If Vitali beats Rahman, will he gain some respect from the Anti-Klitschkos?

If not, what does he have to do to quiet the nay sayers?

He won't quiet anyone until he faces off with Byrd. Once he beats Byrd then most but not all, will give him his due. Beating Ruiz will get him some props and love from the entire boxing community if the beating is bad enough.

He won't quiet anyone until he faces off with Byrd. Once he beats Byrd then most but not all, will give him his due. Beating Ruiz will get him some props and love from the entire boxing community if the beating is bad enough.Lol, agreed.

He won't quiet anyone until he faces off with Byrd. Once he beats Byrd then most but not all, will give him his due. Beating Ruiz will get him some props and love from the entire boxing community if the beating is bad enough.

I agree, But if he beats Rahman the phrase 'Vitali Klitsko is the best heavyweight today' will have more ground.

The fact of the matter is that even if Vitali keeps on winning, he will never get the respect that he deserves.

I agree, But if he beats Rahman the phrase 'Vitali Klitsko is the best heavyweight today' will have more ground.


dont know about that, like LL said, their nothing but B-class boxers, that just shows how theres not enough competition in the heavyweight division

If he does what LL could not do ,and KO him in the first ever meeting,then should be no doubt left.

Even if he beats the **** out of Ruiz, Byrd, Rahman and Lewis i dont think he will get the respect he deserves.

Especially not from americans, i think they have problems with the champ being not only white but east-european.

Even if he beats the **** out of Ruiz, Byrd, Rahman and Lewis i dont think he will get the respect he deserves.

Especially not from americans, i think they have problems with the champ being not only white but east-european.
I agree...

For a moment there, I thought you were gonna say if we'll respect Williams more. But for your question, I guess it would defend on what Rahman would show up or how's the fight gonna be.

If he beats Byrd, Rahman, Toney, Golata, Brewster, Tyson and Tua he will get some respect from everybody.

Man, it isn`t that hard at all. Tyson was champion in a very bad heavyweight era. He got respect from beating everyone there was to beat. Vitaili can do the same. Rahman is decent start. If he rematches and beat Lewis in the fall this will also quit some people down ( although they will claim Lewis was old and shot ). Beat Byrd in a rematch then take care of the Tua`s, Ruiz`s, Mesi` etc....THEN he`ll be acknowledged as the best heavyweigtht and very good fighter!

The worse the beating laid on Ruiz, the better in the minds of boxing fans. I think many are to the point where a vicious one punch knockout of Ruiz is not considered painful enough. Instead, many would like to VK methodically beat him into excruiating submission- like Danny Williams.

Vitali will gain little respect by beating Rahman.

Rahman is just too hot & cold a fighter. You beat him, knock him silly....you aren't exactly covering new territory.

Klit will beat him...& prove that he's the best of a bad lot.
The fact that Rahman is being considered some kind of threat shows just what depths this division is down in at this point.

Beating Rahman is definately a step in the right direction for Klitscko's career. I heard before the fight was announced that he would take an easy fight in Germany before taking on a mandatory. This is much better.

After this fight, he needs to contract another fight pretty quick if he wants to get in 3 fights this year.

Beating Rahman is definately a step in the right direction for Klitscko's career. I heard before the fight was announced that he would take an easy fight in Germany before taking on a mandatory. This is much better.

After this fight, he needs to contract another fight pretty quick if he wants to get in 3 fights this year.


....Interestingly enough is the fact that the Klitschko website is yet to announce that Vit is fighting Rahman. I find that a little odd to say the least.

Even if he beats the **** out of Ruiz, Byrd, Rahman and Lewis i dont think he will get the respect he deserves.

Especially not from americans, i think they have problems with the champ being not only white but east-european.
I have been saying that for months.

Even if he beats the **** out of Ruiz, Byrd, Rahman and Lewis i dont think he will get the respect he deserves.

