16 years ago

Date: 23rd February 2008

Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, USA

Title: IBF, WBO & IBO World Heavyweight Titles

Promoter: K2 East Promotions & Warriors Boxing

Tv: HBO World Championship Boxing & RTL

Wladimir Klitschko
( 49 - 3 - 0 )
Weight: 238 lbs

Sultan Ibragimov
( 22 - 0 - 1 )
Weight: 219 lbs

On February 23, 2008, Wladimir Klitschko (238 lbs) and Sultan Ibragimov (219 kg) met at Madison Square Garden in New York City for a historic heavyweight title unification bout. Klitschko, the IBF and IBO champion, aimed to add Ibragimov's WBO belt to his collection in the first heavyweight unification fight since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield in 1999.

Klitschko controlled the fight from the opening bell with his powerful left jab, keeping the shorter Ibragimov at a distance and preventing him from mounting any significant offence. Klitschko's dominance was evident throughout the contest, as he outlanded Ibragimov 148 to 97 in total punches and connected with 108 jabs.

Despite the lack of action, Klitschko's technical superiority was evident. He briefly stunned Ibragimov in the eighth round with a combination and again in the eleventh with two right hands. However, Ibragimov remained on his feet and survived until the final bell.

After twelve rounds, the judges scored the bout unanimously in Klitschko's favour, with scores of 119-110, 118-110, and 117-111. With the victory, Klitschko added the WBO title to his IBF and IBO belts, solidifying his position as the top heavyweight in the world.

Although some criticised the fight for its lack of excitement, Klitschko's masterful performance showcased his technical abilities and ring general ship. The Ukrainian champion expressed his satisfaction with the outcome and desired to unify the remaining heavyweight titles held by Oleg Maskaev and Ruslan Chagaev.

The event garnered significant attention, drawing an average of 1.8 million viewers on HBO in the United States and 9.5 million viewers in Russia. Klitschko, who earned approximately $9 million for the fight, donated $500,000 of his purse to the Bronx's Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, demonstrating his commitment to giving back to the community.

For Ibragimov, the loss marked the end of his professional boxing career. The Russian announced his retirement in July 2009, citing chronic problems with his left hand. Meanwhile, Klitschko's victory further cemented his status as the dominant force in the heavyweight division, setting the stage for his future reign as the unified champion.