atsch What a great moment, I remember this though not many here do. The old Kiev chicken bait & switch.
No, they haven't Don't be too impressed though, who have they every had to duck that was half decent anyway?
Lennox lewis Chagaev Ibragimov Byrd Adamek brewster mercer briggs rahman I think they're decent boxers.
Their division has been full of 'd' class fighters and bums. They haven't needed to duck anyone, because there has been no one worth ducking. They've struggled to find opponents with a pulse.
atsch You're a character Jack I'll give you that. So this clown who likes to harp on about how **** this era is, is actually now moaning that the Klitschko's didn't fight some of the HW also rans and that they also didn't fight other fighters who are younger than the Klitschko's at a certain time. The fact that you even dare to mention a fat, Anglosphere hyped disgrace like James Toney says it all, he got destroyed by Peter making him obsolete. The past it extreme steroid version of Briggs Vitali fought was a far more worthy opponent than that fat piece of ****.
Everybody´s ducking the Big Bad Derek How the hell didn´t you mention The Bravest Audley Harrison or Tougher than Mike Tyson Fury?
Would have, or not thats just a speculation. Ruiz wrote an open letter and Vitaly did not even responded ... if he would respond, they would sit to the negotiations and the business part would be unsatisfactory then it is a different story. But Vitaly did not respond to the challenge and this is obvious case for ducking. Even worse case is for Lewis who officially refused to fight Ruiz. The one thing is for sure, NOBODY can accuse Ruiz for ducking anybody.
Do you think it's common practice for an offer to be lowered if it was rejected? King and Valuev wanted $4m and Vitali offered $2.5 then $1.5m and then $1.2m. In what world is this normal practice? Yes, the economy was suffering but they still had to offer more more in order to get the fight made. Their last offer was a paltry $1.2m. Sosnowski earned a million, so do you really think all Valuev was worth was $200k more? Please. The facts are there for everyone to see. If you think constantly lowering an offer is the way to do business and it's the fair way, then that's up to you. It's not how any other promoter works though.
“When I talked to Vitali in summer he told me that he was ready to fight me in autumn. But then I just couldn’t get in touch with him again. I personally called him on his mobile, but he didn’t pick up the phone" - says Nikolay. – "And then my promoter Wilfried Sauerland met Klitschko at the wedding of Boris Becker and offered him to discuss our possible fight. But Vitali just turned his back and walked away. That’s when we spoiled Klitscho’s own plans – we offered Haye bigger purse for the bout with me and he signed the contract at once”. And when Valuev did accept $1.5m? “It’s too ridiculous to be commented on. I have already agreed even on the financial details with Klitschko. I accepted the terms of contract and I’m ready to get it on for miserable one and a half million US dollars. Maybe Vitaly begrudges fifty (50) tickets for my team, as I asked 35 tickets ringside and 15 more around the place, does he? I cannot even understand these pathetic accusations. I’m ready to collide with the Ukrainian. If he isn’t then, ok, Vitaly will continue fighting guys like [Albert] Sosnowski”. ....Vitali lowered it.