Where did this myth that Ibragimov has any real top level defensive skill come from?

Or any real defensive skill at all?

There is a massive difference between having an effective defense against Briggs/Holyfield and a prime Klitschko. Sultan was able to safely outbox a 2-punches-per-round asthmatic, old and predictable Briggs to win a title. I recently watched a rerun of the Holyfield defense on ESPN and it reminded me how flawed Ibragimov is. He was up against a 44 year old, C+/B- fighter who anyone with a good defense should have had zero problems with. Instead, he got hit by Holyfield's right hands a number of times as well as his slow jab and other punches. A lot of these punches Evander landed against a 100% Ibragimov were flush on his chin, not half-connects. Do I even need to bring up the embarassing performances against Austin and Ahunanya? Sure, Ibragimov wasn't in great shape against Austin, but he still showed his major flaws and very shaky chin. Against Ahunanya, he was in good shape but simply couldn't handle a strong, live fighter who could back him up at many points of the fight (a fighter who Povetkin had zero problems against early in his career BTW, for the people saying Ibragimov is somehow better).

Ibragimov has had a ton of problems with his defense against lower B level opponents and he has an extremely vulnerable chin. How can anybody think he'll last the distance with Wlad? If ancient Holyfield could time flush right hands over Ibragimov's 1-2 combos and hit him with the jab, what do you think Wlad will do to him? Sultan has very fast handspeed, but his footspeed is nothing special and his balance is average. He can fight well off the backfoot against **** opposition, but even against some of them, when he has been backed up he gets confused, panics, and responds by opening up and rough-housing his way back into the center of the ring. His reflexes aren't good. He reacts slowly, freezes up in bad moments, and often leans into his punches too much after he misses. He also carries his right hand low and doesn't have good head movement, so Wlad will have no trouble landing his jab, then following up with a right hand when he doesn't expect it.

Some people think this fight will go the distance or at least go into the late rounds because Sultan will use his new defensive style which we've seen during Briggs/Holyfield. Even fighting that type of 100% safe fight, Ibragimov will be easy to hit. Whether it's countering him and timing punches or backing him up with a stiff jab followed by a left hook/right cross, Wlad will connect flush shots on him and take him out. Looking through some of the threads about the match and reading some of the articles almost made me forget how bad Ibragimov's defense really is. Thankfully, the Holyfield rematch reminded me again and opened my eyes to how overrated his defensive style has become after his last 2 fights. The more I think about the fight on saturday, the more I think Klitschko will spark him early.

 

Spot-on. Most acclaim for his defense cites his seeming quick movement in and out of the pocket; as you said, against opponents short on speed but tall on name.

 

You don't need to bring all that **** up, we know what Ibragimov is all about but Klitschko won't spark him early. What if Klitschko has problems with him, what will that make him.

 

I do need to bring it up, because a lot of people think that Sultan's defense can be effective against the top HW's. If Klitschko has problems with him, it'll be a disappointing performance and bring him down. He shouldn't have any trouble taking Ibragimov out before 6 rounds.

 

Ibragimov's defense is, quicker feet and hands than most heavyweights. He will use his advantages especially early in the fight when he's fresh and I don't see Wlad stopping him early.

 

I'm not convinced. Ibragimov will come to fight. If Wlad stops him, it will be most likely after the middle rounds.

 

Those advantages will not help him against Klitschko, because Wlad will time right hands on him when he's coming in and Sultan is always open to be hit. His reflexes aren't good enough to get away from punches with his hands down effectively. Being "fresh" doesn't matter when you have a leaky defense with a weak chin and you're up against a huge, precise puncher.

We'll see.. I'll bump this thread on Saturday night.

 

I also think this fight will go past 6 rounds. Sultan is shifty enough to do it and also quick enough. I see him trying to avoid the ko at all costs and Wlad winning a UD or round 9-12 ko. You bring up very good points as usual, but sometimes it just comes out different. Hell for all we know SULTAN is going to go for the early ko. He's a moron if he does and he will get sparked, but I believe he knows that his only chance to win this fight is for it to go the distance and hope Wlads tank runs empty before his does. Everyone knows Wlad tends to fade in the later rounds

 

It's possible but it usually takes Wlad some rounds to get into a rhythm and get his right hand going, that and the fact that Ibragimov is a fast starter makes an early KO unlikely.

 

Sultan's stamina isn't good either though and he'll have to take risks if he wants to break Wlad down and make him gas in the later rounds. I agree with you that Sultan will try to avoid the KO at all costs, but he's extremely hittable even when he's fighting a safety-first fight. He will not know what to do when Wlad gets aggressive and he can't handle his power.

Yes, sometimes it just comes out different, like in the case of Pavlik-Taylor II.. but I think this is even more guaranteed than the Pavlik KO was. Pavlik and Taylor are not that far away from eachother skillwise and he's a sloppy fighter. Wlad is a prime elite now and Sultan is B level with a huge styles disadvantage. I hope you don't bet on the over, but if you do and you win then props to you. I would say good luck, but I have money on the under and Wlad by KO.

 

Good luck to you too. I did put a bet on the over rounds of this fight (minus the embarassing avatar I will get if it doesn't go over 6 rounds). Nothing that will break the bank, but I thought +180 was worth the risk, cause as we already said Sultan just wants to try and make it to the final bell and I think that will hopefully push it to the over rounds. God knows I have been wrong before though. If he steps into the ring looking for the ko I will seriously lose all respect for him,, I have heard rumors that he thinks he can ko Wlad atsch. Hopefully just rumors. I still need to get your thoughts on Pac/JMM II. The more research I have done, the more I am leaning towards JMM. I will just PM you :good

 

Lose respect? I think I would actually gain respect for him if he went all out for the KO right away. It's probably the only way he could beat Wlad anyways. It's a 1% chance chance, but better than the 0% chance of outboxing him. He also can't break Wlad down round by round or make him work very hard. Ibragimov hasn't been showing heart or balls since fighting for the title and I would be impressed if he went wild and did this time.

I forgot about that JMM-Pac writeup. I'll do that tomorrow. I've always thought JMM would beat him in a rematch and now with posters like Brooklyn and Amsterdam picking Marquez to win I'm even more confident in him.

I can't wait to see the under rounds line for the Gamboa match this Friday.. it should be a steal.

 

I predicted a 6th round KO, but looking back on the Ray Austin fight and Holyfield fight when Holyfield would land with flush right hands when aggressive, I think he'll get stopped earlier. I'll have to change it to about the 4th on the prediction threads.

 

Yep I was hoping they would pop up before im off work at 6 today :good

And I would lose respect for Iggy because he would lose me money , no I would lose respect because I give him a pretty much 0% chance of getting the knockout, and it would surely result in him getting ktfo

 

True...

I still can't believe it's been 8+ years since we last had unification