It takes time for reputations to be forged. There is nothing easier than to go on about the "good ol' days" all the time. The most accomplished fighters who fulfilled their potential all lost to someone at the end of the day. There is no chance of success without taking the risk, so it is the most childish of things to split hairs with a couple of defeats, especially given the nature of the sport and the amount of factors that come into winning or losing. The proof is always in the pudding and consistency always speaks for itself. Back in the "good ol' days" people didn't give Jack Johnson his credit and believed that the champ of a few years before, James J Jeffries, would've beat him (sound familiar?) but it didn't work out that way. Many people never gave Ali his credit back in the "good ol' days" either, they even went as far as simulating a fight between Ali and Marciano back then, just like some kids these days do with video games and posting it up on youtube to fulfill their jealous desires to see the champion of the day dethroned. The truth is, Wladimir has done enough to secure his place as a hall of famer and he is the man of the moment. Obviously, Wladimir would no doubt have lost to a number of the greats in the time machine fantasies of some people here, but he would have most certainly beaten some of them as well. Time will remember Wladimir well, and people will have to live with that whether they like it or not.
This is a disgrace to the sport, yet sadly I'm not surprised. The fans are denied yet again...it just goes to show that Haye wasn't the "saviour" that many people believed him to be. It's not happening and Haye has become part of the problem than the solution.
Nobody is better than the Klitschko brothers in the heavyweight division...it's as simple as that. The fact that they both are so dominant in their own right and are still so loathed says it all. And I'm sorry people, but James Toney has no chance against either of them.
Even the "they won't fight each other" excuse doesn't work...because as it stands two men called Klitschko are the top two in the world...and if they fought each other? Two men called Klitschko will still be the top two in the world. In fact, they dominate to the extent that the number '3' should be removed from any universal heavyweight rankings.
Wladimir is a class act in and out of the ring...Toney's chance of doing anything at heavyweight is long past and Valuev wouldn't do anything to either of the Klitschko brothers. The Klitschko brothers both have their hall of fame places secured and are both rightful champions.
Yes, just like Teddy Atlas says...if all the NFL stars such as Eddie Chambers, Kevin Johnson, Tony Thompson, Johnathon Banks, Travis Walker, Chazz Witherspoon, Seth Mitchell, Alonzo Butler and Eugene Hill were all boxing, the Klitschkos wouldn't be world champions right now!
Darn that gridiron!
Johnson should be honored that he'll be getting a beating by Vitali Klitschko...he's lucky to be even getting a shot...Vitali vs. Tua would gather more interest than Vitali bowling down the so-called "kingpin"
Has Johnson even fought on hbo or showtime before? If he was on shobox I don't really count that since I believe shobox(even though its part of showtime) is like another version of espn where they pay low for their fighters.
He doesn't deserve his shot against Vitali...he's just on friday night fights...like you say, he should just be sent back to ESPN where he belongs...if Johnson is lucky Vitali will sign his autograph on his Glove after he knocks him out and gives it to him as a momento
A great video of a great man and a great boxer.
Vitali Klitschko has earned his right as a future hall of famer without a doubt...anyone who tries to deny this is either delusional or holds an agenda that has nothing to do with boxing.
Vitali will continue to walk the walk and dominate the Heavyweight division...this time will always be remembered as the "Klitschko era" and their legacy will never fade.
All boxing fans from here on will live the rest of their lives with the Klitschko brothers' legacy sealed in the hall of fame whether they like it or not, so they better get used to it. :boxing:
People need to understand the fact that the cold war is over and eastern Europeans are changing the face of pro boxing...and it will never be the same again due to the increased competition as a result of them being able to compete at pro level. :boxing:
I'm confident the Viking Warrior will stop ward tonight...the question on my mind is if his Europhobic haters will give him credit for it. I remember jeff lacy being abandoned like a sinking ship after he lost to Calzaghe...he went from being "the super middleweight Tyson" to a "C-level" fighter overnight...who would have thought 4 years ago that lacy would be where he is today? What would they have said about lacy had it been him who won that fight instead of Calzaghe and if he went on to beat Bika, Kessler, Hopkins and Jones? It wouldn't be what they went on to say about Joe, that's for sure. He was made out to be the "future" of the super middleweight division at the time just like ward is now and we've heard it all before.
The so-called "Son of G**" will be feeling Kessler's "Hammer of Thor" knock him firmly to the canvas tonight! War Kessler!!! :boxing:
Wladimir is a true champion and a future hall of famer who has earned is reputation the hard way. He's taken a few knocks, but he came back from them and that's what makes a real champion. To hell with the pathetic, jealous keyboard "warriors" who hate him! The truth is they wouldn't have the guts to say anything to his face if they had half the chance!
Haye is too fast, too big and too hungry for Hopkins...it would be a bad matchup. I think Hopkins just wants to emulate Jones Jr.'s Heavyweight title win over Ruiz.
Hopkins shouldn't lose any sleep if he doesn't get a shot against Haye...after all, there are also two men of steel in the heavyweight division who he can get badly beaten by instead :boxing:
Johnson has to look Vitali in the eye...he can't wear those shades in the ring with him.
But he'll sure need them for afterwards once Vitali knocks him to a pulp...
Hopkins? Joe's been there and worn the t-shirt...knockdown or not. No European would get credit for beating Hopkins...all we would hear is "Hopkins was shot...blah blah"
Looking at the comments on this thread, it's clear that many haven't done much travelling. In order to have a constructive and meaningful opinion on other countries and people you have to see for yourself personally with your own eyes what other cultures are like. If anyone sees it just to judge a whole nation or continent of people by what they see on an internet forum or television shows, etc...then they will have nothing but a distorted and unrealistic view, be it for better or for worse.
Tomasz Adamek formelly at Cruiser, Marco Huck, Zsolt Erdei and Giacobbe Fragomeni at Cruiser, Juergen Braehmer and Gabriel Campillo at Light Heavy, Felix Sturm and Sebastian Sylvester at Middle and Sergiy Dzinziruk at Super Welter.
It's a sad fact that so many boxers can't accept that their time is over and there is always that one more fight left, then another and another...a fight with Vitali would be so bad for Evander...someone would have to stop him from climbing in to get beaten by Vitali, but there will be no telling him...plus his financial issues will make it all the more sadly tempting for him to do so...I hope Vitali will object if this is to be made a mandatory by the WBC.
By no means is Ward better than Kessler...people who back Kessler to win the super "6" have good reason to...he has a 42-1 record with wins over the likes of Mundine, Beyer and Andrade and is a two time WBA champion and former WBC champion...if Kessler is "Garbage" then what does that make Shelby Pudwill?
At least Perdomo was a mandatory title defence that Kessler had to fight.