Klitschko faces Ibragimov on road to unification

By Dan Tomasino

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Saturday's showdown at Madison Square Garden between Vladimir Klitschko, the IBF and IBO champion, and WBO title holder Sultan Ibragimov is step one towards crowning the first undisputed heavyweight champion in almost nine years.

Lennox Lewis last earned that distinction in November 1999 when he defeated Evander Holyfield.

Both Ukranian Klitschko and Russian Ibragimov agree that unifying the five belts is in the best interest of boxing. The remaining belts currently are held by Uzbek Ruslan Chagaev (WBA) and Russian Oleg Maskaev (WBC).

"This fight is necessary for the sport of boxing," Klitschko, 49-3 (44 KOs), said prior to a news conference at Madison Square Garden. "We definitely need one heavyweight champion."

Ibragimov, 22-0-1 (17 KOs), echoed Klitschko's statement, saying: "People want to see one champion."

Klitschko, 31, is a heavy favorite due to his substantial advantages in height and reach. At 6 ft 6 ins he is a full four inches taller than Ibragimov, 32, and Klitschko is adept at using his height and 81-inch reach to maximum effect.

Klitschko, from Kiev, works behind a stinging left jab that will make it difficult for Ibragimov, from Dagestan, to work his way inside his opponent's range.

NO PUSHOVER