Wlad to fight again in Novermber or December

[El Kabong]

Well who's going to be next for him? Who has the best shot?

I would like to see Wlad pressed and tested by a hungry fighter, the winner of Arreola-Stiverne would pose a legit threat due to punching power, but hell Wlad has the upper hand in everything, he's bigger, faster, stronger, and more powerful than any other heavyweight right now.


Part of me wants to see Wlad massacre Mariusz Wach

Who is there that is ready for a title shot? I would hat eSeth Mitchell to be the one to get slaughtered, but hell if he wants the fight bring it!

[TitoFan]

This is meant to be constructive, Lyle. So please no chip on shoulder.

But one way for Wlad to maybe force the issue and increase his general public perception is to become much busier. Start going through the HW ranks like a hot knife through butter. Start knocking off the top contenders one by one. Leave no question as to how he would fare against "X" or "Y". As you know, I'm one of those who believe the division is total shit. Of course, it's not Wlad's fault. And it's not like Wlad has been extremely tested or taxed in any of his recent fights. Why not then become a little busier? Bulldoze through the division top contenders, before taking a well-deserved retirement. Leave no doubt as to the Povetkins, the Heleniuses, the Adameks. Wlad right now is not even averaging 2 fights a year. Judging by the lack of wear and tear on him.... he could surely fight at least 3 times a year. He's done it before.

My reasoning is: Wlad is nearing the end of his career, one that will likely end with him undefeated. Why not push the accelerator a little bit and remove all doubt as to his greatness? Because while there are obviously fans such as yourself... there's also those who still need that one little bit extra, since the division itself has not presented any challenges. Instead of rematching obviously overmatched bums like Thompson, Wlad should be concentrating on the remaining few that haven't had their turn yet.

[Fenster]

It will be Chisora if he doesn't get humilated against Haye.

[TitoFan]

Has Wlad indicated how long he plans to keep fighting? I don't look at Wlad as one of those HW's who attempt to hang on way too long. Nor do I think Wlad will ever make one of those ill-fated comebacks. So let's say for argument's sake that Wlad will fight until age 38. That would give him a couple more years to face some of those opponents you mention. Solis to me is a waste of flesh and bones, and is undeserving of a title shot. Mitchell is raw as hell... and I have my reservations about an ex-football player having any real shot at a HW title. He's likable and exciting to watch, but I don't picture him at the elite level. I had high hopes for Arreola at one time, but his meltdown against Vitali three years ago turned me off. Other than that, yeah.... it'd be nice to see Wlad systematically take on all the top prospects before calling it a career.

[El Kabong]

38? That's just 2 years (4 fights give or take). I think he'll fight into his 40's, I think he's hitting a groove much like Lennox Lewis did right before the Klitschko's started knocking on the door. Seth Mitchell will get a shot eventually because he's young, he's exciting, he's American, and he fights like an American heavyweight should. In reality at this moment in time Wlad is not fighting opponents he's fighting against himself, because that's the only person that can beat him. I want Arreola to fight Wlad because Cris had the pressure and the chin to push Wlad, and he has some heart too...plus Wlad wants to fight in the US again so it makes sense. After that I would like to see if Stiverne can develop into a threat. I doubt Adamek wants to fight Wlad, Povetkin has done everything in his power to stay away from him (truthfully I want Povetkin-Mitchell before Mitchell fights Wlad, get Seth in with someone technical and see how he does).

After that I really can't say who will get a shot, deserve a shot, because there are fighters who get injured, suffer shock defeats, come back out of retirement, burst onto the scene out of nowhere....and you never can tell who it will be. All I know is at this moment there are 3 certainties in life, Death, taxes, and Wladimir Klitschko as the Heavyweight Champion of the World.

[TigerFan]

A four man tourney has been ordered by the IBF. Pulev-Solis & Adamek-Ustinov are the matchups being eyed for the tourney.

Odlanier Solis-Kubrat Pulev IBF Eliminator is Ordered - Boxing News


Arreola: I think his camp are waiting to see if Vitali will retire after Charr. IMO they are eyeing a "vacant" WBC belt.

Helenius: Wegner (his trainer) has stated Robert will have 2-3 tuneups before fighting a top level guy due to his career threatening shoulder injury.

Povetkin: Call me crazy but I think his handlers will put him in with Wladimir later next year. Not in the first half of the year but the second.

[El Kabong]

Thanks for the updates.

Ustinov is a big ask for Adamek, but he's never fought anyone all that great, he's just big. I figure Boytsov would get a shot if he could stay healthy. Boytsov vs Povetkin would be a great scrap as well. I would also figure that Tyson Fury would get a shot although I would like to see Fury-Dimitrenko before that happens.

[TitoFan]

A four man tourney has been ordered by the IBF. Pulev-Solis & Adamek-Ustinov are the matchups being eyed for the tourney.

Odlanier Solis-Kubrat Pulev IBF Eliminator is Ordered - Boxing News


Arreola: I think his camp are waiting to see if Vitali will retire after Charr. IMO they are eyeing a "vacant" WBC belt.

Helenius: Wegner (his trainer) has stated Robert will have 2-3 tuneups before fighting a top level guy due to his career threatening shoulder injury.

Povetkin: Call me crazy but I think his handlers will put him in with Wladimir later next year. Not in the first half of the year but the second.

