With his 6’6” frame, punishing jab, and disciplined style, Wladimir Klitschko became the most dominant heavyweight of the 2000s. But in 1998, he was still a prospect – and one about to get a harsh lesson.
Klitschko entered a bout in Kyiv against Ross Puritty, a journeyman from the US with a record full of losses but a granite chin. He had already fought three times that year, losing to Larry Donald and Chris Byrd on points before knocking out Mark Hulstrom just 29 days before he faced the Ukrainian.
The fight was expected to be a showcase for Klitschko, who was undefeated and being groomed for a title run.
And early on, it was. Klitschko dominated the opening rounds, peppering Puritty with jabs and combinations. But he couldn’t put the rugged American away. As the rounds wore on, Klitschko began to fade. Puritty kept coming forward, absorbing shots and landing heavy punches of his own.
In Round 11, with Klitschko exhausted, Puritty landed a series of big punches that forced Klitschko’s corner to throw in the towel. It was a shocking defeat – and one of the few times Klitschko was truly overwhelmed.
Puritty never reached elite status and finished his career with a modest record. But on that night, he was the better man – and the one who gave a future champion his first taste of defeat.
Klitschko would go on to dominate the heavyweight scene around 2006, following a period of rebuilding his career after earlier setbacks. Working with legendary trainer Emanuel Steward, he and his brother Vitali ruled over the rest for some time.
