Sultan Ibragimov Striking Fear in His Peers?

Sultan Ibragimov Striking Fear in His Peers? By Scoop Malinowski The IBF recently ordered a Sultan Ibragimov-Samuel Peter elimination fight for the IBF mandatory ranking position to face champion Wladimir Klitschko. Samuel Peter - or his promoter Dino Duva, for some reason, did not accept the fight from what a victory would have obtained a guaranteed much-sought after world title rematch with Klitschko. Clearly, Samuel Peter, as good as he is, knows what many boxing insiders already know - and that is that Sultan Ibragimov is an extremely dangerous heavyweight contender. Let me repeat, that Sultan Ibragimov is a very, very formidable and threatening heavyweight fighter. And very much considered the superior heavyweight than his cousin Timur, who personally told me he KOed Shannon Briggs in sparring recently (see News Archive interview with Timur Ibragimov). Though not a very tall or physically imposing gladiator, the the six-foot, one-inch 30-year-old former Olympic silver medalist (he lost to Cuban legend Felix Savon in Sydney) possesses more important qualities than just vertical stature. Ibragimov is very powerful, very fast-handed, very confident and a very aggressive, smart fighter. There are insider stories about his fury and prowess - such as knocking out two name heavyweight sparring partners on his final day of sparring before the Lance Whitaker fight last December. And there are insider tales of his extroardinary and ferocious psychological mindset. "At the press conference before the Whitaker fight, Shannon Briggs showed up to the press conference and started to heckle Sam Peter (who was on the card)," said his promoter Leon Margules. And Sultan tried to jump over the table and start with Briggs at the press conference. His manager had to hold him back. (Why?) He likes to fight. He thought it was disrespectful what Shannon was doing. He wanted to go after Shannon. And Shannon was just trying to start something with Peter. Taking away from our show in December." So, as we know now Samuel Peter did not want to fight Ibragimov, and his reasoning does not appear consistently representative of a man purporting to be the future heavyweight champion of the world. In fact, the word now is Peter is close to a deal to meet Monte Barrett in a meaningless August 10-rounder. Now wouldn't Ibragimov have to be an extremely devastating force for Team Peter to back out from an IBF Elimination bout with Ibragimov? You better believe he is. Last week we learned that the IBF ordered a purse bid on June 3rd for the next available IBF contender to face Sultan Ibragimov in an official elimination bout. Former WBA champ John Ruiz was ordered by the IBF to face Ibragimov. But guess what? Ruiz does not want to fight Ibragimov either! Instead, Ruiz, was suddenly and conveniently after all these months named WBA number one contender to Nikolai Valuev. Coincidence? Or a business decision by a power that be to protect Ruiz from an Ibragimov showdown on American soil? Do you really think Ruiz has a good chance to win a decision from Valuev in a rematch in Germany? Sultan Ibragimov may be an unknown heavyweight commodity right now. But if the IBF can find a heavyweight contender brave enough to step up and challenge the devastating Russian for the IBF mandatory ranking, you can be sure that label is going to need some revision. Sultan Ibragimov may very well be the second best heavyweight boxer in the world today. And with his crushingly powerful and lightning fast straight left hand, he might even be the only man who has what it takes to defeat the number one man Wladimir Klitschko. Contact Scoop: Mrbiofile@aol.com

Comments (20)

As for Sultan, he's impressive, but he's vulnerable to being hit. He relies on his power a little much, I think. He got hit with more clean punches from Whitaker than people realize, and was hurt in it. While it shows he's a tough fighter, it also shows that his defense may get exposed when in with a better puncher than Whitaker. Jury's still out on him. Would love to see him in with Peter or Brock. ...He got stopped in his tracks for a split second in the Whitaker fight but I'm not sure how hurt he was. He came forward immediately after and didn't appear to be too bothered. He can be hit though and no matter how tough he is I'm not sure how he takes a flush shot from Wlad.

20y ago

keystone30pack

any vid of him never seen him fight just alot of talk alot of talk on here that is would doubt it if any of the locals even recognize this guys name down here were talkin about immigration, friends getting deported, how to curb gang violence, and economic expanison sultan who?

20y ago

keystone30pack

Ibragimov would KO Peter, Ruiz, Rahman, Toney and everyone in the division...yipiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiyipiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii any vid of him never seen him fight just alot of talk

20y ago

enadeus

Hey enadeus do you have any of Sultans fights? I know you do but will you host them? Maybe a bit later, remind me this weekend.

20y ago

Leo_Pradun

20y ago

Leo_Pradun

First off Scoop has it wrong. The IBF ordered an elimination bout between Ray Austin (and not Sam Peter) vs Sultan Ibragimov. Ray Austin turned it down. Sam Peter had nothing to do with this fight. Sam Peter was nowhere in the IBF's plans for an elimination bout. Scoop and most others should really do their homework before spouting out nonsense from their yappers. agreed, I saw the same stuff...