Especially not from americans, i think they have problems with the champ being not only white but east-european.

Here we go again...white people accusing everyone else of being rascist. Give me a break. First of all, people always like fighters that are from their home countries more than people from other places. Second of all, race has nothing to with it.

Americans like American fighters. Russians like Russian fighters. It makes sense. If black Americans were basing this purely of race, why isn't everyone a huge Danny Williams fan?

Second of all, race has nothing to with it.

Americans like American fighters. Russians like Russian fighters. It makes sense. If black Americans were basing this purely of race, why isn't everyone a huge Danny Williams fan?

as much as I wish you were right... sorry brother.
They did roote for Williams if you remember. All the previous champs said and wanted Williams winning in that situation.
It's a sad fact, but it's true that racism is still big time in boxing, and not only by white people, so you can quit blaming us. I don't recall any whites here being intentionally racist, rather trying to defend themselves from racism of other races... can't whites be proud of VK as HW champ? or is that racist?

p.s. I'm not Ukranian or Russian... I'm an American mutt with Native American, Scotish, and Syrian backgrounds... I like VK because he is an honest good man with a good heart and good sportsmanship. He never talks bad about others, he only does his job and does it well.

like LL said, their nothing but B-class boxers, that just shows how theres not enough competition in the heavyweight division

I thought LL was a GREAT HW boxing Champion, not a professional boxing analyst. He seems to be to be often biased and arrogant... I hope you don't base all your opinions on his word. I'm not sayin the HW division is at it's best, but it's HW for goodness sakes... and in HW, one punch can end a fight. If the division was soooo horrible, why didn't LL stick around and make another 50 /60 million right quick on some easy fights instead of running away from VK?

Dont think lennox run from the diviosn at all, he took on everyone he could, n why would he wanna stick around n make more money just cus the division aint strong, im sure hes got enoough cash, and is wise enough to know he aint gettin younger, he done it proved it n has now left it for a new generation

Here we go again...white people accusing everyone else of being rascist. Give me a break. First of all, people always like fighters that are from their home countries more than people from other places. Second of all, race has nothing to with it.

Americans like American fighters. Russians like Russian fighters. It makes sense. If black Americans were basing this purely of race, why isn't everyone a huge Danny Williams fan?

Yeah, last time I check a lot of American heavy boxing greats are blacks. Do not pay any attention to DK's words. Even in this era, a lot of the favorite boxer are non-white and in some cases non-American at all (all division).

I think one of the reason V.Vlitch is not as respected here in the US is not becuase he's not as respected as people think, it's just people don't know him very well (compare to other heavies). Where was he before the Lewis fight anyway?

If he does what LL could not do ,and KO him in the first ever meeting,then should be no doubt left.

So we should respect Ruiz as the best because he beat Rahman first time and Lewis couldn't?

This will do nothing (or very little) to prove Klitschko is the best. Rahman has already lost to Ruiz, not by KO but that's just a question of styles. Rahman isn't a champ, hasn't beaten any champs recently and is just a good contender. But it should be a good competitive fight and a convincing win for Klitschko would definitely add to his reputation.

You can argue about who is the best all day (Klitschko poor opposition, Ruiz cheats/boring, Byrd lost to Fres & Golota?), but the only way he can PROVE he's the best is to fight the other champs, Byrd & Ruiz. Then to maintain that position he'd have to face the top contenders.

What I would like to see is Ruiz fight someone with a legit referee, reffing the fight. Ruiz will lose and lose badly like he did against Jones.

[QUOTE=thesiberianexpress]So we should respect Ruiz as the best because he beat Rahman first time and Lewis couldn't?

This will do nothing (or very little) to prove Klitschko is the best. Rahman has already lost to Ruiz, not by KO but that's just a question of styles. Rahman isn't a champ, hasn't beaten any champs recently and is just a good contender. But it should be a good competitive fight and a convincing win for Klitschko would definitely add to his reputation.

