Wlad vs Sultan is also Russia vs Ukraine

When two countries, or factions, or whatever, are at odds, or even have trivial rivaly, having each represented in a fight makes for a more engaging and enveloping match, cause what each group feels outside of the ring is carried out, vicariously, through the fighters.....

It may not seem like much, but I think this kind of thing is good for boxing.... It gets people more emotionally involved, and attracts more people who would not normally watch a fight.

 

Good way to summarise it ...

 

I'm pretty sure they're not framing it as Ukraine vs Russia, even in Russia, since Ibragamov is an ethnic minority from a quasi-breakaway republic (Dagestan).

 

Countries and their governments always have their own interests and goals.However,ordinary people are not members of their government.
We still have family in the Ukraine(Chernigiv) and in Kaliningrad(Russia).
I havent been to either Russia nor Ukraine for the last couple of years.Nevertheless whenever I was there I spoke Russian and didnt encounter the slightest problems.I live in Germany and the Czech Republic where I have lots of Ukranian and Russian aquiaintances and friends.
Belarus,Russia,or Ukraine-for ordinary people this is still no big matter.You speak Russian(and every Ukranian speaks Russian) you are from the same nation.Of course I support the nationalistic Belarussian opposition against Lukashenka,but I am not a fanatic.I am in favour of our Belarussians culture and language,but I am not one of those fanatic ultrantionalistic clowns who wants to kick out all Russians.We have too many things in common.Hate is not the best adviser.

 

ODO, what planet are you on, not all Ukrainians speak Russian !!!!

Where my family are from (Ternopil region) , its almost seen as a sin to speak Russian !! .... in western Ukraine only people born pre-independence understand Russian as they were forced to speak it in schools, when the Russians were trying to wipe out Ukraine and its culture.

 

I have never ever met a Ukranian who couldnt speak Russian,ukitaz!

I dont want to deny that there are remote areas and villages in Ukraine where they dont speak Russian.Anyway! That is not the point! No Ukranian has any difficulty in communicating with a Russian.You may not speak pure Russian,or Russian with Ukranian intonation,or Russian with mixed Ukranian vocabulary,but you can understand Russian,and you can comunicate with a Russian.

In Belarus there is a strong minority which speaks pure Russian-especially in the bigger cities like Minsk,Vitebsk,Brest,and so on.Most Belarussians speak a kind of "tresjanka".Russian with Belarussian intonation and Belarussian words.Even our beloved president Lukashenka isnt able to speak pure Russian.Any native Russian speaker knows at once that Lukashenka isnt a native Russian as soon as he opens his mouth.
A lot of intellectuals speak pure Belarussian as a kind of protest.As you many the strongest opposition in Belarus is nationalistic.
There are still a few remote areas and tiny villages where they speak pure Belarussian,and there are quite a few areas where they speak "tresjanka" with a higher percentage of Belarussian.
I am certainly in favour of the Ukranian as well as the Belarussian language,but I have no hate for the Russians or the Russian language(one of the richest of this planet with one of the most fabulous literature).
You heart seems to be full of hate for the Russians,unikaz!

 

Try the Euro lounge

 

neither fighter will be fighting for their country, theyre fighting to unify the belts
there are many ethnic nationalities within russia and ukraine, and when these people step into the ring they are all labelled by country which they came from.

Maskev is a good example, he is from kazakhstan, has both russian and american citizenship.....so whats his nationality?

There is no nationalistic rivalry, only casual sport fans can see it that way

 

Almost fifty percent of Ukrainian voters are pro-russian and Ukraine - Russia enemies? They are fuc**n brothers - no nationality issue. Wladimir and Vitaly are the reason all this Russians, Uzbeks, Kasakhs, Bielo-Russians, Armenians are fighting at this level... There will be a great atmosphere at the Garden and the World is coming closer together - Russia, Ukraine, America, Germany, everybody!

 

Russia vs. Ukraine? Well, at the first glance it does look like Russia vs. Ukraine, but it is not that way for the majority of Russians and Ukrainians.
The two nations are really so close culturally and historically that only a stubborn minority in both nations will see this fight as "US vs. THEM".
Cheers from Moscow, Russia (no live transmission on Russian TV, but we'll be watching it recorded 10:10 am Sunday - and I CAN'T WAIT, guys!)
HAVE FUN!