KLITSCHKO 4-1 PICK TO KEEP CROWN

Vitali Klitschko looms firm as the incumbent while Danny Williams is the hopeful spoiler. Yet both men have much to prove in vieing Saturday for the WBC heavyweight crown at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

For 33-year-old Klitschko, based in Los Angeles via Kiev, Ukraine, it is the first defense of a vacant title he won eight months ago knocking out South African Corrie Sanders in L.A’s Staples Center.

For 31-year-old Williams, it is a large chance to show the Brit is more than an overnight challenger which he became last July after stopping former champ Mike Tyson in eight rounds in Louisville, Ky.

It can be a worthwhile endorsement with an impressive score by the winner since the sports’ veteran analysts have been reluctant to acknowledge a successor since the established Lennox Lewis retired.

Klitschko seemed to have a legitimate beef on recognition considering Lewis’ last bout was June 21, 2003 in Los Angeles when the pair went six bruising rounds. Vitali gave a solid effort leading on three judges’ scorecards, 58-56, but was badly cut over and under his right eye, prompting a ringside physician to rule a TKO loss.

“Nobody expected me to fight Lewis like I did. Everybody thought he would win. I could have kept on fighting, but the doctor stopped it.I was confident I would have beaten him, but there was no way he’d give me a rematch. Lewis was a great champion.”

HBO’s Pay-Per-View TV also has
signed Lennox for color commentary.

Bob Arum’s Top Rank promotion held its final media conference Wednesday where the champion and challenger had a chance to get off their final shots before the first bell. Nevada’s licensed oddsmakers also announced Klitschko as a 4-1 favorite.

From the podium: Klitschko--”I am looking forward to my first fight ever in Las Vegas and Mandalay Bay. It is difficult to win a world title and even more difficult to defend it. I am fighting the strongest, finest qualified challenger in the division and there is no way I am going to underestimate him. I am ready to show a great performance. Danny Williams destroyed my dream of fighting Mike Tyson. Now I am going to destroy his dream of a world heavyweight championship. This is going to be a very
exciting fight. At the end, you will see who the true heavyweight champion is.........”

Now up steps, Williams -- “I am grateful for this opportunity. This is going to be The Fight of The Year. I am ready for war and ready to become the new heavyweight champion of the world. You had better be ready, Vitali, because I am taking the WBC belt home with me. The dream my father (Augustus) has always had for me is going to happen on Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay when I become world heavyweight champion....”

Lewis, at 6;5’ and 240,,admits there was some things he had trouble adjusting to Klitschko, who is 6’7”, 250 pounds and has an unorthodox style with a 34-2, 32 KOs.

“Danny Williams is only 6’1” and there are some problems but it is no fault of his own. He will have to work inside but he does have power. It could be a question if Vitali can take it on the chin.”

Williams, whose resume reads 32-3, 27 KOs, admits he sometimes became tense before fights early in his career but he feels more relaxed for Klitschko.

“I was chosen as Mike Tyson’s opponent because I had a good record and looked the part. It was one of the few times in my career that I was very relaxed. In the past I was always expected to win but with Tyson, nobody gave me a chance. I knew the key would be to survive the early rounds. Mike got me with some good shots early and then I wore him down.”

Williams,whose father, Augustus, convinced him as an eight-year-old he would someday be a world champion, is now convinced the heavyweight division is ready for the taking.

“Lennox Lewis is gone and it looked like there was no one to take over from him. Hopefully, I can be that man to take over. The heavyweight division is very poor right now, and no one stands out. It is wide open,” Williams reflected.

“That is where I come in and it is there for the taking, big time. After nearly
10 years as a pro, I have my chance at a world title. I really appreciate the fact that Klitschko is giving me this opportunity. But I am totally focused on bringing the crown back to Britain.”

(Jack Welsh is a syndicated columnist headquartered in Las Vegas and a regular contributor to Ringsports.Com and other national sports magazines.”