Thread: Wladimir Klitschko vs Francesco Pianeta

Who the fuck?

Wladimir Klitschko to Fight Francesco Pianeta on May 4 | Who is this Guy?


I'm sure I'm like all you educated boxing obsessives, we know pretty much every heavyweight of note.

I'm sorry but if I haven't heard of a heavyweight then he should not be fighting for a world title, especially when the champion has FOUR.

Maybe it's me, is this a top, top fighter that just slipped through my sights?

Pianeta is an Italian who has fought most of his fights in Germany. I've seen his fights with Matt Skelton, Albert Sosnowski & Scott Gammer. He struggled big time with Sosnowski who he fought to a draw with. He is average, really nothing special at all and I give him zero chance of beating Wlad. This will not be close.

How can he and the WBA justify this defence instead of Povetkin? Why postpone the Povetkin fight for this. It makes no sense requesting a voluntary defence against a guy like this. Beating an old Oliver McCall and an old Frans Botha does not qualify as World title contender.

Originally Posted by bzkfn

Pianeta is an Italian who has fought most of his fights in Germany. I've seen his fights with Matt Skelton, Albert Sosnowski & Scott Gammer. He struggled big time with Sosnowski who he fought to a draw with. He is average, really nothing special at all and I give him zero chance of beating Wlad. This will not be close.

How can he and the WBA justify this defence instead of Povetkin? Why postpone the Povetkin fight for this. It makes no sense requesting a voluntary defence against a guy like this. Beating an old Oliver McCall and an old Frans Botha does not qualify as World title contender.

I've researched him and as good as his record is, I am not impressed.

Absolutely disgusting choice of opponent.

The alphabets of world titles are allowing these fighters to get away with murder with their choices.

It's almost like they want Wlad to keep the belts. Should make the mandatory possible fights for him a top 7 fighter minimum.

It's an outrage.

Someone will be along shortly to justify this pathetic choice of an opponent.

Why not fight a malik scott or deontay wilder or even a tyson fury?

There names should be in the bag if this guys name is.

Should be an easy 60th win.

Who? Why

If he keeps this up Wlad should just retire.

"Why postpone the Povetkin fight for this?"

Well #1 Povetkin has been given multiple opportunities to fight Wlad #2 Sauerland in Povetkin's promoter....you might remember them from keeping Valuev from fighting Wladimir (or anyone of note for that matter) not so long ago

I'm not impressed with this fight, but who is there to fight? Tony Thompson for a 3rd time Tyson Fury already has a fight scheduled as do: Arreola, Stiverne, Solis, Glazakov & Scott just fought.

I don't see how this fight will end any differently than any of Wlad's most recent title defenses. Pianetta is big & a southpaw, and has decent handspeed but I'm doubtful of his ability to handle Wlad's power. Wladimir by KO in 3-5.

Originally Posted by imp

Someone will be along shortly to justify this pathetic choice of an opponent.

Why not fight a malik scott or deontay wilder or even a tyson fury?

There names should be in the bag if this guys name is.

Malik Scott just fought, Deontay Wilder isn't even CLOSE to fighting contenders much less for the championship, & Tyson Fury already has a bout scheduled vs Steve Cunningham

Man, Haye vs Wlad II would have to be better than this :-D

Originally Posted by ninjaspy3

Man, Haye vs Wlad II would have to be better than this :-D

No way...

At least this new "name" is a bit of an unknown and may prove to be tougher than we expect. Haye had his chance and it was so poor I wouldnt even waste my time looking for a stream of it let alone get out the house to watch it somewhere.

Wladimir Klitschko and his management have had several heavyweights turn down the offer of a voluntary title shot. Sauerland's fighters like Kubrat Pulev and Riobert Helenius were unwilling, or at least their promoter was. Alexander Povetkin has pulled out twice in the past and is always a big risk to do so again, and with purse bids the fight wouldn't happen until July anyway.

Tyson Fury's management said "no" when sent a contract. Odlanier Solis was originally chosen as Wladimir's voluntary opponent, but Don King pulled the plug on it. Others like Fres Oquendo are willing but not really qualified.

Bryant Jennings was willing and might be a better fighter than Francesco Pianeta or about as good, but he's unknown in Europe, so that only made sense if it were on HBO. Wladimir had chosen actually chosen Jennings, but HBO said no, so then they decided to go with Pianeta.

So Pianeta is probably the best of who is willing and available. He's ranked by the sanctioning organizations, he's undefeated at 28-0, and he's a 6'5" natural heavyweight.

