posted Feb 25, 2008

Is Wlad capable of unifying the HW division? IMO he's definitely the best out there (even if they are a woeful bunch), so yes, I think he is capable.

Will he get the opportunity? Almost certainly not, and definitely not this year.

WBC champion Oleg Maskaev is mandated to defend against Samuel Peter, with the winner mandated to defend against Vitali Klitscho, and there was a report on East Side Boxing the other day that WBA champion Ruslan Chagaev is set to announce a voluntary against Luan Krasniqi, following which he will be mandated to fight Nikolay Valuev.

If David Haye can't succeed in the current HW division he never will. His natural weight is about 230 lbs, which is not light for the division by any means, and I'm not sure I buy the argument about him losing speed by carrying more weight. It could just as easily be argued that the starvation process he has to go through to make the 200-pound CW limit slows him down as much if not more.

His low guard is certainly risky, but it isn't a foregone conclusion that opponents will be able to exploit it. What's more of a worry is the way he boxes from his waist as it leaves him susceptible to a left jab to block his right guard moving up and then an unblockable over-hand right to the head. A good trainer could easily coach that out of him though by just getting him to touch his own forehead with his glove every time he throws his left jab.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 25, 2008

What about Alexander Povetkin? Hasn't he won an eliminater tournament for a shot at the IBF belt against Wlad? Alot of people have stated that Povetkin is going to be the future of the division. Since he is now the mandatory challenger for that title, and the other champs have bouts lined up, wouldnt this fight be made in a few months time? Does anyone think Povetkin has the tools to beat Wlad or is he still learning his trade?

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 25, 2008

You're right, Wlad was mandated to defend his IBF belt against Povetkin shortly before the unification fight took place.

I've not seen anything at all of Povetkin, but it's usually a bit of a guessing game trying to determine how fights like that will go as Povetkin has never been in with anyone as good as Wlad before.

That's not to say he can't win, just that there's no real way of knowing if he can or not until they actually step between the ropes.

Until then it's just a guessing game, and my guess would be a Klitscho win.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 25, 2008

Lennox was the last decent heavyweight champ. So he did not look great against Vitali but that was the last fight of a long career when he took the fight at the last minute and was planning to fight a smaller much easier opponent.

He was still able to win and made the sensible choice to retire Vitali could not beat Lennox at the end of his career so would not have stood a chance when he was at his prime.

David Haye may well be able to come through and dominate the division with spead and power.

lets hope so

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 25, 2008

Professional heavyweight boxing is simply not what it was two decades ago and before...After the legendary Muhammad Ali retired, Larry Holmes came and after Holmes Mike Tyson...
Evander Holyfield did manage to beat Tyson twice but he beat a Tyson who was plagued by scandal and mental torture...whatever the cause I give him credit for taming the beast inside Tyson.
Holyfield could not sustain his reign the way great heavyweights do. He lost, won, lost, won, lost won and so on...and he keeps doing it to this day...just to earn the dollars and increase his bank balance...Holyfield has no love for the sport...the way Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Jose Torres and Muhammad Ali had.
Alas, that's why the likes of Ibrahimov and Klitschko have entered the arenas...
Had I been of Ali's height I AND I AM NOT BRAGGING and in my youth I would have reduced both Ibrahimov and Klitschko to pulp anytime, anywhere. That sums it up.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 25, 2008

That fight was a disgeace. I'm just glad I'd didn't pay for it on pay per view. I sincerely hope one of the other heavies sparks Klitscho. Fights like that are why MMA is now giving boxing a run for it's money. There has been a lot of good fights recently and the so called best heavyweight in the world fights like that? He looked scared to throw his right hand. What got me was he didn't even look embarassed after the fight. No wonder people are losing interest in heavyweight boxing.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 26, 2008

emmenay,
Holyfield is very wealthy and owns radio stations and other interests so money really is not the reason
I think he does love boxing but is way past it and refuses to listen to advice and takes advantage of the dough bags for heavies we have now
He was masterful in beating Tyson who was fit healthy and strong but Holy had his number and frustrated him and in my opinion used his head butting tactics causing Tyson to give up being a vegetarian
Klitch is a big strong guy and like Lennox does not like being hit if he can win without it hapening.
I cannot think of a possible match up that would grab my interest in the heavyweight division.
Klitch looks more like a bodybuilder than a fighter he should make a movie with Stallone IE Rocky Rides Again etc.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 26, 2008

Samuel Peters will unify the HeavyWeight Division. The guy is not afraid of anybody. He knocked WLA down three times but inexperience denied him of victory. I bet he has learned because in his last fight he got knocked down three times but still won and his fights are exciting because he always goes for it.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 26, 2008

I think Wlad would clear up the division but wont because his style isnt attractive and therefore wont get him the fights he needs. Plus Vitali will probably take the other belts and then you have a stand off between two boring fighters who dont want to fight each other. I just wish Wlad would realise that he could take most of the guys out in a round if he put the pressure on but hes far too methodical and always does just enough to take rounds. He could have taken Ibragamov out any time he wanted but he refused to throw combos and land that right. Its a shame because if he really turned it on he could be the exciting heavyweight the division has been lacking.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 27, 2008

As mentioned by somebody earlier in the debate it might not happen due to that fact that Wlad's brother, Vitali might win one. If not then I think Wlad is well capable of clearing up the division. Who else is going to really challenge him!? as ichi_1 said it would be much more exciting to see him tally up a few knock outs but he doesn't seem to be that type of bloke. As the commentator said during the fight although Emmanuel Stewart is a great trainer it's very very hard to change a man's personality!

add comment | complain about this comment