This is how I see it as well. Chagaev would be a hightly rated contender in most decades of boxing. In some timelines he could be champ.
I'll follow his career closely. I think he could be the best out there actually. BUT - how has he come back from this illness? He looked seriously gassed in round 10 v Skelton when I personally thought he had a chance to close the show.
Right. Fighters are usualy better in their 2nd match after a injury or illness. Skelton is a tough bugger to finish.
He has five good wins over highly ranked opponents. He has defeated three top ten heavyweights (Valuev, Virchis, and Ruiz) and five top 20 (add Skelton and Sprott) if you go by the BoxRec rankings. He's a very good heavyweight as his record indicates. His last opponent Skelton was a poor choice, typically poor Universum matchmaking. No one can look good against Skelton except maybe Wlad, and Ruslan's nine months of inactivity didn't help. Still, Chagaev won a comfortably wide decision over a difficult opponent (although Skelton is not a good "boxer" he uses many tactics to his advantage such as holding his opponent's arm or head while hitting). I'm hoping Ruslan fights at least three times this year.
"Skelton seems like a nice guy, but beating him doesn't make you #2, and I say Chagaev lost to Valuev" WHAAAT? Chagaev made Valuev look like a men from a stonage. Because of his great skills he outboxed Valuev, how many boxers could do that? Skelton is a nightmare to fight, he makes everyone look bad
First Valuev looks always like a men from stoneage which fight have you seen ?? :hi: In my opinion Chagaev lost vs Valuev,Ruiz and Virches and he would lose against both Klitschko's, Maskaev, Ibragimov, Povetkin, Gomez Skelton was one of the worst Challenger ever:yep I doubt that Skelton would last more than 6 round with Klitschko, Ibragimov, Peter, Maskaev, Haye, Briggs or Tua I think that Lyakovich will beat Valuev an take the Titel from Chagaev
Chagaev will fight the winner of Valuev vs Lyakhovich next. Whomever wins between Valuev and Lyakhovich will be viewed as a solid top ten ranked guy. Since we have already seen Chagaev vs Valuev, I'm rooting for Lyakhovich. If Chagaev wins again Universum will get a chance to pick an opponent. I get the hunch it might Meehan if Meehan wins as planned vs the young & undefeated Preskar. There is a good chance that Chagaev will fight three times in 2008, but will wins over Sketlon, the winner of Vlauev and Lyakhovich, and a Universum picked opponent bring glory to Chagaev? Not really. It will only solidify his spot as the 2nd or 3rd best heavyweight. Perhaps we can see Chagaev vs the winner of Wlad vs Ibragimov down the road. That would be a legacy type of fight.
Chagaev is the most skilled HW out there. If it wasn't for his lack of size, power and lenght, he could dominate the division.
Good enough to be an unbeaten champion, God enough to beat Valuev, good enough to have remained unbeaten since turning pro and never avoding anyone on the way.. Very strong man... Skelton is hard to look good against and he did a good job on the face of it....
Chagaev is a smart boxer and utilizes The Sweet Science to beat opponents. Chagaev said that he wants to be the best and will fight anybody to do so, he evn called out Klitchko.