I think it was a natural reason why the eastern boxers were behind US for years. Now even they are at the top it become annoing that one after another is not able to defend his title due to sudden and unexpectable injuries. Vitaly .. multiple injuries, now Chagaev and Maskaev ... are they cursed by nature?
May have something to do with the fact they were not allowed to be pros till communism went down in russia in 1989 ?,bet there was tons of decent guys who would have done great in the 70s and 80s.
One things for sure these guys are part of the reason the Heavywieght division is going down hill, fighters still fight when there hurt. Mike Tyson before he fought the "Black Rhino" in 03, ****ed up his back doing wieghted crunches and he still fought.
No Im a white guy, I just dont think Maskaev should get a free pass here thats all. Alot of people go to work in pain and sick, besides he should just get in the ring and get knocked out so we can lose some of these less than stellar fighters that seem to hang around in the heavywieght division.
That was funny as hell when he said that to Jim Gray after the fight, Tyson sure does have a way with words.:yep
