Unparalleled but underappreciated, world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko looked more dominant than ever on Saturday in his Round 5 knockout win over previously undefeated contender Kubrat Pulev in Germany.


Klitschko floored the tough and determined Pulev twice in Round 1, each time toppling the square-chinned slugger to the canvas with an explosive left hook.




Frank Augstein/Associated Press/Associated Press
Pulev was no match for Klitschko.


Pulev was down again from the same punch in Round 3, this time after being wobbled seconds earlier by Klitschko’s patented straight right.

After Pulev landed a few punches of his own in the next two rounds, Klitschko stepped in and ended things with perhaps the prettiest left hook he’s ever thrown. Pulev went down for the count quickly, landing straight onto his back, barely able to move as referee Tony Weeks counted to 10.

The win was Klitschko’s 17th straight heavyweight title defense, third-longest in the history of the division behind Joe Louis’ 25 and Larry Holmes’ 20.

Unlike some of Klitschko’s other performances, such as his clinch-filled victory over Alexander Povetkin last year, the Pulev win had U.S.-based boxing writers salivating over him.

CALCULATED RISK: Joseph Parker is taking another step up after beating Sherman Williams last month.


Rising New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker has been handed a tricky assignment to headline next month's Fight For Life promotion, tangling with world-ranked Brazilian Irineu Beato Costa Junior.

It's been a long and difficult search to find an opponent for Parker.

His management wanted to provide a pressure test to finish off a busy year for the 22-year-old and have discarded veteran American Vinny Maddalone in preference for Costa.

The 34-year-old comes with a WBO ranking of 15, one lower than Parker who has also lifted to No 10 with the WBA.

Victory would bring Parker further reward on the rankings list as Duco Events look to manoeuvre him towards a title shot.

Matchmaker Stuart Duncan had no doubts that this will be Parker's sternest test in an unbeaten career that has notched 11 wins since turning pro in mid-2012.

Costa has 15 wins and just one loss to his name. That loss came in his last fight, a unanimous decision over 12 rounds in Germany in October to Christian Hammer, the WBO's European champion and world No 6.

It's the nature of Costa's wins that signals danger for Parker - 13 of the 15 have come via knockouts and 11 of those have come in the first two rounds.

Parker's trainer Kevin Barry has been working overtime on his homework after Costa was confirmed to him just three weeks out from the December 6 bout in Hamilton.

Parker has been busy with his fitness in anticipation of his Hamilton date and that department, plus his speed, should be an advantage over Costa who has had his movement questioned at times. But it's now about working on a fight plan to counter Costa's obvious strengths.

"I know he's dangerous. He's a very, very heavy hitter. You don't have that record if you don't have heavy hands," Barry said when asked what he knew of Costa.

"He's the WBO Latino champion, he's the Brazilian champion . . . he's got very solid credentials."

Barry noted that Parker had survived "a couple of concerning moments" in his last tangle with a Brazilian when he recovered to knock out Marcelo Nascimento in the seventh round of their April clash in Germany on Wladimir Klitchsko's undercard.

"Costa is much heavier-handed than Nascimento," Barry said. "But since then Joe has developed and improved quite a bit too.

"This is a risk versus reward fight. We were expecting an easier lead up to Christmas but have struggled attracting many of the top 15 rated guys and when one comes along we've got to take the fight, even if it is at short notice."

Barry said the situation demanded total focus from Parker.

"It's very important that Joe fights with discipline and patience. He can't be careless because one punch [from Costa] could finish this."

Parker and Barry face a busy final week of training in Las Vegas before arriving in New Zealand for a 10-day tapering period up to the fight.

- The Dominion Post

DUNCAN JOHNSTONE


Veteran heavyweight boxer Kali Meehan says his main focus in life now is to protect his promising son Willis from "the wolves" that chewed up his own true potential.

First he gets a chance to redefine his own legacy by taking on Shane Cameron for the WBA's Pan African title in Auckland on Saturday night, the feature bout on the Super 8 promotion.

The 44-year-old has had a storied career, wracking up 41 win with just five losses, fighting around the world and getting to be the WBA's No 1 contender and contesting world title eliminators and an actual world title fight in 2004.

But the cards didn't always fall his way and the Aucklander with island connections, who has based himself across the Tasman, has been unfairly lost in the Kiwi sporting consciousness.

He's happy to cash in on the sport's revival here, even if it is in his twilight years.

He impressively won the first Super 8 tournament in Auckland in June and didn't hesitate when offered a chance to return and take on Cameron.

With son Willis making his professional debut on the undercard against New Zealander Will Quarrie, it's a family affair that has Meehan excited.

Outrageously talented, super-heavyweight Willis won 28 of his 29 amateur fights in Australia, including the national title, and now juggles boxing with a league career at the Sydney Roosters where the comparisons with Sonny Bill Williams are obvious. He has size and athleticism.

"And he can fight," Kali said proudly of his 19-year-old monster.

"My main focus is on my son Willis and guiding his career and making sure that he doesn't make the same mistakes that I made, that he doesn't trust the wrong people . . . protect him from the wolves."

It's a game littered with carcasses and Meehan is a survivor, though he does have some bruises and a bit of bitterness.

"There were a lot of mishaps and politics in my career," he said.

It's why he's so excited about his current situation.

"I've gone all around the world to try to make things happen and now I've come back home and things have started to fall into place. I know it can't keep going forever but right now I'm hoping.

"I sort of gave up on planning things . . . if it happens it happens."

And it's happened. Now he's got a chance to come out of the shadows of the likes of David Tua, Jimmy Peau and even Cameron.

"It really is good to get recognised. I hold this as something dear to me, it's nice."

Beating Cameron, even at this late stage, will reinforce his claims and reputation. That's a done deal in his mind.

"I've got no doubt that I will win it. I'm not big-headed but I'm very confident in my ability, I'm very confident in my fitness," Meehan said.

"I believe I know Shane's style well enough to counter everything he does and try to make him do want I want him to do.

"It's do or die. One of us is going on and one of us is not. But I have a lot of edges . . . my height and reach, my speed and power.

"I've put in close to 80 rounds of sparring. I've done a lot of work. I do feel confident."

Also Quarrie vs Meehan:


http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/63339316/Quarrie-plans-to-give-Meehan-boxing-lesson

I think this new site looks great and should work better. And you'll get status rewards for posting--so get going. Just a few rules as usual:

If you want to post on the forum, you will need to register first. Go to "Register" and enter your email, screen name, and password. Once you're logged in you can go to your Profile to enter signatures and upload avatar pictures. Please email me at nzboxchat@xtra.co.nz if you have problems.

And remember, all members are expected to refrain from racial, personal, or offensive comments. If Diehard perceives your post to be inappropriate, he will delete it. A series of problem posts leads to a one week suspension, further offenses lead to a month's suspension, and if they are continued, you will be banned from the site.