Vitali vs. Rahman May 14th

Hasim Rahman is going to make a big mistake. He thinks he's a top dog and strong after beating a journeyman of Kali Meehan. Klitschko is a much taller and bigger guy. He has faced these kind of figthers in the past and did it pretty well. Klitschko will knockout Hasim Rahman between round 4 or 5.

rahman shudve went after byrd or ruiz, but not klitschko. theres a big step up from meehan and klitschko. or he shud face brewtser

You make a good point there, Meehan isnt exactly grade A and I realise this. I think of him just as a tune-up fight for Rahman really. However, the thing I got out of this fight was that he came in in-shape and he looked pretty sharp, which wasnt the case in his last couple fights. He came in against Toney at 260. For Meehan he was down to 230. Watch, now Rahman will come in against Vitaly the heavyest of his carreer, like Vitaly's last few opponents, and I'll have to eat my words. Who knows, someone has to realize sometime that extra weight is not the answer to Klichko. I doubt, though, that even in-shape Rahman could beat Klichko. It'll be Rahman-Lewis II again. Rahman was in pretty good shape for that but that didn't help him a whole lot.

Neuraxis I agree, way too much emphasis is being placed on Rahman's win over Meehan, whose reputation is based on a losing effort against Lamon Brewster. A lot of people seem to be of the opinion that Rahman was a far superior fighter against Meehan than most of his recent fights. Yes he did look impressive, but you've got to judge a fighter on his performance against quality opposition, and Meehan isn't quality opposition. In fact, (apart from the Tua fight which he really won) Rahman hasn't beaten any top notch fighters since he knocked out Lewis over three and a half years ago. I'm not saying Rahman is a bad fighter, just that I haven't seen anything from him in almost 4 years that can convince me he's got the tools to beat Klitschko. You make a good point there, Meehan isnt exactly grade A and I realise this. I think of him just as a tune-up fight for Rahman really. However, the thing I got out of this fight was that he came in in-shape and he looked pretty sharp, which wasnt the case in his last couple fights. He came in against Toney at 260. For Meehan he was down to 230. Watch, now Rahman will come in against Vitaly the heavyest of his carreer, like Vitaly's last few opponents, and I'll have to eat my words.

Neuraxis I agree, way too much emphasis is being placed on Rahman's win over Meehan, whose reputation is based on a losing effort against Lamon Brewster. A lot of people seem to be of the opinion that Rahman was a far superior fighter against Meehan than most of his recent fights. Yes he did look impressive, but you've got to judge a fighter on his performance against quality opposition, and Meehan isn't quality opposition. In fact, (apart from the Tua fight which he really won) Rahman hasn't beaten any top notch fighters since he knocked out Lewis over three and a half years ago. I'm not saying Rahman is a bad fighter, just that I haven't seen anything from him in almost 4 years that can convince me he's got the tools to beat Klitschko.

I think Vitali will probably KO Rahman. But it is still the heavyweights...maybe Rahman can repeat the "Lewis upset"...and there is always the danger of cuts. So it will be an exciting fight to watch. (and when Vitali wins I think his next fight should be against the #1 contender). :)

What are you talking about? Meehan was dropped in 32 seconds by that bum Danny Williams. It shouldn't have taken Rahman 4 rounds to finish off a guy with no power and no chin. Rahman lives and dies by his right hand. He won a total of 2 out of 9 rounds against Lewis and 2 out of 7 rounds against Sanders. Those aren't very promising numbers. If you can hang in there with him, and VK's stamina is better than Sander's and his chin is better than Lewis's, Rahman doesn't amount to much. True, but rahman has beaten both LL and Sanders and thats a good achivement allthough he was outboxed by both.

This wont be like VK's last couple fighters because those opponents are not on the same level as Rahman. Rahman would probably KO any one of VK's last 3 opponents if he came in shape like he did against Meehan. All of VK's opponents have tired way before he did lately. In this fight, if the fight goes deep I think it'll help Rahman tremendously because his Stamina is way better than VK's. Big guys just dont have good stamina compared to smaller guys. What are you talking about? Meehan was dropped in 32 seconds by that bum Danny Williams. It shouldn't have taken Rahman 4 rounds to finish off a guy with no power and no chin. Rahman lives and dies by his right hand. He won a total of 2 out of 9 rounds against Lewis and 2 out of 7 rounds against Sanders. Those aren't very promising numbers. If you can hang in there with him, and VK's stamina is better than Sander's and his chin is better than Lewis's, Rahman doesn't amount to much.