Rahman lost to Ruiz on the scorecards,not by Ko.As I was pointing out earlier,if VK knocks him out and leaves it not to the judges ,he would of done what Ruiz(IBF champ) or Lewis(formal WBC champ) could not do.Is the fasion of how the win comes about,that will start to erase the doubts.

If Vitali just completely blows Byrd out the water, we're going to hear alot of bull****. Things like:
"Oh, Byrd just got old in that fight."
"Byrd was out of shape."
"Did you see those straight left hands? Byrd easily won the fight."
A hater is a hater, thats all I can say.

A hater is a hater, thats all I can say.

Do you think beating Rahman (in impressive fashion) proves Vitali is the best?

Rahman lost to Ruiz on the scorecards,not by Ko

Yes that is what I said. (But remember, styles make fights)

And like I said, with the division as it is, there will always be OPINIONS on who is the best. I agree, Vitali LOOKS the most impressive heavyweight out their, but until the division is unified (or things change with other fighters) that is NOT PROVEN.

Do you think beating Rahman (in impressive fashion) proves Vitali is the best?

I think it will solidify his place as the best. I think what hes done the last few years already made him the best heavyweight in the world. Chris Byrd, give me a ****ing break here.

one thing that sorta separates VK from the other top HW champs is that VK WANTS to fight great champions like Tyson and LL. His goal was to fight these guys ever since he was into boxing. If you look at some of the other champs.. I don't imagine Byrd, Ruiz, or Brewster wanting to get in the ring with Tyson or LL...

that's obviously not a measured trait, but it does show he's not afraid and he does mean business.
:D

On the issue of race, I'm convinced that it does play a part in Vitali's approval rating.

Some fans don't like him because he's white and some don't like him because he's Ukrainian. Whether it's skin color, nationality, religion or whatever, IMO he is being discriminated against. And that's ok because he's still the WBC champ no matter what people think.

As far as his boxing skills, IMO I don't see how anyone can deny his right to be called champion. He has around a 93% ko ratio. Only one man out of Vitali's wins has ended the fight on his feet. He's never been knocked down. Nor has he ever been behind on the score cards at the end of any of his fights, including his two losses.

Having said that, I would still like to see him rematch Byrd and Lewis.

IMO, If you don't like him, it's probably because he's either beaten your favorite boxer or it has nothing to do with boxing at all.

On the issue of race, I'm convinced that it does play a part in Vitali's approval rating.

Some fans don't like him because he's white and some don't like him because he's Ukrainian. Whether it's skin color, nationality, religion or whatever, IMO he is being discriminated against. And that's ok because he's still the WBC champ no matter what people think.

As far as his boxing skills, IMO I don't see how anyone can deny his right to be called champion. He has around a 93% ko ratio. Only one man out of Vitali's wins has ended the fight on his feet. He's never been knocked down. Nor has he ever been behind on the score cards at the end of any of his fights, including his two losses.

Having said that, I would still like to see him rematch Byrd and Lewis.

IMO, If you don't like him, it's probably because he's either beaten your favorite boxer or it has nothing to do with boxing at all.

So ****ing true

Rahman sux!!! If Vitaly beats Byrd and avenges his loss I will acknowledge him as the legit HW Champ.

He won't quiet anyone until he faces off with Byrd. Once he beats Byrd then most but not all, will give him his due. Beating Ruiz will get him some props and love from the entire boxing community if the beating is bad enough.

I don't see King allowing this fight to happen. There is no way that he will loose one of his HW champs and he KNOWS that Byrd cannot win that fight. Too bad though, I really wish Klichko would unify the belts. Maybe HBO will put enough pressure on King to let this fight happen, they did say that they will work on organizing unification bouts after the last PPV with Klichko.

93% ko ratio. Only one man out of Vitali's wins has ended the fight on his feet. He's never been knocked down. .
He has an 97% KO rate (33KO/34 Wins)