The Bradley-Prodovnikov situation is very different. There were many better fighters than Provodnikov available and willing, but Bradley chose someone who has limited skills and athleticism who would make him look very good, and too make it worse, would need to move up from 140 to 147.

So people who bash Wladimir Klitschko for fighting Pianeta yet find Bradley-Prodovnikov acceptable are not being fair and are going by a double standard. Bradley fighting Prodovnikov is like Wlad choosing the BoxRec #23 cruiserweight and asking him to move up for the fight.

Wlad will fight Povetkin in July if Sauerland wants it.

Sauerland & Don King kept the titles from being unified for ages. Remember when Valuev vs Chagaev II was set in (Finland of all fucking places ) it was canceled due to Chagaev's Hepatitus & Wladimir was left holding the bag when David Haye's back (Setanta) acted up so being a TRUE Champion Wlad said "I'll fight you Valuev" to which Valuev & Sauerland said "Ummm, yeah we just trained to fight Chagaev, so thanks but no thanks". Wladimir then said "Hey Chagaev, I'll fight you" Ruslan also a top class man (and not being under the thumb of Kalle Sauerland) said "Yeah, that's cool let's do this"

2 top boxers, short notice, had trained for completely different opponents & they risked their careers on this big fight. That is what boxing needs more of, that kind of deal making. Sauerland just wants the Klitschko's to retire and then he can try to shyst his way back to having one of his protected assets hold a trinket title.

Wlad has ducked nobody during his reign as champion, he's been willing to fight anyone....everyone else (bar a few guys) not so much

Originally Posted by Vendettos

Who the fuck?

Wladimir Klitschko to Fight Francesco Pianeta on May 4 | Who is this Guy?



I'm sure I'm like all you educated boxing obsessives, we know pretty much every heavyweight of note.

I'm sorry but if I haven't heard of a heavyweight then he should not be fighting for a world title, especially when the champion has FOUR.

Maybe it's me, is this a top, top fighter that just slipped through my sights?

Few of us, in the US, had heard of Joe Calzaghe until he spanked Lacy, so I'm not going to talk about how undeserving Pianeta is until after I see him fight.
I'll be surprised if he wins, but I've been surprised more times than I can remember when it comes to fights.

Originally Posted by beenKOed

Few of us, in the US, had heard of Joe Calzaghe until he spanked Lacy, so I'm not going to talk about how undeserving Pianeta is until after I see him fight.
I'll be surprised if he wins, but I've been surprised more times than I can remember when it comes to fights.

I don't give two shits who gets a title shot vs Wladimir I really don't think he'll have much trouble with anyone...HOWEVER as a fan the very least I want out of a contender is for them to show some fucking heart. Show you belong in the ring with the champ, show some respect by stepping your game up and making Wlad earn his wins. That's the LEAST a fighter should do.

Buster Douglas didn't look like a great of a challenge when he fought Tyson, nor Rahman when he fought Lewis.

Originally Posted by El Kabong

Sauerland & Don King kept the titles from being unified for ages. Remember when Valuev vs Chagaev II was set in (Finland of all fucking places ) it was canceled due to Chagaev's Hepatitus & Wladimir was left holding the bag when David Haye's back (Setanta) acted up so being a TRUE Champion Wlad said "I'll fight you Valuev" to which Valuev & Sauerland said "Ummm, yeah we just trained to fight Chagaev, so thanks but no thanks". Wladimir then said "Hey Chagaev, I'll fight you" Ruslan also a top class man (and not being under the thumb of Kalle Sauerland) said "Yeah, that's cool let's do this"

2 top boxers, short notice, had trained for completely different opponents & they risked their careers on this big fight. That is what boxing needs more of, that kind of deal making. Sauerland just wants the Klitschko's to retire and then he can try to shyst his way back to having one of his protected assets hold a trinket title.

Wlad has ducked nobody during his reign as champion, he's been willing to fight anyone....everyone else (bar a few guys) not so much

I agree with most of what you said here. Look, I'm not complaining Wlad is ducking anybody, it just seems pointless to request a voluntary defence and then pick a completely undeserving opponent. Pick someone young and hungry as oppose to a guy who hid behind an EU belt as an excuse to fight shit opponents and keep an 0 on his record. Pianeta is irrelevent and will never be seen at this level again after this. There are better choices available, I just think Pianeta was chosen as he's cheap rather than worthy. Why the Germans buy into this crap is beyond me.