| 18 February 2012
We're almost set for Vitali Klitschko to defend his WBC heavyweight title in Germany against Dereck Chisora. Epix is covering this one with Chris Mannix live on location and Dan Rafael and Freddie Roach back in the studio helping set the scene.
Mannix gets a word with Wladimir Klitschko who says that Chisora was causing some sort of stir during the hand wrapping process, calling his antics "unacceptable."
Burce Beck calls Chisora entertaining thanks to his tendency to run his mouth. We get a video package of the British heavyweight fooling around in the snow earlier this week. Rafael agrees that Chisora is good at creating drama and drumming up interest for the fight but doubts it will make Klitschko any more motivated than usual. They show the slap at the weigh-in, and Roach laughs about payback being a you-know-what and that you should protect yourself at all times.
Roach also breaks down the keys to victory. For Chisora, he says it will be important to stay low a la Mike Tyson and work the body. For Klitschko, Roach feels using his jab, staying patient and throwing his right hand efficiently will be the most effective tactics.
Both Rafael and Roach think Chisora has a chance to pull off the upset. Beck asks Roach if the challenger can fight inside and dictate the pace, which he was able to do in his last fight against Robert Helenius.
The tale of the tape shows that Klitschko has a big height advantage, as he often does. The weight of the two fighters is actually fairly close, and Chisora is 12 years younger than the 40-year-old titleholder.
Outside Chisora's locker room, Wladimir Klitschko, the referee and promoter Frank Warren are having a conference about something. Apparently there is still a disagreement of some sort that is delaying the ring walk for the challenger. Roach thinks having a family member so close to the situation can be a negative at times, but Rafael says that no one will do a better job looking out for you than your own brother.
Now it appears we are finally ready to get down to business at the Olympiahalle in Munich. Sporting a mask over his face, Chisora comes out to "Mama Said Knock You Out" by LL Cool J. Chisora is 15-2 with nine KOs, most recently dropping a split decision to Helenius in December.
There's actually a large bell hanging over the aisle for Klitschko to make his ring walk to "Hells Bells." Dr. Ironfist is 43-2 in his excellent pro career, with all but three of his wins coming by KO.
A loud "Vitali" chant breaks out before Michael Buffer can even get down to the formal introductions. We've also got national anthems to play through for both boxers.
The referee for tonight's bout is Guido Cavalleri from Italy. Buffer does his thing, Chisora behaves himself during the instructions, and we are more than ready for a scheduled 12 rounds of boxing for Klitschko's WBC heavyweight belt.
Round 1
Klitschko tests an early right hand and jabs while backing away. Chisora is doing his best to bull his way inside. Vitali is leading with some hooks as well while his challenger is swinging wildly. Chisora is able to land an overhand right. Kltischko answers with a combination. Right hands to he head and body land for Klitschko. He's starting a lot faster than usual.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 2
Chisora tries to come forward and stick his jab in Klitschko's face. His head is very low when he makes it all the way in, causing some clinches where Vitali simply pushes his head down. Chisora misses some wild rights. He does hit Vitali in the body. Klitschko jabs while Chisora works with both hands. Chisora walks through some shots and tries to make it a brawl. Klitschko settles down and tries two right hands. Chisora made that round closer with his work rate.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 3
The ref stays busy keeping the men from clinching. Klitschko is loading up the right hand instead of setting it up with his jab. Chisora is staying on him, pressuring constantly. Klitschko nails him with a right uppercut. There's another one right on the button. Chisora backs the champ into the ropes momentarily. Now Chisora has to cover up to avoid more straight rights. He lunges and misses right before the bell.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 4
You can't say Chisora didn't come to fight. He's just having trouble making his pressure effective. Vitali throws more jabs in this frame, trying to keep his challenger back a step. Chisora throws a right to the body, and he needs more of those. Klitschko finally measures a right hand and a short combo in the closing seconds.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 5
Chisora tries to lunge to the body as Klitschko jabs. He keeps his guard high while Vitali tries to punch through it. Chisora whacks the body as Klitschko slides in both directions to try to figure out his foe's new tactic. Chisora finally lets his hands go to the body and head, but probably too late in the frame to take it on the cards.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 6
The ref warns Chisora early for low shots. Chisora is busier than the last round, throwing as he advances this time. Klitschko lands a right hand in the center of the ring. Both men connect with straight rights - that might be the best punch of the fight so far for Chisora. The challenger lands a right to the body and keeps coming. Overhand right just misses for Chisora, forcing Klitschko to shove him back into the corner.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Chisora
Round 7
Chisora absorbs some body jabs and goes at Klitschko's head and body. He throws a combination at short range but eats two right hands from Klitschko. The fans enjoy this burst of action. Both men land again before Klitschko clinches. Now there's a lull as both men back off for a few seconds. Chisora charges forward, trying to land an overhand right. Klitschko lands his right and tries an uppercut behind it.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 8
This is the round that Chisora predicted a knockout. He does step on the gas a bit coming out of his corner. Klitschko jabs but takes a number of body shots. Vitali gets in a right hand but Chisora answers with multiple shots from both hands. He works the body again instead of getting tied up on the inside. Left hook from Chisora that is partially blocked. Klitschko measures a right hand and then holds on.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Chisora
Round 9
Klitschko lands an early right before Chisora shoves him into the ropes. He takes hooks from both hands as Chisora continues to come forward. More body work from Chisora before they tie up. Klitschko is jabbing but not landing tons of them. Right hand by Klitschko acorss Chisora's jaw. He lands two more while Chisora is coming in, and those solid shots in the last minute may have given him this round.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 10
The WBC announces open scores after nine, but the announcers can't make them out in German. Chisora goes back to a peek-a-boo style for a moment before resuming his pressure. Rafael and Roach speculate tha Klitschko's left hand may be hurting him since he isn't jabbing. Both fighters land hooks with Vitali connecting with a solid right. Chisora comes right back with body shots. The challenger lands a right and smacks home a left hook as well. Right hands land both ways as things pick up. Chisora scores with a left hook at the bell.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Chisora
Round 11
Chisora is just a hair off with his right hand, staying in Klitschko's chest. Vitali tries a combination before backing off to his left. The fans chant to get behind the champ. Klitschko lands two right hands in a row. Big swing and a miss by Chisora. Both men throw some bombs that are oartially blocked. Klitschko gets his hands free first and ends a good round for him.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 12
Klitschko tries to keep Chisora back with multiple hooks. Chisora is staying relentless right until the end. He lunges with a right but lands a left hook. The ref pulls them apart from a clinch. Klitschko shoves Chisora's head down several times in a row. The ref is really earning his money now. Chisora lands a left and falls into a clinch again. Both men swing away with 30 seconds left. Chsisora barely misses a huge right, then comes back with another. We'll go to the cards after a very game effort by Chisora.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Chisora
Tylwalk: 116-112 Klitschko
Wladimir has some words with Chisora as we await the official scores. The judges see it 118-110 twice and 119-111, all to the winner by unanimous decision... and still WBC heavyweight titleholder... "Dr. Ironfist" Vitali Klitschko.
