COMPUBOX POST-FIGHT ANALYSIS
by CompuBox
If one could coin a motto for IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir
Klitschko, at least for the past several years, it would be “less is more.”
With the notable exception of last July's destruction of previous conqueror
Lamon Brewster in Cologne (where he averaged 72 punches per round),
Klitschko has prospered with a careful, jab-heavy offense that may not have
been viewer-friendly but the ultimate objective – victory – was always
achieved.
At the Color Line Arena in Hamburg Saturday night, Klitschko connected on
22 fewer jabs (166 to 187), landed eight less power punches (85 to 93) and
scored 29 fewer times overall (121 to 150). Thompson landed more punches
against Klitschko than any of the Ukrainian's previous 17 opponents tracked
by CompuBox ever had. In the opening three minutes Thompson established new
single-round records for total connects by a Klitschko opponent (21) and in
that same round set a new benchmark for power connects against Klitschko
(15).
And despite all of the challenger's statistical success, Klitschko was by
far the more effective man because his punches possessed the impact
befitting a fighter nicknamed “Dr. Steelhammer.” The champion then capped
off his dominant display with a trademark right cross that put Thompson
down for the count. This show of spectacular firepower was what originally
inspired fans and media alike to declare Klitschko the best heavyweight of
his day and Saturday night's finish did nothing to diminish that standing.
Thompson's effectively difficult style made life tough for the champion in
the opening six rounds as he out-landed Klitschko overall in five of them
and out-jabbed the master jabber on four occasions in that stretch.
Thompson averaged 46.5 punches thrown per round to Klitschko's 37,
out-landed him 100-60 overall and 61-44 in power shots, mostly due to short
punches to the rib cage. But from rounds seven through 10 the power
emanating from each landed Klitschko blow took its toll on the Washington,
D.C. product. In that stretch, Klitschko averaged 41 punches per round to
Thompson's 29 and in the deciding round Klitschko amassed a 25-13 connect
advantage, enabling him to pull ahead in terms of attempted blows
(411-408). In the end, however, it was Klitschko's 411th attempted punch
and his 121st connect that made all the difference.
Though Klitschko averaged just 37.4 punches per round (nearly nine below
the divisional average of 46.1), he was far more aggressive in terms of
punch selection. In his last two fights against southpaws (the Chris Byrd
rematch and his last outing against Sultan Ibragimov) Klitschko's offense
sported a 55-45 ratio in favor of jabs but against Thompson his ratio was
60-40 in favor of power punches, much more in line with the typical heavyweight's 58-42 ratio. Klitschko felt the sting of criticism for his
overcautious performance against Ibragimov and instead of recoiling into a
shell when he suffered a nasty cut in round two, he took more risks – and
the results spoke for themselves.
Thompson was, in Klitschko's words, “unbelievably determined,” but the
champion was more than up to the task. Thus, with apologies to WBA champ
Ruslan Chagaev and WBC king Samuel Peter, there should be no more argument
over the identity of the real king of the heavyweight mountain. That
declaration, however, shouldn't prevent Peter and Chagaev from getting into
the ring with Klitschko to find out for themselves.
Klitschko's motto may be less is more, but the boxing world wouldn't mind
at all if they see more of this from this champion.
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