WBO declares Alex Leapai to be Wladimir Klitschko's official mandatory

Agree with this, Wlad will spark out Leapai then anybody rated in the top 10 by the WBO will have to wait another 2 years for a shot at the title.

 

Don't get me wrong, I commend Leapai for taking a "risky" fight with Boytsov, something guys like Wilder/Adamek/Arreola/Solis etc were unwilling or unable to do.

But let's face it Leapai doesn't belong in the ring with Wlad. Not at this point. Neither did Boytsov. This should never have been an eliminator in the first place.

 

Agreed. I'm kind of disappointed WBO made Leapai the mandatory. It would be nice if they ordered him to fight Tyson Fury or some other highly ranked WBO contender to determine the mandatory.

Also, the WBO's rankings are to blame. Denis Boytsov being ranked #1 was ridiculous. It's obvious that they wanted to secure him a title shot without having to fight some of the genuine top contenders and Leapai pulled out an unexpected upset. Having Stiverne at #2 and Wilder at #3 is also pretty wrong, but even those guys would bring more attention to the table than Leapai.

Like I said, the WBO has been doing an awful job with the rankings, no wonder someone like Alex Leapai ended up being the mandatory. My guess is that even Wladimir preferred Boytsov, as he would bring much more attention among the German public.

As for Leapai, I have nothing against him, it's that I don't feel that he was supposed to be there. After all, he'll almost certainly lose to Wladimir but he'll also get some nice paycheck.

 

This is not Wlad's fault it's the WBO's and it's a weak mandatory. If Wlad wants to keep all the belts than he must take this fight. He is looking to fight in March so he could have a 3 fight year this year. He could then fight Pulev and have one last fight against a hype guy Like Wilder or a tough veteran like Chisora. Or if his brother retires he can have a big unification match with whomever holds the WBC title at end of year. This fight right here will def be the worst choice of opponent for the year. Good to get it out of the way.

 

Agreed :good

 

if the rest of the lot r losing to wlad, and most contenders don't want to face him, I'm yet to see too many others who really deserve the shot anymore than alex.

 

Right decision from the WBO . Lepai won the fight againt Boytsov and he deserve it.

 

somebody forgot to tell alex he was not suppose to win, lol.

 

No fault here.

Lepai won against the No. 1! Why in hell should he not be the mandatory. Why ESB think he will lost to the Champ?

This man deserves to be No. 1. He is a professional boxer for money. So this is a great chance for him to get some money.

I cannot understand the arguments against it. He won against Boytsov so he deservs to be No. 1. No promoter has helped him to become No 1, only his fists.

 

if u r not from Europe or the usa then u r not a worthy heavyweight apparently.

 

True, I don't hear any complaints about Wilder being ranked #3 WBC for not fighting anyone in the top 60! Vlad can't fight Pulev, Pulev said he wants to fight, at least, one more fight before fighting Vlad. GEEEEEEEEEE, Wilder managed to beat Sconiers, after getting knocked down..............so, he should not have to fight anyone else, they should just give him a championship like the bogus ranking he has now................

 

Really?

Firstly, I don't know how a guy can jump seven places just because he beat the number one contender. If he was ranked outside the top 10 and he beat Boystov, would he still have earned the number one slot afterwards? That makes no sense to me at all.
Yes, Leapai should have been ranked higher after the win, but all the way to number one?

Secondly, Wlad is coming off a fight that has been universally panned as a stinker. Even many of his fans have been turning against him because of that fight. People are disgusted.
People want to see a competitive fight. Does anyone here in their heart truly believe this fight will be competitive?

Thirdly, people say that Wlad has no choice but to fight his mandatory. Bullcrap. That is naive and selective thinking at it's very best. Look at how lenient the WBC have been with Vitali.

Is there any reason that Wlad cannot pay Leapai some step-aside money while he picks a more lucrative and deserving opponent? It's been done all throughout boxing history, so why not now?

Is there any reason Wlad cannot approach the WBO and work out a deal, maybe to fight their mando in the new year?

I don't buy it for a second that Wlad has 'no choice' but to fight Leapai.

I also don't buy it that if team Wlad seriously put down an offer to Pulev or Fury (two FAR more deserving challengers to the title than Leapai) that they'd say 'sorry champ, I'm just not ready yet. Maybe next year, ok?'

That's why I said that this is Bowe-Ferguson all over again. Ferguson unexpectedly beat Mercer, who was in line to fight Bowe. Of course, Bowe, looking for a soft touch, was only too happy to take on Ferguson.

Bowe was slaughtered in the press because anyone with a brain could see what was going on but he took the fight anyway, which predictably was a joke and a blowout victory for Bowe.
This is exactly the same situation. It's all bull**** and politics.

IF (and I say if because nothing has been put on paper yet) Wlad takes this fight right now, then what little respect I have left for him will be gone forever.

As champ, Wlad ought to do the right thing by boxing fans and look to make amends for that stinker against Povetkin. Take on someone that has better credentials and that will appease the fans.
This fight isn't it.

 

I dont know who leapai is !!!

 

How many fights has Boystov pulled out off yet he still reached #1?

He pulled out against Fury and he ducked out of a fight against Chisora yet still skipped both of them up the WBO rankings to the #1 spot.
He doesn't even headline shows and fights 10 rounders.

How is that possibile?

 

I believe the WBO should of made Leapai fight one more fight since his bout with Boystov was not deemed a title eliminator and he was not a top 5 contender in their rankings. In their judgement he has done enough to be the mandatory. His resume is stronger than Wilder's but I doubt their would be the same level of outrage against Klitschko if that was his next fight. Would be nice to fight Pulev first and see if Leapai could hold the title through another fight before fighting him but after Povetkin I guess a quick soft defense is way to go. Wlad isn't the first champ to take such a fight. Either way if they fight in Asia or Europe it will do huge business.