Klitschko "not interested" in showdown with giant Valuev

[Wacko3205]

Klitschko "not interested" in giant Valuev

http://www.secondsout.com/World/news...s=225&cs=19273

By Ant Evans: Newly crowned IBO/IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has immediately set himself the goal of re-unifying the sport's fragmented flagship division, hoping unity will create some genuine interest in the big man scene.

However, according to business manager Bernd Boente, a fight with WBA champion Nicolay Valuev - another Eastern Block fighter who is a huge draw in Germany - is not high on Dr Steel Hammer agenda. The sheer spectacle of the 6ft 6inch, 245lbs, Klitschko colliding in the ring with the 7ft 2inch, 325lbs 'Beast from the East' would be enough to make the unification fight as big at the box office as it would be in terms of the sheer size of the combatants.

But Russian born Valuev, who fights Owen Beck in what is expected to be an easy first defense in Hannover, Germany, in June, is not at Klitschko's level, according to Team Wlad.

Boente told SecondsOut: "I really don't know if that (fight with Valuev) is such a big fight outside of Germany. Valuev is lucky his fights haven't been shown in the US because he hasn't really been winning them. If he fought in America or on HBO the way he fought against John Ruiz or Larry Donald (his last two fights) he would be booed and booed from the second round. He is not exciting or interesting to watch.

"The fans around the world would not accept that sort of a fight, I don't think."

Klitschko became the man in the division last weekend, when he crushed Chris Byrd in seven brutal rounds. More than any other heavyweight since the retirement of his big brother, Vitali, Klitschko had made a statement that there was a fighter amongst the big men who could not only hold on to his title (which Byrd had done) but also excite the interest of the wider public.

Much of the sport - and especially HBO - are hoping that Klitschko can now finally become the heavyweight champion he's always threatened to become ever since he took Olympic gold in Atlanta a decade ago.

Some are even daring to whisper that Klitschko, aided by Manny Steward, could become as good as Lennox Lewis was.

But Boente said: "These are big words to live up to. Lennox Lewis was a great, great champion who achieved a great deal in boxing over many years. Wladimir is just taking his career one step at a time. We are confident Wladimir is the best heavyweight in the world but he has to prove it one fight at a time."

[p4pking]

Good for them.. Valuev isn't worthy of a shot, imo. He lost to Ruiz, and he lost to Larry Donald as well. Those are both fairly small HW's, and if Valuev can't beat them I don't see where his chance comes against Wlad.. I would much much rather see Valuev vs TOney, it would be more of a circus show than anything but also a great fight for Toney to come back.. I know he can't fight for the WBA but the match should still happen.. Can you imagine seeing Toney at 5'9 and fat, beating up that ogre.. It would be good TV.

[LawHoops]

i understand the argument but i think wlad owes it to the sport to--first off, get rid of the sideshow that is valuev, and to makes affirmative steps to unify the title.........and it would be and intriging matchup just to watch these two guys lock up and finally for wlad to drop that big goof on his behind.........its an easy fight with some marketability----i mean hes talking about luan krasniqui for crissakes--------might as well take a more meaningful more high profile bout thats actaully less of a risk than krasniqui

[El Kabong]

Valuev ain't worthy of a shot BUT he is worthy of an ass whippin!!!

[K2-Promotion]

Valuev ain't worthy of a shot BUT he is worthy of an a** whippin!!!

and wlad would certainly give him that

[El Kabong]

It wouldn't go 4 rounds...Nicolay would be hard pressed to go 2

[OumaFan]

good, there are much bigger fights out there. I don't see how Valuev would be too much of a threat, he's slow, and for a big guy he's really not much of a puncher

[FLH2o]

F#cking typical, says he wants to unify, then his handlers immediately start backpedaling on his behalf.
Let me guess, he doesn't want to fight Rahman or Whitewolf either

[Purist]

If Wlad thinks so little of Valuev then why not go over and rid the division of him?

[Gandalf]

If Wlad thinks so little of Valuev then why not go over and rid the division of him?

exactly the way i see it....they are both popular fighters in germany and it would make money for the specatacle of two huge men against one another....it would also unify a belt...its a practical move in my eyes...

i hope we are not going to be fed a diet of mandatories and 2 dimensional up and coming boxers....that will be very dissapointing....

[Purist]

but its probably the way he'll go. He spoke of unifying when he was WBO before and all he had to do was fight Lennox So now am I going to expect him to do it when there's 3 other guys out there

[Violent Demise]

I'll be surprise if Valuev would make it out of the second round

[CasperUK]

Why not? It'd be huge PPV in Germany.

Besides, if Audley Harrison can beat a 7ft fighter (Julius Long), I'm sure Wladdy boy can too.

[El Kabong]

but its probably the way he'll go. He spoke of unifying when he was WBO before and all he had to do was fight Lennox So now am I going to expect him to do it when there's 3 other guys out there

Now that's revisionist history! It's not "All Wlad had to do was fight Lewis" it's all Lewis had to do was fight Wlad.