World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko is a deceptively big man. You see him from afar and he does not look so big or imposing. But the closer you get to him, the bigger the 6-6, 240-pound Klitschko gets.
Calvin Brock is not a small man himself, going 6-2, 230 pounds. He does not see Klitschko as overly imposing. But he will get a closer look when the two meet in the center of the ring at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night (HBO at 10 p.m.).
His height is not a big deal, Brock said on Tuesday following a brief noon time workout at Grand Central Station in Manhattan. Its all about skill, conditioning and timing. Believe me the height will not make a difference.
Brock is counting on his past experience against bigger, taller opponents. Most recently Brock scored a sixth round knockout of Zuri Lawrence (6-4) on Feb. 25. Before that Brock won a 10 round decision against 6-6, 265-pound Jameel McCline in 2005. Brock got up off the deck in the seventh round and still won the fight. It was a match that made Brock a serious contender.
That was the only serious test that Brock has faced in his career. For the most part the road to his 29-0 record (with 22 KOs) has been smooth.
On the other hand, Klitschko (46-2, 43 KOs) has had his share of ups and downs. He won his first heavyweight championship by winning a 12-round unanimous decision against Chris Byrd in 2000. He was able to put together five straight successful defenses over the course of three years before things went south. Klitschko was knockout in the second round by Corrie Sanders, a South African journeyman who was preparing to begin a pro golf career before meeting Klitschko for the title. [details]
Calvin Brock is not a small man himself, going 6-2, 230 pounds. He does not see Klitschko as overly imposing. But he will get a closer look when the two meet in the center of the ring at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night (HBO at 10 p.m.).
His height is not a big deal, Brock said on Tuesday following a brief noon time workout at Grand Central Station in Manhattan. Its all about skill, conditioning and timing. Believe me the height will not make a difference.
Brock is counting on his past experience against bigger, taller opponents. Most recently Brock scored a sixth round knockout of Zuri Lawrence (6-4) on Feb. 25. Before that Brock won a 10 round decision against 6-6, 265-pound Jameel McCline in 2005. Brock got up off the deck in the seventh round and still won the fight. It was a match that made Brock a serious contender.
That was the only serious test that Brock has faced in his career. For the most part the road to his 29-0 record (with 22 KOs) has been smooth.
On the other hand, Klitschko (46-2, 43 KOs) has had his share of ups and downs. He won his first heavyweight championship by winning a 12-round unanimous decision against Chris Byrd in 2000. He was able to put together five straight successful defenses over the course of three years before things went south. Klitschko was knockout in the second round by Corrie Sanders, a South African journeyman who was preparing to begin a pro golf career before meeting Klitschko for the title. [details]
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