Atleast Rahman is the VK best opponent since LL. He got a change if comes light like against Meehan and lands that killer overhand right. However i see this going like VK last couple of fights, he vers Rahman down until mid fight were Rahman loses either by ko ore tko. This wont be like VK's last couple fighters because those opponents are not on the same level as Rahman. Rahman would probably KO any one of VK's last 3 opponents if he came in shape like he did against Meehan. All of VK's opponents have tired way before he did lately. In this fight, if the fight goes deep I think it'll help Rahman tremendously because his Stamina is way better than VK's. Big guys just dont have good stamina compared to smaller guys.

Atleast Rahman is the VK best opponent since LL. He got a change if comes light like against Meehan and lands that killer overhand right. However i see this going like VK last couple of fights, he vers Rahman down until mid fight were Rahman loses either by ko ore tko.

I suppose you have a pretty good point there. I have noticed that Vitaly's defense is deceptivly effective. He looks like he's right there to be hit, yet seems to misteriously evade punches. Still though, I think that this will be Vitaly's toughest opponent, save Lewis (although the Lewis that fought Rahman in their rematch and the one who fought Klit. are very different fighters, IMO. The one that fought Klit. may well have been the same one that showed up to the first fight with Rahmman). You could make a case for Chris Byrd, but stylisticly, Rahman seems to be a tougher fight because of his size. There is, IMO, a world of difference between Rahman and D. Williams/C. Sanders. Furthermore, I believe that both fighters will come in top form to this affair. I think that anyone who doesnt think this will be a competetive fight will be very mistaken. frankenstein's defense is so good because he uses distance extremely effectively, those long arms allow him to land the jab when the other guy can't reach him. it'll be competitive, but Rahman gets hit way too much to last long - unless V K isn't a big enough puncher to put him down. Rahman is a lot tougher than danny williams, if he had D i could se him winning this fight

I am excited about this fight with Vitali and Rahman because I have no idea what will happen. If it gets to round 8 or 9 I like Vitali's chances a lot better...but early on he is going to have to be very careful with Rahman.

not sure about Rahman, but VK has a mind like a steel trap.. or from what I've seen. I'd say if he gets rocked, he'll regroup and think of another tactic.

it will be good fight with vitali winning a tough fight by ko or tko

I think that the physical shape will only play a somewhat small part in the match. I think the important part of the fight will be the mental battle between the two, the psyche of it all. that will be played and decided within the first few rounds of the match up.. yes, that is possible. I'm sure the mental game always plays a part in the fight, and I can see how it might play a big part of this one, especially for Rahman who'll be staring up at a real 6'7 giant. I hope Rahman doesn't get intimidated and back up scared all night, or Vitaly eats a couple shots and gets scared. I dont really think it'll happen though.

I think that the physical shape will only play a somewhat small part in the match. I think the important part of the fight will be the mental battle between the two, the psyche of it all. that will be played and decided within the first few rounds of the match up..

I'd say Vitali's style is quite awkward too.. he keeps his hands down, looks for his shots and falls to his back foot when thrown at. it may be robotic, but it's effective. I suppose you have a pretty good point there. I have noticed that Vitaly's defense is deceptivly effective. He looks like he's right there to be hit, yet seems to misteriously evade punches. Still though, I think that this will be Vitaly's toughest opponent, save Lewis (although the Lewis that fought Rahman in their rematch and the one who fought Klit. are very different fighters, IMO. The one that fought Klit. may well have been the same one that showed up to the first fight with Rahmman). You could make a case for Chris Byrd, but stylisticly, Rahman seems to be a tougher fight because of his size. There is, IMO, a world of difference between Rahman and D. Williams/C. Sanders. Furthermore, I believe that both fighters will come in top form to this affair. I think that anyone who doesnt think this will be a competetive fight will be very mistaken.

I'd say Vitali's style is quite awkward too.. he keeps his hands down, looks for his shots and falls to his back foot when thrown at. it may be robotic, but it's effective.

just like he did to Ruiz. Ruiz is a special cas because his style is so damn awkward. Golota stated before their fight that he would rather fight any of the other 3 chamnps besides Ruiz, including Vitaly. Rahman will be more able to utilize his skills in this fight than he was against Ruiz and therefore there will be less left to chance. I am personally just glad that this fight is coming off. Its about time that they throw a live dog in against Vitaly.

Vitaly seems to have the better offensive tools then Rahman, but Vitaly doesnt like getting hit. Rahman's right hand will land for the first time in the mid-first round and Vitaly wont like it. Vitaly will land too, but Rahman will come determined and wont back down. Sometime around the sixth or seventh round, Vitaly will tire and Rahman well start ripping into Vitaly's body with left and right hooks, and then come upstairs and cut up Vitaly's face. In the mid-ninth, Vitaly will go down from a combination of punches and exaustion. He'll barely beat the count, only to be floored once again and out for the count. just like he did to Ruiz.