Stiverne vs. Arreola.

[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.

[Master]

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.

I heard him sobbing on ESPN about him wasting his money at Christmas time. What a prat and he should get his fat ass in condition, this is his professional sport FFS. I was not moved by the interview as you can tell and for that reason alone I want Stiverne to win.

[beenKOed]

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.

I heard him sobbing on ESPN about him wasting his money at Christmas time. What a prat and he should get his fat ass in condition, this is his professional sport FFS. I was not moved by the interview as you can tell and for that reason alone I want Stiverne to win.

I like Arreola--has enough heart for three fighters--and I hope he wins. The truth is I feel a lot like you do, he should stop whining about past mistakes and get to the business of being a man.
Taking care of your responsibilities isn't that big of a deal. Billions and billions of us, around the world, work on it every day.

[Bo-Bo24]

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.

He knows its his last chance so he's putting everything into it. Personally I feel he's going to win despite lossing the first fight. Stiverne through everything at Arreola and couldn't get him out there even after Arreola broke his nose in 5 places. If Stiverne couldn't get him out after that he'll never manage it.

[Silkeyjoe]

Somehow Arreola is not fav for this fight. I originally had him priced around 1/2 but you can get 5/4 on him/ Anyone put me off a big bet on him?

[TigerFan]

I think Stiverne beats him again. I'm rooting for Chris though.

I see the rematch ending in a knockout.

[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

[Max Power]

Well I've said it before but this time round I think Chris will get Stiverne by KO.

I think Chris would have won the first fight if he could have kept his big nose out of trouble. This time I think he will.

You heard it first from Max Power!! =P

[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.