If I could decide, I would make Povetkin and Thompson fight each other and let the winner fight Wladimir so we won't have 2 mandatories.
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I came in here to say that
Thompson. They both have earned it and deserve it, but Thompson is old and ain't getting any younger while Povetkin has his whole career ahead of him. Tony the Tiger is at his peak. If he can't do it now then he never will be able to. That just isn't true for Povetkin.
Povetkin and Thompson both deserve a shot......
..... I think Tony Thompson will end up getting the shot....Wlad will easily destroy Thompson and win by KO.
I am a big fan of Povetkin, but I don't think he is ready for Wlad yet this early in his career with only 15 pro fights under his belt....Povetkin is a very good fighter and tough as nails, but he is very susceptible to right hands and that would be his downfall against Wlad.
Wlad will most likely fight Thompson next and then either face Sam Peter in a rematch or the winner of Chagaev/Valuev.
I cante see Povetkin or Thompson beating Wlad.
Mybe the Thompson fight would be better.
your probably right, but i think thompson at least has a decent chance.
Alexander Povetkin or Tony Thompson. They both won eliminators. Who should get the shot first? I personally would like to see Thompson get it.
I cante see Povetkin or Thompson beating Wlad.
Mybe the Thompson fight would be better.
Thompson should have the chance to fight him first, because he's been waiting longer.
The IBF, however has been more impatient with mandatories in the past, so they may order Wlad to fight Povetkin next
In that case, Thompson would perhaps fight someone else for an interim WBO title...
Thompson won't be ko'd and has a better chance, however slim it may be, to beat Kliterous then Povetkin. Povetkin will lose his fight to Klit and most likely won't fight for a title ever again.
Povetkin has some good wins over Byrd and Chambers but I don't think he is ready to fight Wlad with only 15 fights as a pro.
His biggest wins come over smaller men (Donald was bigger but also a lot older).
With more pro experience he could be a great challenge to Wladimir, his style is ideal to make a good, exciting fight out of it (and a short one if his chin won't hold up).
If I could decide, I would make Povetkin and Thompson fight each other and let the winner fight Wladimir so we won't have 2 mandatories.
But Thompson deserves it for consistent work for many years as a heavyweight, he isn't getting any younger so he either gets his title shot now or never...