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Heavyweight Championship Unification Bout:
Wladimir Klitschko vs. Sultan Ibragimov
| When: |
February 23, 2008 |
| Where: |
Theater at Madison Square Garden |
Wladimir Klitschko and Sultan Ibragimov went toe-to-toe at Madison Square Garden in the first heavyweight unification bout since 1999 when former champ Lennox Lewis held all four belts. IBF heavyweight champ Klitschko scored a unanimous decision against Ibragimov, en route to capturing the WBO title.
The previously unbeaten Sultan Ibragimov proved to be no match for 1996 Olympic gold medal winner. Klitschko landed 43 percent of his punches, as compared to the 31 percent landed by Ibragimov. From the opening bell, Klitschko seemed determined to score with the left jab, as evidenced by the fact that he did not throw a right until the fourth round. The fighters spent most of the first seven rounds circling and feeling each other out, but Klitschko scored with a flurry of punches in the eighth round that seemed to stun Ibragimov. Combinations landed by Klitschko in the ninth and eleventh rounds sent Ibragimov to the ropes, but Klitschko was unable to finish him off. Klitschko leveraged his height advantage to keep Ibragimov at bay for the duration of the match. The three judges scored the match 119-110, 118-110 and 117-111 in favor of Klitschko.
Of the four major boxing organizations, Klitschko now holds two of the heavyweight championship belts. Klitschko will be looking to claim the remaining two belts which are currently held by Oleg Maskaev and Ruslan Chagaev.
Last Updated On:
Thursday, February 28, 2008 | |
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