Wladimir Klitschko vs. Sultan Ibragimov

The Unification
Date 23 February 2008
Venue Madison Square Garden in New York, New York
Title(s) on the line IBF/WBO/IBO Heavyweight Championships
Tale of the tape
Boxer Ukraine Wladimir Klitschko Russia Sultan Ibragimov
Nickname "Dr. Steelhammer"
Hometown Kiev, Kiev Oblast, Ukraine Rostov-on-Don, Rostov Oblast, Russia
Pre-fight record 49–3 22–0–1
Weight 238 lb 219 lb
Style Orthodox Southpaw
Recognition IBF/IBO
Heavyweight Champion		 WBO
Heavyweight Champion
Result
Klitschko defeated Ibragimov by Unanimous Decision

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Sultan Ibragimov, billed as "The Unification", was a professional boxing match contested on 23 February 2008 for the IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight championship.[1]

Background

After avenging an earlier defeat when he beat Lamon Brewster after 6 rounds in July 2007, Wladimir Klitschko had made three successful defences the IBF belt he had won from Chris Byrd in 2006, and was rated as the best Heavyweight in the world by Ring magazine (Sultan Ibragimov was 6th behind WBC Champion Oleg Maskaev and WBA Champion Ruslan Chagaev).[2]. Sultan Ibragimov won the WBO belt by beating Shannon Briggs before getting a decision over four time Former Champion Evander Holyfield. This fight would mark the first heavyweight unification bout since Lennox Lewis had become the last Undisputed Heavyweight Champion in his rematch with Holyfield in November 1999.

Klitschko had previously held the WBO belt from October 2000 to his shock March 2003 defeat to Corrie Sanders.

The fight

Klitschko dominated the fight, picking up a 119-110, 118-110 and 117-111 decision to become a unified champion.

Aftermath

Ibragimov would retire after this fight, while Klitschko would go on hold the WBO belt until his 2015 defeat to Tyson Fury.

Undercard

Confirmed bouts:[3]

WinnerLoserWeight division/title belt(s) disputedResult
United States Joe Greene Argentina Francisco Antonio Mora WBA-NABA Middleweight Title
WBO-NABO Middleweight Title		 10th round RTD.
United States Johnathon Banks United States Imamu Mayfield Cruiserweight (10 rounds) 1st round TKO.
Republic of Ireland John Duddy Tunisia Walid Smichet Middleweight (10 rounds) Majority decision.
United States Peter Quillin United States Thomas Brown Middleweight (6 rounds) 2nd round KO.
Russia Alexander Ustinov United States Earl Ladson Heavyweight (4 rounds) 1st round KO.
Venezuela Ronney Vargas United States Monyette Flowers Super Welterweight (4 rounds) 1st round KO.

Broadcasting

Country Broadcaster
 GermanyRTL
 HungaryRTL Klub
 RussiaNTV Plus Sport
 UkraineInter
 United KingdomSky Sports
 United StatesHBO

References

  1. ↑ "Wladimir Klitschko vs. Sultan Ibragimov - BoxRec". boxrec.com.
  2. ↑ "The Ring Magazine's Annual Ratings: 2007 - BoxRec". boxrec.com.
  3. ↑ "BoxRec - event".
Preceded by
vs. Lamon Brewster		 Wladimir Klitschko's bouts
23 February 2008		 Succeeded by
vs. Tony Thompson
Preceded by
vs. Evander Holyfield		 Sultan Ibragimov's bouts
23 February 2008		 Succeeded by
Retired
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