The Cyber Boxing Zone Newswire


Europe's Finest Take Center Stage: Francis Walker


Recently, in London, England, little-known young heavyweight sensation Vitalij Klitschko gained International supremacy when he knocked out two-time unrecognized WBO heavyweight champion, Herbie Hide in two rounds. At a towering 6' 8," 245 pounds, Klitschko (25-0, 25KOs), a Gold Medalist at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, has won all of his professional contests by knockout. With Evander Holyfield looking to meet Lennox Lewis, and Ike Ibeabuchi expected to meet Mike Grant soon, Klitschko probably may not make an appearance here in America until mid-2000.

Despite defeating guys with shabby records such as: 7-4, 6-4, 17-8, 11-7, 9-7, 16-11, and 19 -5, Klitschko showed well and proved that he was for real by defeating a guy in his prime 27 with an impressive mark of 31-2, 30KOs speaking of Hide. To Klitschko's victory more special, the 27-year-old, Ukrainian fighter did it in front of Hide's countrymen in England.

Next-up for Klitschko could be a possible showdown with tough German, Axel Schultz. At age 29, Schultz, with a mark of 26-3-1, 11KOs, with 1 no-contest, was the closest fighter since Max Schmeling to win the world heavyweight championship. Having rebounded from back-to-back blemishes to Henry Akinwande in 1992 (D 12), 93 (W 12), Schultz dropped three consecutive, but questionable decisions to George Foreman (L 12), Frans Botha (NC 12) and Michael Moorer (L 12).0

Schultz, winner of his last five contests, was a potential candidate tom meet Mike Tyson in April, but Tyson was incarcerated. Tyson is still a small possibility, but I think Schultz would rather fight in Europe for the time being.

Meanwhile, on August 28, in Germany, unrecognized World Boxing Organization light-hevyweight champion, Dariusz Michalczeswki (40-0, 33) will make a record, 16th title defense against top-10 American contender, David Telesco (21-2, 17KOs).

With both fighters meeting one another at the age of 31, it is an important fight all. If Michalczeswki knocks off Telesco, them Michaelczewski can pursue plans to meet longtime arch-rival, Graciano Rocchigiani to a rematch.

When they fought in August 1996, Rocchigiani was disqualified for hitting Michalczewski after the bell in the seventh round. Since then, Rocchigiani has won the interim WBC 175-pound crown from Michael Nunn (W 12) last year and continues to wait for a big-payday against World Light-Heavyweight king, Roy Jones, Jr.

Michalczewski, who seems willing to fight the list of guys who await a match against Jones, is fighting a guy out of Port Chester, New York, who seems hungry enough to fight anyone at anytime to keep his name in the spotlight. Telesco remains untested, but he is fighting one of the top-three fighters in the whole 175-pound class in Michalczeswki. Its should be a tough fight for both, but Michalczewski should win.

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