Why are people so bothered about HW unification ??

Heavyweight title as always been most important, and should be unified. Others should be too, but a heavyweight unification would boost the sport up a bit. I can't see anyone not being for it.

 

:good :good :good

 

i hope wlad catches the wbo/wba titles, then he has achieved something. he won't be having them for long, because they'll surely strip him at least one. you can't fight three mandatories, right? i don't see the other champs beating him, the guys most capable of making a big upset win against him are probably someone like mollo who could catch him early or if he walks straight into a right from a bum like tye fields. otherwise i can't see him losing.

 

Because we don't have a linear champ, and because HW unification (sadly) is such a rare thing it would really be something special.

The Wlad/Sultan fight is always notable as the first unification since '99. Shame it isn't the full thing...

There hasn't been a unified HW title defence since 1992...Holyfield vs Holmes.

 

Somebody had to call him on that ****, well done. :good

 

Here's the proper order:

1. W. Klitschko (Dominating wins including mandatory defenses)
2. R. Chagaev (Out of action for a bit, not available for unification)
3. S. Ibragimov (Undefeated and willing to fight anyone)
4. O. Maskaev (Out of action, refused a unification match against Wlad)
5. S. Peter (Already beaten by Wlad, nearly lost to McCline)
6. N. Valuev (On the way back into the mix?)

The rest depend more on your personal opinion of their recent wins as well as whether or not they are former champions & if they are undefeated & how dominating their recent wins have been.

 

How did he call me on my ****? Iggy's two best wins are over Holyfield and Briggs, Peter's best wins are over Toney and Mccline, Holyfield was knocked out by Toney a couple years ago and Briggs lost his fight Mccline as well. Peter was the last oppenent to give Wlad trouble in the ring, and was able to put him down 3 times. Iggy had a life and deaf match with Austin, the same Austin that was destroyed in the 2nd round by Wlad.

RUSKULL I know you get alot of pleasure out of making fun of Peter, but every respectable web site or mag has Peter ahead of Iggy, the lowest I have seen Peter ranked was 3, as I told Heavyrighthand before, please find me one place that has Iggy ahead of Peter if my rankings are so wrong.

 

Source: Fightnews -- OWNED just like your boy Scam will be by Maksaev. I'm sure you will enjoy your new avatar. I got your back RUSKULL :yep

1. Waldo
2. Ruslan Chagaev
3. Sultan Ibragimov
4. Oleg Maskaev
5. Sam Peter
6. Nikolai Valuev
7. Tony Thompson
8. Alexander Povetkin
9. Shannon Briggs
10. Sergei Liakhovich
11. Alexander Dimitrenko
12. Vladimir Virchis
13. Juan Carlos Gomez
14. Eddie Chambers
15. Hasim Rahman
16. Calvin Brock

 

#1 Wladimir Klitschko 49-3, 44 KO’s (IBF Champ)
After, literally, busting a knuckle on Lamon Brewster in July of 2007, Wlad wisely took the rest of the year off. He deserves it after such a dominating past two years. But I’ve been HOWLING for a unification fight (something that Wlad’s been giving lip service as well), and, I’ll be damned… WE’VE FINALLY GOT ONE! Personally, I don’t think the good doctor will have much trouble with WBO champ Sultan Ibragimov on February 23rd. But I applaud the champs’ efforts to bring some stability to the division. Holding two of the four major belts will certainly help as a means to that end.

#2 Samuel Peter 29-1, 22 KO’s
Back problems for the Big O nixed a planned WBC title match-up between Peter and Maskaev, so they scheduled an interim belt bout for the Nigerian Nightmare against Jameel McCline (of “He Lost to Zuri Lawrence” fame). This was supposed to be a softball for Samuel, a nice quick knockout before the fight with Maskaev. Instead Peter barely survived with his jaw intact (getting dropped three times), and while he pulled it together and won handily in the end, it brings up questions about his ability to handle a taller fighter. Someone like, say, Wlad Klitschko? I don’t think Maskaev will give him much trouble (that is, IF they actually fight as scheduled on March 8th), but that hypothetical unification bout (that BETTER be) looming in his future must have him up nights.

#3 Ruslan Chagaev 23-0-1, 17 KO’s (WBA Champ)
An undisclosed illness (that I’ve only heard described as “acute” and “chronic”, which is both frustratingly vague AND somewhat contradictory) cancelled his much anticipated bout with WBO Champ Ibragimov. He’s had most of 2007 to rest up, and it appears his illness is not as chronic as first reported, as he’s got a bout lined up with top Brit Matt Skelton in mid-January. This provides the twin benefits of getting Chagaev back into the swing of things AND getting Skelton some much needed world-class competition outside the UK (which, I’m betting, will NOT agree with his proper nature).

#4 Sultan Ibragimov 22-0-1, 17 KO’s (WBO Champ)
How “No Chagaev” equals “Holyfield Title Shot” in the eyes of the WBO is still a mystery to me, but Sultan showed ample skill in dispatching the now AARP-ready Real Deal. Sure, he looks a little like Barney Rubble, and his body isn’t sending people screaming towards the hills. But he’s a tough dude with some good hand speed and the ability to make a fight plan and stick to it. That being said, I don’t like his chances in the unification bout with Klitschko. Sultan was pretty gun shy against the taller stronger Shannon Briggs. I can’t imagine a BIGGER, STRONGER opponent who might actually THROW PUNCHES BACK will strengthen his resolve.

