Chagaev - Ortiz for interim WBA heavyweight belt

I assume Luis Ortiz. He's one of the Cubans who came over, but wasn't as heralded as Solis. Older guy, southpaw, slick with quick hands, very unorthodox style, moves well for a big guy, really long arms. Has a real tendency to showboat in the ring. Fights a bit like a southpaw David Haye, but doesn't carry that kind of power. I've seen him a number of times and he's pretty good, but this would be a massive step up. When he first came over, he took some pretty tough fights against gatekeeper types, but he's stagnated since then and has been feasting on bums lately.

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=528949&cat=boxer

Also, while he's listed as 33, there's been speculation he's actually older than that.

 

They don't need an interim champion.

They don't even need a "regular" champion.

The WBA champion is Wlad period.

Alexander Povetkin is just a glorified WBA #1 contender. I wonder if he really wants to fight Wlad this time. The other times he didn't. We'll have to wait and see.

 

:good

Very nice.

 

:good

Again.

Well said.

Wlad is the WBA Champion nobody else.

 

Yeah, last I'd heard of him was against Epi Mendoza a year back.

Apparently he's fought regularly since then and scored four knockouts, but with massively regressed quality of opposition.

Chagaev even in his declined state is significantly better than anyone Ortiz has shared the ring with (the best among them being Mendoza, ancient Smoking Bert Cooper, and Zack Page)

 

I don't know why people are so upset by these things. At the end of the day the winner of this fight wont be accepted as the champ just like Povetkin and Haye weren't but on the plus side this forces decent match ups between the fringe contenders and up and comers thus making basically a decent mandatory tournament. Who ever still holds this title in 18 months time will then be a worthy challenger for the full title. Just like how Povetkin vs Wlad is the best matchup since Lewis vs Holyfield at hw.

 

If you're a boxing fan then you're right. The problem is that casual viewers of boxing get confused by all these "champions".

As far as I'm concerned, Wlad is the champ period and Vitali is #2.

 

On top of that lets look at some of the names that have fought for that title.

Shot Audley Harrison
Shot Rahman.
Blown up CW Haye.
Blown up CW Huck.
Valuev.
Drumond.
Skelton.
Barrett.
Beck.
Kirk Johnson.
Oquendo.

 

Wladimir is "The Champ".

Nobody else.

 

:yep

 

so a super champ,a regular champ,and an interim champ???what a damn joke

 

Ortiz fought someone making his pro debut just 2 fights ago

 

At worst Wlad is "The Champ" and Vitali is "A Champ".

 

Lesser champs hardly matter in any division where there is a "the" champ. Even calling Vitali "a" champ gives a little too much credence to the sanctioning body of the belt he holds. He's a major titlist at best.

 

That's a great idea!
So Wlad would bet the WBA Wlad Klitschko/Povetkin-Fury champion!