Quote Originally Posted by Lyle
Well #1 Wlad said "I want a unification match"

www.klitschko.com "Vitali, what’s next? How likely is it that Wladimir will have a unification fight?
The likelihood of Wladimir carrying out such a fight is very high…But while the contract for such fight is not signed, it’s hard to speak with full certainty.

From all of today’s champions which one is most likely to face Wladimir next?
If there will be no force-majeure circumstances than it’s Oleg Maskaev. "

#2 The Maskaev fight almost came to fruition instead of the Brock fight

#3 Shannon Briggs called out Wlad at the press conference

#4 i have read about a Briggs-Valuev matchup from Maxboxing

I'm not 100% sure that any of these fights will happen but it's looking more likely.
1., 2. Maskaev has this joke fight against someone I've never heard of first, and then has to fight the winner or Toney-Peter II. It will be at least 8 months before a Wlad match would be even theoretically possible. (of course, it won't be possible, because Toney and Peter both beat Maskaev). I believe Wlad has a mandatory against Austin too.

3., 4. Briggs has to fight Sultan Ibragamov before he can think about lining up any kind of unification fight with Wlad, Valuev, or anyone else. He can talk all the shit he wants, but there's already a purse bid for the Sultan fight. (very questionable whether Briggs wins this)

Bottom line: I think we'll go another year before any belthoders fight each other, and at that point we'll have different beltholders (except Wlad and maybe Valuev, neither of whom will face anyone good).