Things just got a lot hotter at 200+ lbs...will you, the fans, take notice?

Things just got a hell of a lot hotter at 200+ lbs.

So…now that the temp is starting to rise…will fans take notice?

Trust me…it’s now or never for the division…& if we don’t show any interest now…something’s wrong with us as fans.

Over the weekend the IBF/IBO’s heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko (48 wins, 3 losses, & 43 ko’s) showed out as best he could. He blasted mandatory challenger Ray Austin (24 wins, 4 losses, 4 draws, & 16 ko’s) out of the ring on Saturday night in front of roughly 16,000 knockout hungry fans at the SAP Arena in Mannheim, Germany. Klitschko hammered Austin with four huge left hooks in round two sending him to the canvas head first. Try as he might, Austin was unable to beat the count of referee Eddie Cotton & that was that. The end came at the time of 1:27 in the second round. This opened up the door for much discussed future unification bouts against either Valuev, Maskaev, or Briggs.


On the same night, the WBO’s #1 contender at 200lbs was equally impressive in his outting. Sultan Ibragimov (20 wins, 0 losses, 1 draw, & 17 ko’s) took 46 seconds to stop Javier Mora (21 wins, 4 losses, 1 draw, & 17 ko’s) at the Madison Square Garden Theater. Ibragimov came straight out & dropped Mora with a left hook. Mora barely beat the count. The minute he made it back to his feet Ibragimov sent him back to the canvas & the fight was stopped. Like Klitschko, Ibragimov was set to face the loudmouthed Briggs & negotiations fell by the wayside. One time it was supposedly Klitschko’s fault the other time against Austin…Briggs either had asthma or pneumonia.

Go Briggs. Let it be known that I would love to see him get KTFO.

One can only wish & hope & pray.

Another undefeated champ is mixing words of unification also. After seeing Wladimir’s bout over the weekend, the WBA’s heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev (46 wins, 0 losses, & 34 ko‘s). confirmed that he is more than just vaguely interested in a unification showdown with the youngest Klitschko. First & foremost, Valuev has to make it through his undefeated mandatory challenger Ruslan Chagaev (22 wins, 1 draw, & 17 ko‘s) on April 14, 2007.

If he does blast through Chagaev…Wladimir seems to be the logical choice…either him or Maskaev or maybe even the returning eldest Klitschko brother Vitali.


Like I said…things are heating up.

Thoughts?

Yeah I agree with you and said as much in another thread. The heavyweights are still a great division to watch in my opinion and we are finally seperating the wheat from the chaff.

I disagree about Sultan being impressive though, he looks like he should have a pitchfork in his hand rathe rather than gloves. :-\

Well, I'll be happy if we could have 2 or 3 champions at this point. 4 is just to much. I think we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel for the heavyweights. As much as I rag on Valeuv, and how little I value his skills, fighting Chagaev is a good step forward and I believe him and his camp will try to make a Klitschko.

And at some point they are going to have to face each other because Sultan and Peter are the only two real contenders out there and the champions have already faced enough mandatories or tune up fights to last them a lifetime. If not 2007, 2008 should be the real definitive year for the heavys. As insignificant as yesterday's fight was, I think it should speed up the unification of the belts.

But I'm more excited for what we have coming up. I think we have some really good heavyweight prospects not just for 2008 but for 2009 and 2010. My favorite prospect in almost all of boxing is a heavweight. Aaron Williams out of Cleveland. One of the best amateurs ever to come from the Cleveland amateur scene.

Now he's a pro. Really fast. Works well with both hands. Punches in high volume. Has good defense. Decent pop. Throws real straight and doesn't throw the same combo twice. Works good from the outside and and inside out. REALLY someone to look out for. Only 20 years old and a cruiserweight. Absolute manchild and I really really believe he has the potential to be something special.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=297748

Valeuv vs. Wladdy HAS to come off this year.......

My moneys on Wladdy to clean up the div. I just think hes smart enough to do it and seems to have everything going for him.....

It always seems like things are heading in the right direction when Wladimir wins that easy.....I just wonder what other sacrificial lamb will Don King throw to the wolves to keep his champions safe????

Valuev did say "Of course it depends on my management but I am ready to get in the same ring with Wladimir at any time."

Which is code for "I like the idea of beating Wlad and the money I'll get but I don't know if I want a CERTAIN loss on my record"

i gues im the only one that thinks chagaev wil lbeat him right he beat ruiz which is a task to do regardless of wahta u ppl say he just makes fighters look bad and when monte barett landed a big right it rocjed vluev chagaev could do the same but i think klithcko will rule the divsion

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Originally Posted by Lyle

It always seems like things are heading in the right direction when Wladimir wins that easy.....I just wonder what other sacrificial lamb will Don King throw to the wolves to keep his champions safe????

