Are people sleeping on Ibragimov??

Footwork is incredibly important. But I think overall movement, meaning footwork combined with head movement is more accurate when looking for the most important component in boxing. Ibragimov is incredibly coordinated and consistent ( 10 rounds to 2 against Briggs, 9 rounds to 3 against Holyfield) and you can never count out such a fighter... Moreover, I don't agree that Wlad is faster with that 3/4 punch combination ( jab-double jab, str8 right, left hook) than Iggy is with the speedy one-two counter shots combination and Iggy is very unpredictable with fast volleys ( Austin knockdown and throughout the Briggs' fight) and with sharp str8 shots 2 ( body shot on Holyfield in the 10th)...

Man, Sultan never crosses his feet and specially with lateral movement... In which fight did you notice that or please admit it is just a general perception of yours? I guess he can be caught such as against Austin because he may get countered by a left hook upstairs over his right jab but he seldom seizes the initiative - he is a reactive puncher - makes ya miss and makes ya pay inside on the fast countermove.

I do agree that Austin, Mora, Briggs and Holy are not preparing him for this but mainly b.c. the fight pace and workrate will be much higher... Wlad is undeniably the best Hwt in the system but Iggy has a chance to last the distance and win rounds just due to the consistency and coordination of this former Olympic silver medalist ( vs Savon) and undefeated world titlist... Wlad has a 70% chance to win of course as I already said.

 

this video proves otherwise

http://youtube.com/watch?v=w0XGa6OFmC0

 

good post. i thought u were just a wald hater from your recent posts but u make good arguments with logic. yes, footwork is certainly important and while i'll concede sultan has more footspeed, i think wlad's footwork and ring generalship are more advanced. See Brewster II. He moved the whole fight making it very difficult for brewster to set up and fire. IMO, i see wlad doing the same here. Just keep moving to his left to avoid Sultan's left, who really needs to land his left first to throw effective combinations. I have rarely see him lead with his right. Sultan has good footwork as well but i think he leaves himself pretty open to that left hook when moving right. As for handspeed, i guess will just have to disagree. tommy brooks who worked with both tyson and wlad, said wlad's hands were faster.

sultan is a good hw but i think he is completely outgunned in this one. the only possible way i see sultan winning is getting the fight late and capitalizing on wlad's fatigue but he is going to have to eat a lot of leather to do it. i just dont think he has the chin to do it. imo, the big moment in the fight will be when Sultan eats that first big right or left hooks. How will he respond?

 

Kobe, I don't really hate anybody and surely Wlad has not given me a reason to. I was very impressed with Wlad feinting, taking a step back and switching from left lead to right counter against Brewsta - that is a very hard thing for a 6 feet 6 inch fighter to do - but truth be told, Lamon didn't move laterally at all and was very much a still target to shoot at ( like in the first fight) just that he is dangerous fighting back... Wlad has to stalk and hit this lighter guy (Iggy) on the move which is something very different from what he is used to do... Sultan really relies a lot on that fast left hook against taller opponents and fighting on the back foot but he definitely has a very low right hand guard. I know Wlad is quite fast throwing that str8 right down the pipe ( against Brock) but the left hook would be more important when Sultan switches and walks to his right ( if he lands one like against Peter in the 12th, it's all over) - I can't believe Tommy Brooks would say such a thing and concerning Tyson though, he may have said it but it makes no sense as Mike was explosive and put a lot of massive punches together in his prime of course.

I agree that probably Sultan gets caught by a right hand like that one Holyfield landed in the 12th in Moskow but up until then ( may be early or may be late), he's certainly capable of stealing rounds like no other Wlad has faced until this moment and there is where my 30% chance stand for Iggy (on points).

 

Pardon me but I don't understand this - you mean that Iggy changes directions when moving to his sides and back and exposed himself to those Lance Whitaker's left hooks on the countermove? I said that he doesn't cross his feet in the sense that he doesn't walk right into his opponents' shot but of course he has to switch from walking clockwise to counterclockwise... You gat to see that it's very tiring to pursue and hit a lighter man that suddenly comes right back at ya with faster and heavy shots and Lance wasn't able to do it...

 

I'll bet my house Wlad knocks Ibragimov out cold with a bloody face.
The only thing going for Iggy is he's a southpaw (remember Corrie Sanders of course) however that was the days before Manny Steward took over Wlad's training and as the great Lennox Lewis said "If you have Manny as a trainer you know how to fight any style in front of you."
Wlad by brutal KO say goodbye to Sultan Ibragimov!