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11/22/2024 04:56:22 am

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Boxing News & Rumors: Fans Anticipate Wladimir Klitschko-Deontay Wilder Showdown

After getting his 22nd straight victory and 18th consecutive title defense in a unanimous decision win over undefeated Bryant Jennings, WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO and The Ring Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko (64-3, 54 KO) is said to be obliged to fight the U.K.'s Tyson Fury (24-0, 18 KO) next, according to International Business Times' Greg Price.

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However, what the fans are anticipating to see is the showdown between Klitschko and recently crowned hard-hitting WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder (33-0, 32 KO).

As reported in The Guardian, even though Klitschko wanted to fight Wilder to add the American's WBC belt to his hardware collection, the 6-foot-6 Ukrainian is currently mandated by the WBA to fight Fury and defend his titles.

On paper, the 6-foot-7 and 220-pound Wilder is an intriguing matchup to Klitschko. He won the bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics and went undefeated in all his 33 fights as a pro. His knockout percentage is 97%, with only his latest fight against Bermane Stiverne, where he won the WBC belt, lasting the distance. He floored 18 of his opponents in the first round, while the rest did not last beyond the fourth round.

But before fans can see this promising fight, Klitschko would have to face Fury first.

The Daily Mirror's David Anderson reported that Klitschko will have a more difficult time with Fury than what he had gone through with Jennings, saying that the Briton is more "heavy-handed" and is a "switch-hitting" fighter.

The match with Fury is most probably going to be in Britain on September, which means that the potential fight with Wilder will take place in the first half of 2016.

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