Valuev did say "Of course it depends on my management but I am ready to get in the same ring with Wladimir at any time."

Which is code for "I like the idea of beating Wlad and the money I'll get but I don't know if I want a CERTAIN loss on my record"

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Disagree Lyle. I think what Valuev really means is "Of course it depends if my management can bribe me into getting in the ring with Wladimir and have him expose me for the fraud I am"

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Originally Posted by Violent Demise

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Originally Posted by Lyle

It always seems like things are heading in the right direction when Wladimir wins that easy.....I just wonder what other sacrificial lamb will Don King throw to the wolves to keep his champions safe????

Valuev did say "Of course it depends on my management but I am ready to get in the same ring with Wladimir at any time."

Which is code for "I like the idea of beating Wlad and the money I'll get but I don't know if I want a CERTAIN loss on my record"

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Disagree Lyle. I think what Valuev really means is "Of course it depends if my management can bribe me into getting in the ring with Wladimir and have him expose me for the fraud I am"

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you guys are both wrong what he saying is "im going to say i want to fight him so ppl think i do and then tell my team i was bluffin so they could get me out of it"

While we're on the subject..


How about Wlad's footwork last night? Am i the only one who noticed? He looked positively liquid on his toes and he totally dominated a guy that decisively drew with Ibragimov.

He looks stronger than ever too, does Ole Wlad and i LOVE that he holds the right hand back. What kind of psychological mindf**k is that to an opponent to not see a right for that long?? I think Wlad's power gets overlooked alot on account of everyone is watching to see if he'll have a meltdown.

I think Wlad is nigh unstoppable. His loss to Sanders and Brewster both sharpened him up and humbled him. Very powerful things, both. His win over Peter was a huge boost to his confidence and even more so because he had to pick himself up three times.

Wlad looked like a premier fighter last night. Don't be so quick to just call Austin a joke. THAT Wlad would take anyone.

He definitely looked good but Austin is terrible. Compared to the rest of the top heavys anyways... The guys two biggest victories were ugly performances against Owen Beck and Sultan. And he didn't look that good in either of those fights. The guy is so damn goofy. I would love to see him and Zuri Lawrence go at it just for a good laugh.

Anyways, what impressed me is how balanced he stayed after he lunged with the hook, he gave room for his punches without giving Austin much room to move. But I didn't take to much from that fight...

I took a little from the fight:

1. Wlad is not afraid to end fights early
2. Wlad still has one of the best left hooks in the division
3. Wlad can be patient but still KO someone early
4. Wlad doesn't have to set up the jab first....he can adapt

Not much other than that can be said from this fight.....Wlad's confidence is great as is his dedication to the sport

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Originally Posted by the phenom

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Originally Posted by Violent Demise

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Originally Posted by Lyle

It always seems like things are heading in the right direction when Wladimir wins that easy.....I just wonder what other sacrificial lamb will Don King throw to the wolves to keep his champions safe????

Valuev did say "Of course it depends on my management but I am ready to get in the same ring with Wladimir at any time."

Which is code for "I like the idea of beating Wlad and the money I'll get but I don't know if I want a CERTAIN loss on my record"

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Disagree Lyle. I think what Valuev really means is "Of course it depends if my management can bribe me into getting in the ring with Wladimir and have him expose me for the fraud I am"

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you guys are both wrong what he saying is "im going to say i want to fight him so ppl think i do and then tell my team i was bluffin so they could get me out of it"

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Totally disagree with all of you.

Valuev wants the fight...but he aint the only reason that it won't get made & he knows it & Wlad knows it.

Negotiating with Don King is historically recognized as signing your name on a contract in blood & selling your soul off to his bidding.

Valuev deserves the benefit of the doubt & the match up would generate a shitload of interest & also some clarity out of the muck.

If the belt holders don't start fighting each other then we'll be still be where we are next year! These guys should have been fighting each other this time out instead of undeserving mandatories!

If that had have been the case it would have set up a great year ahead, now we're about 5 to 5 months behind!

Now Wacko Valuev has the benefit of the doubt when it comes to being big but be honest, you've seen him struggle to take punches.....and from guys like Taras Bidenko and Monte Barrett, not exactly the hardest of hitters.....couple that with the fact Nicolay doesn't hit very hard then you realize Wladimir has got it all over Valuev!

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Originally Posted by galaxy76

If the belt holders don't start fighting each other then we'll be still be where we are next year! These guys should have been fighting each other this time out instead of undeserving mandatories!

If that had have been the case it would have set up a great year ahead, now we're about 5 to 5 months behind!

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While I agree with you 100%, imagine what would happen if the belt holders started fighting each other. The division title would be unified, the heavyweights would have an undisputed champion, and THEN what would happen to boxing's shady financial interests, and low-lifes such as Don King? Hell, they'd probably have to go out and get real jobs.