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Kitschko: too smart to fight?

Klitschko is a guy who has got everything, the size, the power, the jab, the decent right hand - he really should be thundering his way through this heavyweight division. But he's not doing that and I wonder why. Is it because he just has the heart the size of a pea, or is it because he is too smart to be a fighter?

Glenn McCrory
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The next couple of weeks in boxing will, whether we like it or not, be all about the heavyweights.

We've got Wladimir Klitschko fighting Tony Thompson this weekend, next weekend we've got Danny Williams and John McDermott and our Prizefighter champion Martin Rogan going in against dear old Audley.

But a couple of weeks ago we saw a guy who got me going at least. It was on the Andre Berto undercard we showed on Sky Sports and if you didn't see it, keep an eye out for Chris Arreola.

To be fair, you can't really miss him. He has got a face that could haunt houses and has earned himself a crack at David Tua, as well, so I am sure we will see a bit more of the Nightmare, as he is quite rightly known.

He absolutely walked through Chazz Witherspoon, battered him, gave him a right pasting. He might not have the most finesse in the world, but he does the basics well. And what I liked about him most was he looked like he loves nothing more than a fight (and looks like he's been in a few too!)

Which brings me on to Klitschko. Most of you will know I am not exactly a member of Wladimir's fan club and I won't shed a tear if Tony Thompson pulls it of the bag. I've not seen too much of him, but of what I know he is a big guy and I just hope he comes to fight.

I hope Klitschko does to, although I won't be holding my breath. Here is a guy who has got everything, the size, the power, the jab, the decent right hand - he really should be thundering his way through this heavyweight division. But he's not doing that and I wonder why.

Is it because he just has the heart the size of a pea, or is it because he is too smart to be a fighter?

Exciting

Whatever it is, it's just wrong. When will someone come through, like Arreola, who wants to have fight, wants to use their strength and wants to use their size? And how long are we all going to be asking the same question?

We've been all over the place looking for someone to emerge and even though David Haye is an exciting fighter, I am not sure he is going to be that man either. I made the move up from cruiserweight to heavyweight to take on Lennox Lewis and I can tell you it's not easy.

David is a big cruiser, but he's not massive and not what I would call a natural heavyweight. I do think he will be able to make an impact while he is in there landing punches, letting bombs go, but what happens when he does that and someone takes his shots? Carl Thompson did it down at cruiserweight and we all know what happened there, there was no plan B.

The world scene is being mirrored over here in Britain right now, but at least we have Danny Williams. Say what you like about Danny, but he has stuck around a long time and entertained us all, one way or another, all the way.

He is what you would call a man of two halves. And two very different halves at that. When he loses, he tends to fall apart spectacularly, but when it goes well, he can beat Mike Tyson, he can box Mark Potter's head off with one hand.

Danny is a lovely, lovely fella and clearly has a stubborn streak and if you get him on the wrong day he's going to give you a good hiding. Get him on the right day though, and it's different.

Glory

It's two weeks away, but already I hope Danny can dig in one last time and maybe set himself up for one last, slice of glory. But will the real Danny Williams please stand up? Let's hope so.

I could say the same with Klitschko, but I would rather he just found some heart, some guts, some stomach for the fight. Look at Manny Pacquiao, who we have all declared the best in the world right now.

This guy shows no fear, knows no fear and you get the feeling he would go in against big Wlad without a second thought - and he would give him a better fight than some of the heavyweights.

Maybe it because the little guys have to work harder at everything in life. Maybe it is because they have to fight their way into the dinner queue, maybe it is because the big guys are used to everyone saying 'hello, goodbye, please' and 'thank you' to them all the time, I don't know.

I do know though that it will change in time as these things always do. But I don't think it will be this weekend...