Ruslan Chagaev vs Travis Walker

Ruslan Chagaev 232 lbs vs Travis Walker 242.5 lbs this Saturday. I know this isn't the most exciting matchup in the heavyweight division but I think it has an opportunity to be a good scrap as it's a come forward southpaw vs a big puncher with a weakish chin. The overwhelming favorite should be Chagaev and I think he works his way to a TKO maybe by round 7 because Walker is not mentally strong enough to fight well enough to keep Chagaev away from him for an entire fight. I do think Walker has the power to hurt Ruslan though, and I even expect it to a certain extent.

Your thoughts?

A few years ago Ruslan would stop Walker with ease. Nowadays it seems his skills have regressed a bit. With this being an 8 rounder and Chagaev having not scored a kayo since 2006 I could see this one going the distance. Then again everybody he's fought since Sprott could take a punch. I don't know but I hope I'm wrong cause Walker being KTFO always makes for good tv ;D

Boxing - Weights from Hamburg, Germany

http://fightnews.com/Boxing/111810ch00t.jpg

Don't think much of it at all. Walker's been KO'd every time he's fought a legitimate guy. And he's been KO'd twice in a row.

I only know all this cause I considered including it in the prediction contest and then decided every single person would pick Chagaev and most by stoppage.

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Originally Posted by OumaFan

Don't think much of it at all. Walker's been KO'd every time he's fought a legitimate guy. And he's been KO'd twice in a row.

I only know all this cause I considered including it in the prediction contest and then decided every single person would pick Chagaev and most by stoppage.

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Yes BUT Walker being a righty, Chagaev being a southpaw, and Walker having big power in the right cross, I think it could be an interesting fight.

I think Chagaev vs Arreola or Peter would be good matches too, at least interesting IMO.

I think Walker goes out in 2. He seems to be getting easier and easier to knock out

His last stoppage loss was bullshit IMO. Walker is shit though. Fun to watch but Chagaev is far too cagey and will basically take the fun out of this fight by being a smart arse.

Wide UD in favour of Chagaev.

I'm hoping Chagaev comes to prove a point and stops Walker early....that way we can get to the meaningful heavyweight fights faster.

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Originally Posted by El Kabong

Ruslan Chagaev 232 lbs vs Travis Walker 242.5 lbs this Saturday. I know this isn't the most exciting matchup in the heavyweight division but I think it has an opportunity to be a good scrap as it's a come forward southpaw vs a big puncher with a weakish chin. The overwhelming favorite should be Chagaev and I think he works his way to a TKO maybe by round 7 because Walker is not mentally strong enough to fight well enough to keep Chagaev away from him for an entire fight. I do think Walker has the power to hurt Ruslan though, and I even expect it to a certain extent.

Your thoughts?

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Did you watch this yet Lyle? Just finished

i just watched this fights (and finally on HD TV). Nice card for Sport1's tv boxing debut. Most of all was impressed with Rakhim Chakhiev's 1st round KO. This guy is a beast, been following him since in the amateurs, and another highlight reel on his career. Good win for Denis Boytsov too. But, this guy needs an American trainer, to make him a little bit more technical, not just rely on strength and punching power. The main event was good, but not as the promoter expected. Walker was hitting Chagaev with his right uppercut all night long and i had him winning like 3 rounds. Chagaev was in BAAAAD shape and couldn't breath normally from the 6th. His speed, condition and punching power suck, plus his Infighting was DISGRACEFUL tonight against a guy who has been KO'd 5 times. Although i don't like David Haye that much, im sure he stops Chagaev in the 8 or 9.

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Originally Posted by badr_hari

i just watched this fights (and finally on HD TV). Nice card for Sport1's tv boxing debut. Most of all was impressed with Rakhim Chakhiev's 1st round KO. This guy is a beast, been following him since in the amateurs, and another highlight reel on his career. Good win for Denis Boytsov too. But, this guy needs an American trainer, to make him a little bit more technical, not just rely on strength and punching power. The main event was good, but not as the promoter expected. Walker was hitting Chagaev with his right uppercut all night long and i had him winning like 3 rounds. Chagaev was in BAAAAD shape and couldn't breath normally from the 6th. His speed, condition and punching power suck, plus his Infighting was DISGRACEFUL tonight against a guy who has been KO'd 5 times. Although i don't like David Haye that much, im sure he stops Chagaev in the 8 or 9.

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Chagaev was absolutely terrible. He is no threat to Klits, Haye or Adamek what so ever. He looked like some guy that fancied a fight outside a pub, way out of shape. Out on their feet after 6 really.

Chagaev is coming off a torn achilles injury, no wonder it was only 8 rounds. Torn achilles is very hard to recover from for a boxer, he probably looked alot slower than before.

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Originally Posted by No Contest

Chagaev is coming off a torn achilles injury, no wonder it was only 8 rounds. Torn achilles is very hard to recover from for a boxer, he probably looked alot slower than before.

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I think he did tear his achilles tendon sometimes after his fight with Skelton...so its some time gone by and he did look much better in his last fight against Kali Meehan...tonight he was really crappy prepared and if he fights like that against Haye it will be over early for Chagaev...

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Originally Posted by JohnnyKickAss

I think he did tear his achilles tendon sometimes after his fight with Skelton...so its some time gone by and he did look much better in his last fight against Kali Meehan...tonight he was really crappy prepared and if he fights like that against Haye it will be over early for Chagaev...

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Yeah Wlad had an easy time with Ruslan as far as speed goes, I think the achilles injury hurt him a little more than he let on. Ruslan is a smaller heavyweight I'm liking the matchup with the WBA title holder better now, I only hope their camp takes the fight because THAT will be an ok fight in my opinion, better than Kali Meehan or a Valuev rematch or what have you.

Good for Walker to fight so hard, maybe he can solidify himself as a journeyman/acid test for up and coming heavyweights

Not exactly an easy tune up to take coming back in Walker. He has alot of holes but goes for it...sure to get some action off this. Chagaev needed work but would do wise to get majority in gym next time.

I just watched the fight, it was as I thought it would be, a good scrap. The people who bitch about heavyweights not trading should watch it. Although both men seemed in poor condition and they didn't use much technical skill in the ring so the fight was sloppy at times. There were a few times where Chagaev should have been able to drop or even stop Walker, but he just wasn't in good enough shape.

Walker did a good job, his trainer is crap though "The right hand, throw the right hand....again, again, again", buddy, you've got to set that punch up, you can't just keep flailing it out there time after time because you can get countered. Walker could be better, I wouldn't mind seeing him on ESPN, he's always been in good fights from what I've seen.

Ruslan will be in better shape for his title shot, he won't be an easy fight, but a winnable fight for the WBA title holder. Ruslan's defense hasn't gotten any better, he got hit with right crosses and uppercuts all too often.