tall ones too like Jameel McLine… I say these big guys can’t really take what they give, Klitschko, Valuev, Briggs, exception for Riddick Bowe once. Heavyweight unification? Yes, after you get had rocked and still standing in there! Wlad should win…
Oh, let me just point out the brand of Gloves Grant or Reyes problem between the two camps Friday after the weigh-in and Don King’s brilliant solution, one coin toss to decide if the challenger would use the same brand as the Champ… Talkin about the most clownish, desprestigious and bizarre fact related with a HWT title fight… The fight should never had gone to Germany and this promotion is really awful… Klitschko is not going to be unified Champ this way!