20y ago

Leo_Pradun

this is bullcrap, sultan offered peter a fight but the ibf manadated ruiz vs sultan, I dont think peter is scared to fight sultan, the organization for some reason wants ruiz vs ibragimov, but ruiz was given the number one spot in the wba so who knows whats gonna happen now...

20y ago

antihero

I remember Sultan being a bad dude in the amateurs. He got DQ'd from the Euro champs final for hitting below the belt and he fought Savon in the Sydney final giving him a tough time. I thought he would make a good pro and he has so far.

20y ago

beez721

Ibragimov would KO Peter, Ruiz, Rahman, Toney and everyone in the division...yipiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiyipiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii no offense but thats about as crazy as the people who are saying "peter would kill sultan" its a tough fight to call

20y ago

Hous

Ibragimov would KO Peter, Ruiz, Rahman, Toney and everyone in the division...yipiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiyipiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Hey enadeus do you have any of Sultans fights? I know you do but will you host them?

20y ago

enadeus

20y ago

beez721

As for Sultan, he's impressive, but he's vulnerable to being hit. He relies on his power a little much, I think. He got hit with more clean punches from Whitaker than people realize, and was hurt in it. While it shows he's a tough fighter, it also shows that his defense may get exposed when in with a better puncher than Whitaker. Jury's still out on him. Would love to see him in with Peter or Brock. I agree,,,his defense does look vulnerable but he hasnt been knocked down as of yet so who knows what type of chin he has. on the other side peter hasnt yet been able to knock out anyone above class C,,and I believe sultan is above the class of fighters peter has been knocking out. If sultans chin is only avg or below peter knocks him out,,but if his chin is descent or better,,peter could lose a decision. tough one to call

20y ago

beez721

Peter would kill him how can you be sure of this? peter couldnt knock out shufford pudar or hawkins 2 fights ago and sultan hasnt displayed a weak chin at least as of yet,,,so who knows if he'd crash after taking a shot from peter. he's also undefeated so there's really no evidence yet that peter would blow him away. sultan is a busier fighter and throws in combinations unlike peter so he could possibly outwork him. I really dont know who I'd pick in this fight as the jury is still out on both fighters,,,but I'd definitely love to see it. too bad peter isnt more willing

20y ago

chidave

It's funny you said that..because Peter is the one that reminds me of Tua. Strong chin, can knock your block off with one punch, but lacks the dedication (weight problems) and skill to ever reach the pinnacle of the division.

20y ago

beez721

ibragimov reminds me a lot of david tua. seems a little bit too one-punch happy and i could see him (later in his career) relying on that one knockout punch instead of combinations. i think he's flawed, but exciting. he fights nothing like tua. he always throws in combinations to the head and body. tua rarely throws in combination anymore but he probably hits much harder than sultan

20y ago

mECHsLAVE

20y ago

mECHsLAVE

Good Ole Scoop, still shilling for any Euro heavyweight he can find. This is the same guy who after Golota lost to Ruiz, said there was a conspiracy by Don King and the judges were on the take. If anyone lost from Golota losing that fight, it was King. Wrong. King gained with Golota losing. Golota is a draw with or without a belt, but Ruiz is only a draw with a belt. So why would he want to lose a draw? Makes perfect sense. And I honestly believe that fight scoring was a little shady myself. Two of the judges scored it 9-3 for Ruiz? And one of those is a no-brainer with 2 KD's. So Golota only won TWO other rounds, even though if you saw compubox he threw and landed more punches in every round but one? If those two judges score it 7-5 for Ruiz, Golota wins. If they score it 8-4 for Ruiz, then Golota wins. They gave Ruiz the exact minimum rounds he needed to win the fight. And there's no way in hell that Ruiz won 9 rounds of that fight, my friend.

20y ago

beez721

Sam Peter isn't a pussy for turning down Sultans offer. I do believe Sam Peter would murder Sultan in a fight because Sam Peter is a guy with questionable skill but tremendous power. I dont think Sultan really stand much of a chance because I hear he has aweful head movement which will be a easy target for the much larger Sam Peter. dunno about that. peter couldnt stop robert hawkins 2 fights ago and sultan hasnt shown at least yet to have a weak chin,,,but he is open for right hands. the jury is still out on both fighters imo. I could see peter landing a big right and knocking sultan out but I could also see sultan out working peter and winning a decision. hard to really gauge how this bout would go considering how little we've seen of sultan

20y ago

chidave

If he will destroy him so easily, why doesn't he make the fight instead of fighting the Julius Longs of the world? Pre-Wlad, Peter was calling out all the top Heavyweights, however now he is avoiding a fight with a marquee Heavyweight that would propel him back into the elite of the division. Is it business, or is he damaged goods? Only time will tell...

20y ago

Hous

20y ago