Boxing: Return of the great clunking fist

Heavyweight boxing has become a whole new brawl game, because the big clunking fist is back. Vitali Klitschko's reclamation of the World Boxing Council title after almost four years brings a timely revival to a division dying of mediocrity. Not since Joe Calzaghe's demolition of Jeff Lacy has there been such a one-sided beating in world boxing as that inflicted by the 37-year-old giant Ukrainian on the Nigerian Samuel Peter in Berlin last week.

However, this has not deterred Britain's ultra-ambitious David Haye, who has already challenged Klitschko the younger, Wladimir (the WBO and IBF champion), from calling out Big Brother, too. "Give me Wladimir first and then I'll take on Vitali," he says. "Neither of them has speed and they are both vulnerable."

We suggest Haye puts in a call to his fellow south Londoner Danny Williams, the last man to fight Vitali before Peter. The British champion was left looking as if he had been hit by a truck when, though less passive than the static Peter, he courageously endured a systematic going-over for eight rounds, being floored four times.

Now he issues a chilling warning which suggests Haye should stay clear of Vitali. "His punching power is eerie. They call him Dr Ironfist, but he punches as if he has concrete in them. It's horrible, really horrible."

Williams, 35, who is preparing for a domestic title return with John McDermott next month, adds: "I think David could beat a lot of heavyweights, including Wladimir. But Vitali? That's a tough one. He's really awkward and one of those fighters who's better than he looks. I still wince whenever I think about him hitting me."

The 6ft 71/2in Vitali's emphatic comeback after back surgery means that once again the heavyweight championship is dominated by Eastern Euro-peans. He and the 6ft 61/2in Wladimir, 32, are the first brothers to hold versions of the world championship at the same time. Wladimir defends against the undefeated 2004 Olympic champion, Alexander Povetkin of Russia, in December, while another Russian, the 7ft Nikolay Valuev, has the WBA belt.

Of course the ultimate fight would be a family affair, but it won't happen. Both say their mother would never allow it and that no amount of money would make them spill brotherly blood. We are not talking Serena versus Venus here. Siblings exchanging forehand volleys is one thing, savage left hooks another.

Also improbable is a rerun with Lennox Lewis, which according to Don King would be worth $25 million (£14.5m). You would hope that at 43 Lewis is old, and wise, enough not to contemplate a return against the man who accelerated his retirement. "He'd need two years to get in shape," Vitali says. "I saw him recently and he seems to be enjoying life and food too much."

Unlike some, I have always been an admirer of Vitali. This son of a former Soviet air force colonel is a role model of genuine intellect, a multilinguist who has a PhD in philosophy and sports science and is more likely to be seen with a copy of Goethe under his arm than Ring Magazine. He is a sleaze-free ambassador for Unesco, vehemently anti-Putin and a political activist in his native Ukraine, where he recently ran – unsuccessfully – for mayor of Kiev.

With his height and stance some rigidity is inevitable, but he has a thunderous jab which demoralises as well as destroys; his chin is not fragile (unlike that of his brother) and he has never been off his feet, 35 out of 36 victories coming by KO or stoppage.

Americans may deride him as a robotic ringer for the Rocky foe Ivan Drago, but they haven't got anyone better. Indeed, they have hardly anyone at all, which is why they are looking towards Haye. While Haye would certainly have a puncher's chance against the china-chinned Wladimir, Vitali is a different proposition. This is one gloved Goliath who is unlikely to be felled by David.