Wlad-Ibragimov Feb 23rd

Wlad TKO 9!

 

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Klitschko-Ibragimov is on!
[SIZE=+1]February 23, 2008 in Madison Square Garden
By Karl Freitag

[/SIZE]IBF/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko says he is set to collide with WBO heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov in the first heavyweight title unification fight in eight years. "I am hugely glad that after intensive negotiations we are able to do this title unification," stated Klitschko. "This is what fans worldwide want to see. Ibragimov has proved his class with persuasive victories against ex-world champions Shannon Briggs and Evander Holyfield. This will be a very exciting duel and Madison Square Garden is the perfect arena for it." The bout is expected to be officially announced shortly. HBO will televise in the US, RTL will carry the fight in Germany.[/FONT]

 

Unification!
Klitschko vs Ibragimov

November 20, 2007
For several years, fight fans have longed for the day when the heavyweight championship of the world would be unified and one man would reign atop the sport’s glamour division. On Saturday, February 23rd, at ‘The Mecca of Boxing’, New York City’s Madison Square Garden, that day will be one step closer when IBF & IBO Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko and WBO Heavyweight Champion Sultan Ibragimov meet to unify their titles in a bout destined to bring cl! arity to the heavyweights once again.

Klitschko and Ibragimov, a 12 round heavyweight title unification bout, headlines a historic night of boxing presented by K2 Promotions and Seminole Warriors Boxing and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing.

“I´m very happy that after intensive negotiations we have finally reached a deal”. said Klitschko. “I’m really looking forward to this unification bout. This is what boxing fans around the world want to see. Ibragimov showed his class with his convincing victories over Shannon Briggs and Evander Holyfield. I’m sure this will be an exciting fight and Madison Square Garden is the perfect place for it.”

“Before I became champion, my goal was to win the title and unify it,” said Ibragimov. “But when I won the belt, I found no champion willing to fight me. I thank Klitschko for being a true champion and for fighting me. I know we will put on a great show for the fans in New York and around the world.”

"We are excited to bring this historical fight to New York and Madison Square Garden," stated Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions. "This will be the first heavyweight unification since Holyfield/Lewis in 1999 and it is fitting that it is in the arena with so much boxing history."

“In a division where champions have been known to shy away from dangerous challenges, credit must be given to Wladimir Klitschko and Sultan Ibragimov for stepping up and putting their belts on the line, not only for their own legacies, but for the good of boxing,” said Leon Margules, Executive Director of Seminole Warriors Boxing. “Both men are fine descendants from a championship line that includes Dempsey, Louis, Marciano, and Ali, and they will prove it on February 23rd.”

The 1996 Olympic Gold medalist Wladimir Klitschko (49-3, 44 KOs) is one of the most talented heavyweights of this era, and his dominance has led him to 2 heavyweight world titles. After holding the WBO title from 2000 to 2003, the 31-year old Klitschko also won the IBF title from Chris Byrd in 2006 and has made 3 title defenses with KO victories over Calvin Brock, Ray Austin, and Lamon Brewster.

Unbeaten in his five years as a professional, 2000 Olympic Silver medalist Sultan Ibragimov (22-0-1, 17 KOs) has impressed boxing aficionados with his fast hands, combination punching, and willingness to take on all comers. The 32-year old Ibragimov, a native of Dagestan, Russia, won the WBO Heavyweight Championship in June of 2007 with a dominant 12 round win over Shannon Briggs, and he has since defended his title with another clear cut victory in October over heavyweight legend Evander Holyfield.

For Klitschko and Ibragimov, the time is right to unify the HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE.

For more information, please visit www.warriorsboxing.com

 

Unfortunatley unification with the WBO titleholder means nothing at all other than wlad beating a guy who owns the lineage of victory over him from his loss to Brewster! It doesnt bring Wlad any closer to being THE champ or Undisputed. It wont last long before one of the belts is taken away just as Calzaghe`s IBF title was after he unified it with his WBO title.

4th round ko win for Wlad. Ibragamov just isnt that good.

 

Forget about lineage, this is a unification, period, and of course if Wlad wins then he is the champ at heavy, until another unification.

 

February 23 huh, means they (whomever) has 3 months to screw this up. Sorry, but I can't remember the last time a heavyweight came off as planned.

 

I hope Ibragimov wins six or seven rounds and lands clean on Wladimir too, not that I want Klitschko to be done of course, just that to make it more entertaining.

 

I personally care less about the stupid belts. This fight however brings #1 HW vs. another top 5 HW which translates into "best fight the best," and that is the most important element, at least for me.

 

:happy

Great news!

 

Sultan is the man!!!! First he tries to unify with Chaegev who backs out on him, gives us at least an interesting matchup with Holyfield, and now wants to fight THE MAN at Heavyweight. A round of applause for Sultan Ibragimov, if only all the fighters in the world had his testicular fortitude!! :happy :happy :thumbsup :bbb

 

Yes. He deserves major credit.:happy :happy :happy

 

sheeeeeiit!!

was lewis-holyfield II really the last HW unification bout?

 

Yes, yes, yes, YES!

Wonderful news
I'm actually dancing right now

 

sultan is in some trouble wlad ko 5