I bet Rappaport has got the WBC by the short and curlies, somehow. There must be something going on behind the scenes for them to make Oleg a mandatory, after he was just thrashed by Peter and deserves squat. Not to mention that Vitali just fought one mandatory in Gomez. This is crazy.
Let me explain something to you people. Sam Peter had more of a chance than Maskaev does. Maskaev is old, shop worn, and chinny. That is a bad combination of things when you are going to face a fighter like Vitali Klitschko.
Same people who are saying Maskaev would beat Vitali will be saying later when Vitali knocks him out that Vitali fights bums.
I've supported Oleg all of his career and would be fully behind him if this fight happens, but going with my head, he will not win. I hope he gets a good pay day and retires healthy.
Olego Maskaev will see stars inside of 5 rds against Klitschko...... No need for that match... MR.BILL
Logical post. Chance . . . of course he has . . . but not much. Don't get carried away by Oleg's first round KO win last March 14 against Boruf. Boruf was there for the taking . . . he was fed to the lion. Boruf is a guy who is rated 314 in the world with a record of 17-3 and lost his two previous fights by TKO's against bums. Take note of Oleg's previous fight last Sept 6 '08 against Robert Hawkins. Hawkins is 6"0' with a record of 23 - 12 and rated 113 in the world and yet Oleg only managed to get a UD win. That should be a good indication of what's Oleg's real chance is.
Maskaev would have to be consistent with his inside right hands, and I could see him doing it for a round or 2, but anything more than not really. Maskaev would also have to survive Vitali's punches over the course of the fight and I don't see him doing that. Vitali would stop Maskaev faster than he stopped Gomez.
I agree and it is there to be taken advantage of. Like I said to all that were interested, all I am saying is that Maskaev is very very dangerous opponent to Vitali. Any man that can throw powerful short punches is a threat to an older fighter that fights with his mouth open.
Nah, Maskaev is way to slow. I've seen seasons move quicker. Vitali would have a stationary target to pick, prod, poke and eventually dispatch - he would do all of this within about 7 rounds. If Vitali has to fight him, he should get it out of the way sooner rather than later.