...You think John Ruiz and the HW version of James Toney would have helped their legacy better than the guys they have already fought? What the hell are you on, man?
What a poor decision, given that Valuev is not gonna get anything close to the magnitude of a Vitali Valeuv fight. What other opponent is there? WHo is he holding out for? LOL
Yeah James Toney comes off 2 fights with Ruiz and Batchelder getting caught for roiding and he thinks he deserved a 60/40 split or something like that. C'mon! Negotiations with Brewster didn't come together and he fought Byrd because Brewster had a belt and Don King wasn't about to throw it away to let him fight Wlad without taking his famous "options". Byrd had left King and the fight came together easily, so did Brewster once he left King. Yeah crybaby Ruiz is known for his open letters that he throws around every 3 months or calling out some beltholder or suing the WBA whenever the WBA doesn't have him instilled as mandatory challenger. But as long as he was with King, he wasn't getting near Klitschko. For the last few years, Ruiz has had the WBA circle jerk to keep him happy anyway. Sorry but John Ruiz isn't a legacy builder.....unless it's for David Haye.
Vitali is not interested in a fight with Valoeuv without the title on the line. Austin is Vitali's mandatory!
You think he's interested in a fight with Austin, a guy Wlad beat with one hand? Yeah he's next in line, but his mandatory isn't due until September. A fight with Valuev in Germany will certainly bring more money and interest than a fight with Austin anywhere.
Farmy you know Haye has his hands full with Ruiz. Vitali can't sit around and wait for him. What else is out there? #2 Solis is fighting Drummond, Austin isn't a draw and could wait, Valuev is ranked #3 and is more of a draw than Austin. Plus if Vitali can (and I think would) dispose of Valuev in more dominating fashion than Haye did, it would give Haye and others something to think about. Plus there's the Russia vs Ukraine dynamic to it, which I like!
Boxing is not about nationalicm. Valuev is not a worthy contender. Holyfield exposed him at the age of 46!!! He did not got the win, but he won.
No but it is part of nearly any sport like it or not. Turn a blind eye to it if it suits you, but it's always there.