Was he better before he started training with Jeff Mayweather? his last few fights he only goes backwards and returns fire, but barely attacks. Against Whitaker he went for it, it was much more fun to watch then what Ibragimov displays now in the ring. I think that he should go back to his aggresive body attacks to save his name before he is labeled as a boring fighter. what do you people think?
i think he did exactly what he should of done against briggs and holyfield. Briggs isnt going anywhere fast but can punch and can mix his punches up if needs be.so if i would do anyhting it would be to land combos go away and repeat when ever he comes foreward counter with a southpaw combo and repeat again and again ect. Against Holyfield 'holy' came foreward being a bit passsive but being the aggressor so let him be the aggressor. he isnt faster or younger and his stamina can let him down later on in the last roudns of a fight so just box and move and counter you aint gonna knock him out or stink out the joint. Against Austin it was great fun to see him be a counterpuncher then when he gets knocked down he gets up and goes on the offencive i think people underate how much skills he has. Especially when he can swith his fight plan that much. to be honest do you think wlad can become a swarmer body puncher inside fighter or povetkin the crafty slickster. i think chagaev outclasse him but it would be a great fight that i can see both men winning...let the WBO WBA UNIFICATION COMMENCE
You bring up a great point, I do think hes a better fighter now, his fights are boring because he's scared to mix it up and get knocked down again, and if faced with Wlad he would be knocked out. I do however think he hurts his popularity and the excitement of the fans, so its really tough to say whats better for him in the long run, but I know I would rather see him fight his old way.
Against Shannon Briggs that was the perfect fight plan to use. The guy is a massive steroid using, tremendous puncher. Sultan won 11 rounds to 1 using his foot speed, handspeed, and giving angles. Briggs power is devastating. Liakhovich stood toe to toe with Brewster for 12 rounds. But against Briggs, Liakhovich got hit early and realized that wasnt going to happen against Briggs. You cant afford to get hit by him. Against Holyfield, Sultan could of been more aggressive, but the only chance in hell Holyfield had was for Sultan to stand and trade with him. Maywaether didnt see any reason to give Holy a chance, when Sultan could outbox him so easily, using his speed.
Boring or not, it don't really matter how it looks to the audience..... Winning should be his sole priority, and he is winning, so.
He can be very entertaning if he wants to, there is no shame in mixing it up, what he is doing now is almost no offence. Ibragimov throws awesome combinations, he should stick to them and win some fans that way
When you get caught and dropped, you stand a chance to lose the fight. Austin caught him, and he seems to be leary of mixing it up, now.
I think his new style is more effective. It's not exciting, but it will win him fights. Just not against Wladimir.
You could say the same about Vlad! It took him 6 rounds to throw a serious full power right hand, and the first time Brock felt his power, he was out. Vlad was just jabbing and moving for 5 rounds, people forget how little action there was because of the big KO at the end. Vlad was a little gun shy. Sultan is counter-punching and using his speed now, it is has improved him under Maywaether. Javier Mora went right at him and Sultan oppend up. I realize Mora isnt the greatest HW, but Sultan took him out quick, when Mora got inside. He ran right across the ring and attacked Sultan. But Briggs and Holyfield wasnt ever able to put any pressure on Sultan, so Sultan stuck his fight plan given by Mayweather.
Good post, both Iggy and Wlad are gun shy. Wlad will out box Iggy through 6 and will start to open up leading to a 8th round knockout or TKO IMO.