Wuss.

[shza]

This is meant to be constructive, Lyle. So please no chip on shoulder.

But one way for Wlad to maybe force the issue and increase his general public perception is to become much busier. Start going through the HW ranks like a hot knife through butter. Start knocking off the top contenders one by one. Leave no question as to how he would fare against "X" or "Y". As you know, I'm one of those who believe the division is total shit. Of course, it's not Wlad's fault. And it's not like Wlad has been extremely tested or taxed in any of his recent fights. Why not then become a little busier? Bulldoze through the division top contenders, before taking a well-deserved retirement. Leave no doubt as to the Povetkins, the Heleniuses, the Adameks. Wlad right now is not even averaging 2 fights a year. Judging by the lack of wear and tear on him.... he could surely fight at least 3 times a year. He's done it before.

I don't know anyone who has even an iota of doubt about how any of those three fights would play out. If Chisora were to beat Haye, he'd be the best opponent. But there really isn't anyone in the division outside the Klitchkos who isn't either (a) a prospect or (b) total shit. I mean, Adamek definitely would have lost his last fight if Chambers hadn't lost an arm in the first round. And Povetkin and Helenius both deserved to lose their last fights (against mediocre competition).

I'm just bummed we never got to see a Klitchko take on Valuev -- strictly for the spectacle of seeing a guy that huge get KO'd.

[shza]

This is meant to be constructive, Lyle. So please no chip on shoulder.

But one way for Wlad to maybe force the issue and increase his general public perception is to become much busier. Start going through the HW ranks like a hot knife through butter. Start knocking off the top contenders one by one. Leave no question as to how he would fare against "X" or "Y". As you know, I'm one of those who believe the division is total shit. Of course, it's not Wlad's fault. And it's not like Wlad has been extremely tested or taxed in any of his recent fights. Why not then become a little busier? Bulldoze through the division top contenders, before taking a well-deserved retirement. Leave no doubt as to the Povetkins, the Heleniuses, the Adameks. Wlad right now is not even averaging 2 fights a year. Judging by the lack of wear and tear on him.... he could surely fight at least 3 times a year. He's done it before.

I don't know anyone who has even an iota of doubt about how any of those three fights would play out. If Chisora were to beat Haye, he'd be the best opponent. But there really isn't anyone in the division outside the Klitchkos who isn't either (a) a prospect or (b) total shit. I mean, Adamek definitely would have lost his last fight if Chambers hadn't lost an arm in the first round. And Povetkin and Helenius both deserved to lose their last fights (against mediocre competition).

I'm just bummed we never got to see a Klitchko take on Valuev -- strictly for the spectacle of seeing a guy that huge get KO'd.

A couple hours after posting this, I saw an interview with Manny Steward saying that they'd fight Chisora if he beat Haye. That would be the fight to make if that happened.

[TheMacMagician]

I'd be tempted to say that it will be the winner of Haye vs Chisora. Biggest moneymaker IMO, and they will be well aware of that. He could probably make money fighting Helenius or Wach but no-one worldwide would really care.

[Tam Seddon]

He needs to fight someone with a pulse, but a lot of them aren't ready for the fight yet. But i do think a lot of the contenders mentioned in this thread will be ready to step up soon, wlad is getting older which is only a good thing for these contenders wanting to fight at the top. Personally I think somebody of Klitchkos size/build is going to be able to step up to beating him though. I don't think somebody of Haye or Chisoras build has any chance, they are too
Small to make an impact on wlad.

[Memphis]

2 pages in and Im the first to say I didnt know he was fighting Thompson and I dont care who he fights next?

[El Kabong]

Some potential targets

Odlanier Solis: last fight May 29th, no future fights scheduled, should be ready to go by Nov/Dec. He doesn't deserve another title shot, but he is available and one would think would jump at the opportunity.

Robert Helenius: Last fought vs Dereck Chisora and was gifted a decision, yet he had arm issues and might be ready by Nov/Dec but will likely be too rusty to attempt a title shot.

Alexander Povetkin: last fought in February, no future fights scheduled, but Hasim Rahman will still want his shot vs Povetkin and given the choice between the two we must figure Alex chooses Rahman.

Tomaz Adamek: Scheduled to fight in September, it's unlikely he'll fight Wlad in Nov or Dec.

Kubrat Pulev: A slightly green pro with only 16 fights, but he's undefeated and having fought and KO'd Dimitrenko he could be best suited to fight Wladimir.

Seth Mitchell: Scheduled to fight Jonathan Banks in September, doubtful he's ready for Wlad this year.

Cris Arreola: Boxrec doesn't have him scheduled to fight Bermane Stiverne anymore (damn, I would LOVE to see that fight), but he should be ready in Nov/Dec and would be a durable and dangerous test for Wladimir.

Bermane Stiverne: Not a good "boxer" but one hell of a slugger, and if anyone that has the power to hurt Wlad it's this guy. Last fought in April, had been bandied about as an opponent for Arreola, but that may have fallen through.

There are certainly others up for consideration, but I would venture to guess that these fellas are the main ones worth looking at.

[El Kabong]

I wouldn't mind him trying to make a "bum of the month club", if he does pick up the pace then he does have a very good chance of challenging, matching, or even beating Joe Louis' record for successful title defenses (Wlad is at about 13/14 at the moment).