Stiverne vs. Arreola.

[El Kabong]

I think Arreola takes this one by UD, might score a knockdown or two

[VG_Addict]

How would you rate this era of HWs?

Also, I want Stiverne to win. Arreola had his chance at fighting a Klitschko. Stiverne was robbed of his chance at Vitali.

[El Kabong]

How would you rate this era of HWs?

Average

You've got 1 super dominant champion and then everyone else. Contenders, untested youth, and a lot of different styles and the fighters aren't consistent apart from Wlad.

[VG_Addict]

Is Wlad the GOAT?

[El Kabong]

Is Wlad the GOAT?

No, but he could break top 10 before his career is over. Joe Louis is the greatest of all time

[Bo-Bo24]

Is Wlad the GOAT?

No, but he could break top 10 before his career is over. Joe Louis is the greatest of all time

Don't let Max Power hear you say that.

[Rantcatrat]

Rumor has it Arreola is in terrific shape for this fight. I saw him at the Vanes ESPN2 fight a month and a half ago and he already looked in shape.

[Max Power]

Is Wlad the GOAT?

No, but he could break top 10 before his career is over. Joe Louis is the greatest of all time

Don't let Max Power hear you say that.

LOL I don't give a crap until I start to hear preaching of the old testament. That's when I'll start preaching the "new testament" lol

[bradlee180]

I think Arreola will win this rematch.

Stiverne will be 36 years old this year, Arreola is 33.

Inactivity is a problem with many current fighters.
Their fight was 1 year ago, and Stiverne hasn't fought since.
Arreola has only fought once since that 1-sided decision loss.

Stiverne:
1 fight scheduled for 2014 (Upcoming Arreola rematch)
1 fight in 2013
1 fight in 2012
2 fights in 2011
1 fight in 2010

^ Aside from the Arreola fights, these are not even important headliner fights.
What a waste of one's athletic prime!

[El Kabong]

Stiverne's style shouldn't be affected too terribly much by inactivity the guy is a pure counter puncher and if Arreola walks straight forward he could get caught again. I would hope Cris is smarter than that though.



As for where this division ranks and judging previous divisions, sure you can lump lots of big names together but in doing so you don't see the ups and downs of their respective careers, you don't see the inconsistencies, the troubles with certain styles you just look and see Ali, Frazier, Foreman...well that must be the best! Or Lewis, Holyfield, Tyson, that must be great as well! You don't see Foreman blasting Frazier out and Frazier being a fringe contender when he fought Ali in the Thrilla in Manila, you don't see Holyfield's heart issues and loss to Moorer, you don't see Lewis' shocking loss to McCall, you don't see Foreman never recovering from the loss to Ali until the 1980's. You don't see Mercer losing to an ancient Holmes, Holmes losing to a young Tyson, Tyson losing to Douglas, Ken Norton giving Ali hell but getting blasted out by Foreman.

Divisions are strong or weak based a lot on timing and the form of fighters and there's really nothing a guy like Wlad can do except fight who is in the division and attempt to accomplish big things, which he's trying to do.

[Master]

How would you rate this era of HWs?

Also, I want Stiverne to win. Arreola had his chance at fighting a Klitschko. Stiverne was robbed of his chance at Vitali.

Why was he robbed?

[VG_Addict]

How would you rate this era of HWs?

Also, I want Stiverne to win. Arreola had his chance at fighting a Klitschko. Stiverne was robbed of his chance at Vitali.

Why was he robbed?

Because he won a title eliminator, but Vitali was allowed to do nothing but sit around with the title, and got the deadline for his defense extended TWICE.

There's also the fact that he has to fight Arreola twice, even though he dominated him in the first fight.

[bradlee180]

Because he won a title eliminator, but Vitali was allowed to do nothing but sit around with the title, and got the deadline for his defense extended TWICE.

There's also the fact that he has to fight Arreola twice, even though he dominated him in the first fight.

Reminds me a bit of Mayweather's lame "retirement". Dude was lucky to get a split-decision win over De La Hoya, but De la Hoya has a 1 year rematch clause, so Mayweather retires for 1 year 1 day, lol...

[VG_Addict]

I don't see either of them beating Wlad, though.

Maybe Stiverne could have a decent chance if he worked on head movement. He has a good punch.

[El Kabong]

I don't see either of them beating Wlad, though.

Maybe Stiverne could have a decent chance if he worked on head movement. He has a good punch.

Yeah keyword "A" ....To stop Wlad sure you have got to hurt him but you also have to follow up which is extremely difficult now a days. I don't think Stiverne can do that. Arreola has a good chin, decent work great and good power I think if he could cut the ring off well then maybe he could give Wlad trouble but that is if Cris fights his absolute best and Wlad gets lazy in training.