Yesterday an AP article came out based around claims by UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos that he could beat Wladimir Klitschko in a boxing match. It’s a laughable idea in every way, but let’s take a look at JDS’ claims.
It starts:
If Junior dos Santos ever ended up in the same ring as Wladimir Klitschko, the UFC’s heavyweight champion is pretty sure he knows what he’d do to the biggest man in boxing.
“I could beat that guy, man,” dos Santos said. “Maybe not easy, but I could knock him out.”
It’s not bravado or comedy from the unbeaten dos Santos, who has emerged as one of mixed martial arts’ top attractions with an all-around game built on a foundation of stand-up fighting.
First off, JDS is not “unbeaten.” Unbeaten in the UFC, yes. But you can’t call him “the unbeaten dos Santos” when he has lost in his career.
Second, it absolutely is bravado, it’s also comedy (though probably unintentional).
I know everyone is in love with dos Santos’ striking in the MMA realm, but pro boxing is a different game. It just is. I don’t care how good you think someone is with their hands in MMA, assuming that means they could go wreck the best in the world in boxing is nonsense. I wouldn’t pick JDS over Haye, Chisora, Povetkin, Arreola, Pulev, Chambers, Fury or any other heavyweight worth a damn. I don’t know that I’d pick him to win a single round against any of them, let alone an entire fight.
Junior continued:
“I watch a lot of fights with Wladimir, and I see a lot of holes,” dos Santos said, warming to the idea while he downs a 22-ounce steak with asparagus and mashed potatoes for lunch in a Burbank restaurant filled with well-dressed professionals from the film studios and media companies within walking distance.
“Wladimir, the Klitschkos, they’re amazing,” he added. “I like to watch them fight, especially Wladimir, but it’s kind of boring. They are really good at what they do, but they are very careful. They don’t go to the fight to finish the fight. They stay there in that safe strategy all the time. It’s not the Mike Tyson time. Guys don’t finish fights.”
Everyone Wladimir fights talks about all the holes they see. And then they get popped with a jab and drilled with a right hand for an entire fight.
Fun stat: Wladimir Klitschko has gotten the finish in 84% of his career fights. Mike Tyson? 76%. If you go by just by the percentage of wins that were also stoppages? Klitschko and Tyson are dead even at 88%
Wlad has fought 16 times since his last loss and only 3 of those fights went to decision, one of which was a technical decision after an accidental foul caused a cut. No, the Klitschkos don’t flurry wildly and recklessly looking for the finish and they’re not whirlwinds of destruction, but they absolutely are fight finishers. Obviously I’d rather watch dos Santos do what he does or Tyson do his thing back in the day than watch Wladimir stop people by breaking them down slowly, but dos Santos’ comments are pure crazy talk.
But, I guess when you’re talking nonsense about being able to step into a boxing ring and KO the best heavyweight in the world, why let a little thing like reality get in the way.
About the author
