Will ONE frigging HW step up to the plate before it's too late?!?

[Beanflicker]

Was Holmes popular? He was American and nobody cared ... he was relatively obscure compared to past heavyweight champions. Wlad has a nonsense doctorate in "Sports Science." I'm not slamming any doctorate degree (I've come to realize that they're all rigorous ever since I started med school) but its meaningless.

I do agree that Wlad being non American or non British makes him less popular but the point is that he literally fights scared. Freaking cruiserweights have this guy shitting himself ... I mean, how many times did he clinch a senile and decrepit Mormeck?? And if IIRC, he clinched Sam Peter nearly 100 times in their first fight.

Well Kabong said Wlad would be popular if he was American because he is...

1) Charismatic
2) Educated
3) Involved romantically with mainstream celebrities
4) Politically aware and active

How does Holmes fall into any of these catagories? He was an obnoxious blowhard with the charisma of a dinner plate, who loved to toot his own horn whenever he could. People hated him already for whipping Ali and disrespecting Marciano. He was also a grade 7 dropout.

[Beanflicker]

This "fighting scared" stuff is rediculously stupid. Watch the David Haye fight: he took the center of the ring and he was the one moving forward pretty much the whole fight.

[Spicoli]

I've stopped waiting for Wlad to lose and just wanting quailty heavyweight match ups. They are there. If you look at a rung or two under Wlad its very active with some potential for division and the fact Wlad can completely dictate who-what he fights and makes money hand over fists in his comfort zone he'll retire before he takes on some of these 'perceived' threats who are just beginning to sort each other out.

[TitoFan]

I've stopped waiting for Wlad to lose and just wanting quailty heavyweight match ups. They are there. If you look at a rung or two under Wlad its very active with some potential for division and the fact Wlad can completely dictate who-what he fights and makes money hand over fists in his comfort zone he'll retire before he takes on some of these 'perceived' threats who are just beginning to sort each other out.

I agree. The problem with these "threats" is that they are either a) being brought along too slowly (a.k.a. - Wilder), b) they keep stumbling over themselves on the way to a possible title shot (Mitchell, Price), or c) they fight once a year, if that much. At this rate, Wlad will retire without a serious challenge. It's frustrating, because people will point to the Sam Peter fights.... but in all seriousness Wlad has never had that epic fight that would push him completely over the top.

[El Kabong]

I agree. The problem with these "threats" is that they are either a) being brought along too slowly (a.k.a. - Wilder), b) they keep stumbling over themselves on the way to a possible title shot (Mitchell, Price), or c) they fight once a year, if that much. At this rate, Wlad will retire without a serious challenge. It's frustrating, because people will point to the Sam Peter fights.... but in all seriousness Wlad has never had that epic fight that would push him completely over the top.

Is that Wlad's fault or someone elses?

Wlad is the ultimate professional, the dude shows up to fight in amazing shape, mentally & psychologically prepared, and much like another heavyweight his opponents are pretty much beaten before they step in the ring. The guy GAINS weight for fights, that's how dedicated of a champion he is...regardless of anything else, that dedication to be 100% ALL IN with the fight game is impressive.

[TitoFan]

I agree. The problem with these "threats" is that they are either a) being brought along too slowly (a.k.a. - Wilder), b) they keep stumbling over themselves on the way to a possible title shot (Mitchell, Price), or c) they fight once a year, if that much. At this rate, Wlad will retire without a serious challenge. It's frustrating, because people will point to the Sam Peter fights.... but in all seriousness Wlad has never had that epic fight that would push him completely over the top.

Is that Wlad's fault or someone elses?

Wlad is the ultimate professional, the dude shows up to fight in amazing shape, mentally & psychologically prepared, and much like another heavyweight his opponents are pretty much beaten before they step in the ring. The guy GAINS weight for fights, that's how dedicated of a champion he is...regardless of anything else, that dedication to be 100% ALL IN with the fight game is impressive.

