Tom Loeffler is going to do everything he can to put apositivespin on what's taking place tonight in Germany, where Vitali Klitschko will challenge Samuel Peter for his World Boxing Councilheavyweight championship.
Showtime will televise it, as well as the light heavyweightchampionship between Antonio Tarver and Chad Dawson from Las Vegas.
Loeffler works as an adviser for K2 Promotions, the company ownedby Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko. Loeffler can't seemto understandwhy so many experts are down on this fight.
Or, perhaps, it's that he refuses to.
The deal is that Vitali Klitschko lastfought in December 2004,nearly four years ago. He retired because of torn knee ligamentssuffered during training for a title defense, and he was forced togive up the WBC belt. Yet, here he is challenging Peter for thatbelt without having to take a fight or two to earn the right aftersuch a long layoff.
The man hasn't fought for almost four years and all he had to dowas say he was ready to come back and, presto, a title shot appearedlike magic.
This is not Klitschko's fault. The blame lies with WBC presidentJose Sulaiman.
He anointed Klitschko something called "Emeritus Champion" uponKlitschko's retirement and told Klitschko he would allow him toimmediately fight for the title should he ever come back.
Regardless of culpability, this is ridiculous. But Loefflerscoffs at the fuss. He reacted strongly from Germany during an e-mail conversation Thursday when toldthis reeks of boxing's seamyside.
"I think the shadiness you are referring to in boxing is when afighter who is undeserving or unqualified gets a title shot as amandatory," Loeffler said. "...Your argument that Vitali is notqualified loses some steam when he is a 2-to-1 favorite."
Regarding that betting line, Loeffler said, "For a fighter thathas not fought for three years to come back against an activechampion and be a 2-to-1 favorite, it seems that the betting publicbelieves that he is deserving."
Loeffler had to be reminded that it is nearly four years sinceKlitschko fought, not three. He was also told that this has nothingto do with whether Klitschko is qualified from a talent standpoint.
It has everything to do with a fighter being able to be away fromboxing for four years and not having to earn his way back to thetop.
rhd420 
