Quote Originally Posted by Big_Deuce
i dunno bilbo, vitali did pretty decent with his kicks too lol


BUT MILES

If i could just respond to what you said.

I disagree with your comment about heavyweight boxing being at the forefront. As far as im concerned it doesnt need to be all about the heavyweights. I get more skill and just as much entertainment from boxers from a whole range of divisions.
I will agree to disagree, because I am not saying that there isn’t just as much skill in the other divisions. But boxing fans like you and I love boxing for the sport it is, But unfortunately it gets most of its recognition from people who could care less about the sport, and just want to watch 2 guys fight until 1 hits the canvas.
However, bilbo makes a good point
“Some of us may prefer the lower weight classes, especially right now as that’s where most of the talent is but historically the heavyweight division has always been seen as the pinnacle of boxing and indeed of the whole of sport, at least as far as individual events go.
For boxing to remain popular to the mainstream it needs to have a strong heavyweight division.”

As for fighting the mandatories and keeping the belts. Well, Wlad can fight all the mandatories he wants. It wont prove him the best in the division until he begins to unify. I wouldnt mind seeing him trying to avenge a loss or 2 also. We all know the real value of these belts anyways. Calzaghe, as much as I like him, has fought too many mandatories over the years and against who?? Exactly. Keeping the belt and fighting mandatories does not make a great fighter. More is needed. Maybe Wlad will do it. Time will tell on that one.
Jesus miles, how in the hell can someone UNIFY if they don’t fight the mandatory for the belts that they currently have, and possibly have to drop their belt? Also, how can Wlad Force people like DON king to give up some HW shots? “Wlad has said all along, after every fight, I’m not the champ, because there are other people with belts” so if you want to unify, you have to keep belts to do it. He knows, he wants it.

You ask me if I would indeed step aside and allow Peter his shot at Maskaev first? My honest answer is that yes I would stand aside. I can see clearly that Peter has fought twice to have his shot. He deserves it. I see no problem in taking a warm up and then fighting the winner or Maskaev: Peter.
I am not questioning your honesty miles, but I cant honestly say I believe unless I seen you turn down a multi million dollar payday, to Give it to someone else

And dont give me that bullshit about rules. The boxing commisions change the rules to suit their self indulgent whims at will. How exactly do these mandatories get their positions, they are seldom worthy of a shot!
So your saying that “champion emeritus” was made up for klitschko?

Sam Peter excites me more than Vitali Klitschko right now, now that is a fight I want to see. It would cetainly generate more interest than a Maskaev: Klitschko fight!
To YOU.
But what about the 15+ million people in oleg’s homeland
Or maybe the 143+million in russia, and the 83+ million in germany (where the klits are ever so popular)
Listen, I care about MY entertainment too, and I can understand your interest in a Oleg vs Samuel fight. And its your opinion on how much more you would like to see that fight than vitali vs oleg, I have a different opinion. But IMO where the fight will be held (Moscow), it will sell more, a lot more than samuel peter vs oleg Anywhere else in the world.
To be fair I was only arguing for myself and not the general fan. In the first quote of mine I did say "As far as Im concerned....". Bilbo did make some excellent points as you stated. Historically the heavyweight division has been the most noticable of the divisions to the casual fan. Historically we've always had fighters who can entertain, from Dempsey through to Tyson and even Holyfield and Lewis. The division is going through a relatively lean patch today. Good fights are pretty few and far between. I maintain that the heavyweight just isnt where its at when it comes down to me and boxing.

In response to your second argument, of course Wlad will lose his belts if he doesnt fight his mandatory. My only concern is if Wlad is fed a diet of jumped up punks who fights solely because Its his obligation to keep the belt. If there are bigger fights out there then they should be made. Of course boxing politics is a slimy, festering place and its always easier said than done. There are big fights that can make money and generate interest and these should be made.

Seriously, If I was Vitali I would have no problem standing aside and fighting the winner of Maskaev: Peter. It would be an even bigger fight and an even bigger payday. Well, worth a few months delay.

I think Peter deserves his shot now because he has paid his sanctioning fees, his dues as it were. Vitali is due his shot too, and he will get it. So I really dont understand the problem with him fighting the winner of Maskaev: Peter. Personally I think Sam Peter is a very improved fighter and that Vitali at 35 and with injuries and lay off is possibly not quite the fighter he was. Sam Peter has a realistic shot of taking Vitali to the limits at this stage and perhaps this is what the Vitali camp feel too. I dont know this of course and it is mere speculation.

A Peter: Vitali fight would be a huge event for heavyweight boxing and more so than Maskaev: Klitschko. Maskaev is not a known fighter and he has a mediocre record. Sam Peter on the other hand is coming off of 2 popular fights with Toney and is now more widely known than Maskaev.

Vitali waiting and then fighting the winner of Maskaev: Peter....this is not just good for me, but for the image of heavyweight boxing in general. A truly mouthwatering matchup!!!