The straight forward answer is that it's not Wlad's fault, until the day he ducks a real challenger. But given the state of the division now and for the past several years, no real challenger has emerged, and Wlad hasn't been perceived of ducking anyone (nor does he need to). Wlad's conditioning for fights is something to be praised, especially when one sees the tubs of lard that pass themselves off as heavyweights nowadays.

[TitoFan]

This..... is what passes for heavyweight division news nowadays (copied it off the heavyweight schedule thread).

Lucas Browne vs. James "Lights Out" Toney is in the works. Browne says there's a "80-90% chance" of the fight happening.

Lucas Browne has James Toney and David Price in his sights | Boxing News Online

Nothing else need be said......

[TysonBomb]

Was Holmes popular? He was American and nobody cared ... he was relatively obscure compared to past heavyweight champions. Wlad has a nonsense doctorate in "Sports Science." I'm not slamming any doctorate degree (I've come to realize that they're all rigorous ever since I started med school) but its meaningless.

I do agree that Wlad being non American or non British makes him less popular but the point is that he literally fights scared. Freaking cruiserweights have this guy shitting himself ... I mean, how many times did he clinch a senile and decrepit Mormeck?? And if IIRC, he clinched Sam Peter nearly 100 times in their first fight.

Well Kabong said Wlad would be popular if he was American because he is...

1) Charismatic
2) Educated
3) Involved romantically with mainstream celebrities
4) Politically aware and active

How does Holmes fall into any of these catagories? He was an obnoxious blowhard with the charisma of a dinner plate, who loved to toot his own horn whenever he could. People hated him already for whipping Ali and disrespecting Marciano. He was also a grade 7 dropout.

Trust me, if Wlad was from the US or UK, his popularity wouldn't be as high up there as you think.

Also, what charisma? I don't sense any of that from him ... although I will submit to the second two points. And its Vitali who is more involved in politics than Wlad, he just lost an election for mayor of Kiev IIRC.

The point is that he doesn't entertain in the ring ... he's dead scared of anything coming close to his chin and will never let his hands go or exchange with his opponent. He's robotic and stiff. The way he fights doesn't seem natural ... he's literally like a programmed machine who rehearses what he was taught. He doesn't have boxing instinct.

He would be more popular in America, but only due to his dominance and his terrible chin. But he wouldn't be a household name and he would probably be less popular globally, unless you mean he would be Ukranian American.

[El Kabong]

Trust me, if Wlad was from the US or UK, his popularity wouldn't be as high up there as you think.

Also, what charisma? I don't sense any of that from him ... although I will submit to the second two points. And its Vitali who is more involved in politics than Wlad, he just lost an election for mayor of Kiev IIRC.

The point is that he doesn't entertain in the ring ... he's dead scared of anything coming close to his chin and will never let his hands go or exchange with his opponent. He's robotic and stiff. The way he fights doesn't seem natural ... he's literally like a programmed machine who rehearses what he was taught. He doesn't have boxing instinct.

He would be more popular in America, but only due to his dominance and his terrible chin. But he wouldn't be a household name and he would probably be less popular globally, unless you mean he would be Ukranian American.

....ummm he's a dominant heavyweight champion who doesn't beat or rape women. He has a vocabulary higher than that of a 3rd grader. He was a model for Hugo Boss. When I say he's "politically aware & active" I don't mean he's running for office, I mean he has some causes he supports UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) for one.

What Charisma?!?!? He's a funny dude, he makes fun of himself, other people, he's an affable fellow...he's one of the few boxers that the average person would be like "Yeah, I wouldn't mind grabbing a beer with that guy"


Oh but I suppose Mike Tyson & Ike Ibeabuchi were just AWESOME to be around


Plus if you knew how apeshit the American media went over Gerry Cooney & Tommy Morrison then PERHAPS you'd get a bit of an idea about what they would do for a boxer who is actually good

[TysonBomb]

Trust me, if Wlad was from the US or UK, his popularity wouldn't be as high up there as you think.