#5 Oleg Maskaev 34-5, 26 KO’s (WBC Champ)
Are my eyes deceiving me? Am I actually writing about 2 bouts that feature four of the top five fighters on the H.U.T.T.?
Don’t listen to all of those naysayers out there, decrying the state of the division. It’s a great time to be a heavyweight fan! Unfortunately, it’s not such a great time to be Oleg Maskaev. A year off is NOT what this man needed. To paraphrase Marsellus Wallace, “The sport is full of boxers who think they’d age like wine. If you mean they turn to vinegar, it does. If you mean they get better with age, it don't.” (unless your name happens to be Bernard Hopkins). I’ll be surprised if Maskaev, who’ll be 39 by the time his bout with Samuel Peter takes place in early March, even makes it to the ring. Back problems don’t get better with time for boxers. Just ask Vitali Klitschko.

#6 Nicolay Valuev 47-1, 34 KO’s
Rough year for the big man. After a bizarre injury win over Jameel McCline, the big Russian steps in with a littler Russian (Chagaev) and gets tattooed by his nasty left for the better part of 12 rounds, losing his WBA strap in the process. The Giant ends his year with a less than sparkling UD win over French Canadian fringe prospect Jean-Francois Bergeron. His new trainer, Alexander Zimin, swears that he’s going to change Valuev’s style for his future fights (he’s currently got a WBC eliminator bout scheduled with Serguei Lyakhovich on Feb 16th), but I have my doubts about teaching a 34 year old dog with knees that don’t bend new tricks. I think his old style of simply overwhelming his opponents with his sheer enormity will be enough to take out Lyakhovich, but it won’t serve him as well if he gets another a title shot.

#7 Tony Thompson 31-1, 19 KO’s
The career changing victory for The Tiger over Luan Krasniqi in the Summer of 2007 was followed up with a single tune-up in September, a 2 round destruction of journeyman Cliff Couser. Unfortunately, it was a tune-up for absolutely nothing for the foreseeable future. Nothing on the docket for Thompson so far in 2008. Sure he’s a young 36 (if trading a toughman career for amateur experience can be considered a youthful pursuit), but the time is now. I feel like I’ve been saying this about Tony for a couple of years now. Time for his handlers to get his name in one of these title eliminator discussions. Before their man runs out of time.

#8 Vladimir Virchis 24-1, 20 KO’s
Another year, and another move up the rankings with not a lot of action to support it. Hell, even I’M questioning my ranking him here. His close loss to Chagaev (who’s also been inactive in 2007) is only going to get him so far. For now it’s got him sitting at #8 on the H.U.T.T. after wins over Marcus McGee (3rd round KO), Paolo Vidoz (12 round UD), and Robert Hawkins
(5th round KO) this past year. None of those names blowing your skirt up? Yeah, me neither…
Someone get this guy into some BIGGER fights!

#9 Alexander Povetkin 14-0, 11 KO’s
As I’ve said before, this guy should be dreading my support for him. It’s the kiss of death. But a convincing 11th round TKO win over Chris Byrd in October has set up an IBF eliminator scuffle with fellow up-and-comer Eddie Chambers on Jan 26th. Chambers is, essentially, a younger version of Byrd. While this probably won’t make for a very exciting fight, I think Povetkin will prevail and then his assault on the champions will begin.

#10 Eddie Chambers 30-0, 16 KO’s
I’ll be honest… I’m not a fan of Eddie Chambers’ style. His bout with Calvin Brock was about as exciting as aluminum siding (sorry all of you aluminum siding fans out there), and his “head back, hands down” style, while effective as a young man, has never been one that’s aged all that well in the heavyweight division (see Chris Byrd & James Toney). I think he’s in for a rude awakening when he faces Povetkin, who’s relentless. Will a loss bring about a change in style? Probably not. But here’s hoping!

 

Well done Kobe! The fact is that it's really common sense.

 

I was very happy when I heard Iggy was going to fight Chagaev for unification and I'm a Wlad fan so there goes your theory. In fact, if you're bored, you can check my previous posts and you'll see exactly how I responded when I heard the news. The winner of that fight would've been tied w/ Wlad for #1 Heavyweight in my eyes.

 

How anyone could put Peter above a true beltholder is beyond me.

You are entitled to your opinion of course...............

 

Ok you proved me wrong I guess, I should of known some gay site would have a messed up ranking like that. I will we rephrase my original statement, most respected sites have Peter ahead of Iggy in top 10 rankings, you happy now! :bart

 

How could anyone (?) - Samuel Peter survives 3 knockdowns in the first 3 stanzas to earn a WBC interim title and how could he be rated number two by "The Bible of Boxing"? I would call it the elimination process - none of the true beltholders could be fairly rated that high judging by what would be the commissions' policies themselves, let alone an independent source. Ruslan Chagaev won the WBA title as far back as in April 07 and only just, Sultan Ibragimov won the WBO title in June and defended it against an opponent who was not top rated by any commission, Oleg Maskaev won the WBC title in August 06 and defended it against you know who in December 06 and has ZERO fights in 2007... Peter won a second consecutive WBC eliminator and a WBC interim title while waiting for that mandatory title shot and that makes him earn that rating along with the fact that he did lose one professional fight ( like most of the other top 10 rated HWTs) to the consentual Top rated HWT and in the well known circumstances of that IBF eliminator.

But I agree that mine is just an opinion... Not that ratings should be made based on assumptions of who beats who - I am one that needs to see to believe but that would be just another opinion.