Is the slick, iron chinned, power puncher Sultan Ibragimov the man that can finally beat Vitali? Looking at all the possible opponents Vitali could face perhaps this belter of a fight could prove to be his most challenging. Against Wlad it was a bad stylistic match up for Sultan, styles make fights as we all know, but could that slickness combined with his iron chin be the perfect combo to beat the aging Vitali? Perhaps so. At this stage in Vitali's career someone is going to get lucky against him and face him when he 'gets old overnight' and if it's a slickster like Iggy Vitali is going to be in big trouble. You wouldn't bet against Iggy repeating his highly impressive one sided beat down over the legendary Holyfield, maybe Holyfield's most one sided defeat.
Sultan has already admitted that he lacks the drive to regain the fighting shape necessary to make a comeback. He was in Florida last year (he actually lives in Russia but was visiting here), and after hanging out at the boxing gyms, stated that it would be extremely difficult to resume a boxer's spartan lifestyle. So, I don't think Sultan could come back and threaten Vitali. Even a prime Sultan would have been at a massive disadvantage against Vitali.
Sultan had the makings of a great fighter with his hand speed, power, south paw style and boxing skill, but he never was iron chinned (dropped by Austin, and I think Ahunya) and he wanted to hang them up long before he did. Ain't coming back, though I would welcome him.
would love iggy back..he was very underated..but as stated he wont be back..and the answer to your question is no he couldnt beat vitali
Iggy would definitely be a top 10 HW were he to come back, but like Wlad, he couldn't hang with the long jab of Vitali, and I doubt his style would be able to beat Haye, Helenius or Wach either. But his gritty, inside fighting could give guys like Fury and Dimitrenko fits, and end EASILY in KO wins for lil Barney!:deal
Even if he was to only have a one month training camp I would fully expect the current version of Iggy to blow Fury and Dimitrenko away with ease.
Great inside fighter, solid chin, and good power......anyone with those attributes KOs Fury inside 5, and Dimitrenko if he can't keep it on the outside.
Sultan was in the most boring fight ever against Wladimir in MSG, remember? He also won the WBO title from a standing still 260 pounder Briggs and not to mention that he had a draw with no other but Ray Austin. ****! No fight with Vitaly unless you beat all the russians alive and dead, Chagaev, Valuev, Maskaev, Dimitrenko, Povetkin and more.
The real question is: will Timur Ibragimov beat Seth Mitchell? Timur had a nice little winning streak interrupted when he got robbed in a hometown decision against Mormeck last year.