Also, what charisma? I don't sense any of that from him ... although I will submit to the second two points. And its Vitali who is more involved in politics than Wlad, he just lost an election for mayor of Kiev IIRC.

The point is that he doesn't entertain in the ring ... he's dead scared of anything coming close to his chin and will never let his hands go or exchange with his opponent. He's robotic and stiff. The way he fights doesn't seem natural ... he's literally like a programmed machine who rehearses what he was taught. He doesn't have boxing instinct.

He would be more popular in America, but only due to his dominance and his terrible chin. But he wouldn't be a household name and he would probably be less popular globally, unless you mean he would be Ukranian American.

....ummm he's a dominant heavyweight champion who doesn't beat or rape women. He has a vocabulary higher than that of a 3rd grader. He was a model for Hugo Boss. When I say he's "politically aware & active" I don't mean he's running for office, I mean he has some causes he supports UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) for one.

What Charisma?!?!? He's a funny dude, he makes fun of himself, other people, he's an affable fellow...he's one of the few boxers that the average person would be like "Yeah, I wouldn't mind grabbing a beer with that guy"


Oh but I suppose Mike Tyson & Ike Ibeabuchi were just AWESOME to be around


Plus if you knew how apeshit the American media went over Gerry Cooney & Tommy Morrison then PERHAPS you'd get a bit of an idea about what they would do for a boxer who is actually good

3rd grade vocabulary? Are you serious??

Tyson has a better vocabulary than any of the kitturds, if you've heard him speak (when serious) you would notice that. I'd venture to say he had a more extensive and broad vocab than any boxer ever. I'd also say that he probably has more pure boxing knowledge than anyone around, especially in regards to the history of the sport.

And you're reaching for shit now with Wlad supporting UNESCO. UNESCO isn't a political organization, its an educational agency. It has nothing to do with politics at all, despite the fact that it is funded by the UN, and Wlad supporting it doesn't mean shit ... theres a bunch of athletes and famous people involved in stuff like that. Wlad supporting an educational, anthropological agency funded by the UN doesn't make him involved in politics at all ... or education, or even anthropology.

He's probably a cool dude but I could care less if he was a model or not ... its his performance in the ring that is lacking.

[Beanflicker]

Tyson has a better vocabulary than any of the kitturds, if you've heard him speak (when serious) you would notice that. I'd venture to say he had a more extensive and broad vocab than any boxer ever.

Yeah, Mike was a regular silver-tongued politician.

"I want to kill people. I want to rip their stomachs out and eat their children"

"I'm 36 going on 36"

"I guess I'm gonna fade into Bolivian"

HAHAHAHAHAH fuckin Mike what a goof

[Spicoli]

Mike fights through serious pain...come on now guys!

[TysonBomb]

Tyson has a better vocabulary than any of the kitturds, if you've heard him speak (when serious) you would notice that. I'd venture to say he had a more extensive and broad vocab than any boxer ever.

Yeah, Mike was a regular silver-tongued politician.

"I want to kill people. I want to rip their stomachs out and eat their children"

"I'm 36 going on 36"

"I guess I'm gonna fade into Bolivian"

HAHAHAHAHAH fuckin Mike what a goof

being on a cocktail of drugs and alcohol abuse will make anyone sound like that, especially when trying to sell a fight

Mike wasn't a MENSA member but the man did have a very good vocabulary.

[Master]

The real challengers to Wlad are aiming for the WBC title that is being held by Vitali who is on the verge of retiring. The super heavies like Tyson Fury and Price (eventually) will be the real challenges to Wlad when they get their hands on the title and try to unify it.

[boyla]

Agree with points made about Wlad not being famous.

Him sharing the Heavy Weight title with his brother is farcical, dilutes the division

PPV fights and boxing no longer being on terrestrial tv has played its part to.

Boxing as a whole is on the decline