Heavyweight division - Has it ever been as boring?

1. Walcott had a better punch and I think feinted better than Byrd.
2. Sharkey got low against Carnera. I think that tactic would negate Wlad's straight from the shoulder punches.
3. I judge both Sharkey and Walcott to be a bit more agile on their feet than Byrd. Walcott especially has much better lateral movement. I have just been watching Byrd, Walcott, and Sharkey on youtube, and Byrd tends to be pretty stationary-a right in front of you type. I thought Wlad and Ike Ibeabuchi actually showed better lateral movement than Byrd.

 

I think that way too much is being made of Wlad's flat performance last night. People are saying things like "Wlad was too flustered by Ibragimov, and that being said what if James Jeffries were fighting him?"

The only real issue that I saw was that he simply wasn't aggressive last night. It wasn't **** that Ibragimov was doing that prevented a knockout. Hell, in one of the rare instances that Wlad used his right hand he nearly sent Ibragimov through the ropes. Its really amazing. The guy picks up his 50th win by beating an undefeated champion in one sided fashion, and people are already starting threads about comparing him to Jess Willard, all because he didn't knock the guy into next year???

 

I agree. It is something that happens in every fighters career. Watching the entire career of any fighter, you will see certain fights that are lower on the excitement levels than others. I think people were looking for some kind of epic statement there, but it didn't happen.

People are quick to forget that Wlad has an extremely high knockout percentage amongst fighters who have fought amongst the top of their division for over a couple of years.

People also forget that fighters such as Williamson have knocked him down, so its not surprising that Klitschko went the safe route and took very little chances. Klitschko has become expert at keeping fighters off of him, creating a range where he is at his best. He kept the fight at exactly that distance most of the time.

Fight went exactly the way I thought it would, but I didn't expect it to be that dull. I thought it would be a snoozer though and I was pretty sure it would go 12.

 

Good post.

This was not supposed to be an easy fight for Wlad given that it was a unification match, yet he more or less beat Ibragimov with one hand and blind folded. Ali, Holmes, Louis and other greats have had flatter performances against comparable or worse opposition.

 

There have been some good heavyweight matches. Brewster vs Lyachovich was the best scrap I saw in years. Ibragimov vs Whitaker, Vitlai Kltischko vs Lewis and Wlad Klitschko vs Peter were decent.

While last nights fight was a boring to in terms of action, a purist might see it as a clinic on ring generalship, jabbing, and defense for an orthodox fighter over a southpaw.

I tend to think the division is in great shape. The top talents of Ibragimov, Peter, Wlad, Chagaev, and Povetkin are on average under 30.



I think Berbick or Thomas could be one of the champs, but not the #1 guy today.

 

"These characters could run riot in todays heavyweight division. It would come down to a battle between the Baer brotherhood and the Klitschko brotherhood."

What level of delusion fomented the creation of said statement. Neither Baer was 1/10 as scientific as Klitschko. Granted the latter was reared in a solid amateur program. But as pro's there is simply no comparison. There is some sort of disconnect here, a level of denial that really leaves me shaking my head and wondering if this board has much to offer.

 

Right. Ibragimov was a ranked southpaw who opted to play defense and counter punch. Its shame the unification fight was a bore, but like you said it was only one fight. Theater of the unexpected strikes again.

In fairness to Wlad very champions look good vs ranked south paws. There was a guy named Ali who in truth had a much harder time vs a lesser southpaw than Ibragimov, and in case your wondering this was a 66-67' Ali who was lighting quick, and had a great jab.

 

Don't forget Wlad is nearly 32. Slowing reflexes might be a reason he was not able to let his hands go. Let's see what he shows in his next fight. He might be going back. Reflexes deteriorate earlier with some men than with others.

 

Wlad says he's faster than than he was in his 20's, and looking at the films, I tend to agree.

 

You thought he reacted quickly to openings when Sultan threw punches? I did not see an effective counterpunch all night.

Anyway, I don't think ANYONE'S reflexes improve with age.

I don't think the southpaw thing explains it. Wlad looked very good against Bryd. His performance against Sultan does appear to be similar to what generally happens when the reflexes start slowing and an aging fighter has more difficulty letting his hands go. He is old enough that this could be starting for him.

 

You know the old saying.

Your only as good as your last match.Never fully agreed with it but does have some substance to it when talking about now and the future.

Wlad won a fight by shut out and even though it was a boring boring oh so boring performance it was the required output for him to win.

To think a lucklustre dire effort is enough for one to win a so called big heavyweight contest these days.

 

No, I thought he chose not to swing and miss and be counter punched for the most part. Wlad did land some short counter hooks and stright shots when Ibragimov was agressive.

Yes, I think Wlad has better hand speed now than he did early in his career as his techniqe and fludity is better now.

 

At 1st I was disapointed by Vlad not taking more chances, he seemed afraid that he would get caught if he committed to a right hand or a hook and there were a lot of awkward moments but I have to blame Sultan also, I thought it would be a good matchup but it turned out to be a Counter puncher vs a Counterpuncher, all and all Vlad still won and he did land a couple of headsnappers but Sultan took them well