That's why it's important that Klitschko set a good example and stay retired. Boxing doesn't need him, and he no longer needs boxing.
And on reflection look how much life has been injected into the division as a result of his coming back! :439:
Mayweather has a January 22 date on HBO, legal trouble notwithstanding. As far as I'm concerned, there's no reason we shouldn't see this guy matched not only competitively--but in mouth-watering superfights--on a regular basis. If his next fight is against someone like Junior Witter or Lovemore N'Dou, you can count me off the bandwagon. What is this guy wasting his time for-- a PPV with Gatti? He can do a whole lot better. It kills me to see a young fighter with that kind of talent and connections p!$$ it away. I wanted to be on the bandwagon from the beginning! I wanted to tell people that I remember the great Floyd Mayweather back when he beat Gernaro Hernandez for his first title. Don't get me wrong, he's still young and he still has all the potential in the world, but his career has lost so much momentum in the last couple years.
Floyd, please start the year with a Corrales rematch, Vivian Harris, the winner of Casamayor-Castillo (honestly, he beat you the first time.) If you really must protect your overhyped Gatti fight, at least give us Stevie Johnston, Acelino Freitas, or Paul Spadafora. There's no reason to fight somebody we know you can beat.
He fought his wife. Knocked the b*tch sideways from what I heard. What more do you want he he? :boxing:
Highest KO% in HW history, never knocked down, punches like a frieght train, is fast, dextrous and has stacks of stamina. Only a fool could really argue against Vitali's dominance.
You can't moan about the 'loss' vs Byrd either because of how easily he dominated the 10 rounds of that fight. Quit or not, you all know he was cruising to victory.
Lewis would have a career high payday to rematch him and retired instead - speaks volumes.
It doesn't dog Ali's legacy that he never gave Shavers or Young a rematch, nor Norton a 4th fight.
It doesn't dog Sanchez's legacy that he avoided Pedroza.
It doesn't dog Holmes's legacy that he never gave rematches to Norton or Witherspoon.
Why should Lummox be any different?
I think this will hang over Lewis' legacy for time because fans are dvided which they weren't really with the above.
However quitchko was a pratt because if he had stayed & solidified his status it would have further added weight this whole argument instead he has constantly let his fans down. I lost my faith after the McCline incident.
Perhaps Lewis did the right thing leaving when he did; a boxer generally knows when its his time.
However in missing this rematch Lewis destroyed the solidarity of his legacy - the fact we're all still arguing a good 5 years later proves this. The rematch question will dog lewis' legacy through all time.....
A controversial decision isn't really the same as knowing when a fighter is superior / inferior. Everyone knew Ali's greatness win or lose but people forget up until Lewis beat both Holyfield & Tyson he still wasn't widely respected - only after he beat those two - who were well past their primes - was he universally recognized.
The irony of this whole scenario though is that both Holyfeild & Tyson were far past their primes when lewis 'beat' them & though Lewis was criminally robbed in the 1st match with Holy(a blemish on his record that the sports governing board should really remove) he was soundly beaten in the rematch but given the 'W' because of the 1st fight! And that was by an old Holy!
Lewis leaves people with more questions that answers to be honest hence why this whole Klitchko debacle will never die.
Calzaghe will knock him out but the fight won't happen, Hopkins is doing the same shit now he's always done. Joe needs to go defeat another LHW champion.
How much did you bet?
Vitali was the betting favourite for this fight, unless you bet on Vitali by stoppage?
Around £4,000 with William Hill. Vitali was something silly like 5/7 because of his retirement; it was fantastic!!!:dunce:
I placed a bet over the in UK on Vitali by stoppage and the odds were still not that great. I can't remember. I won a fair bit.
Vitali was 3/1 favourite or something to win outright might have been ladbrokes, I have a mate who has placed 13 bets with William Hill (just turned 18) and he lost all of them. I was creasing. Some of them were football bets though.
Ha Ha never bet on football! you've got 22 people who can affect the outcome & most of them can't be bothered giving 100% since they're getting £100,000+ a week.
Betting on boxing is far easier - It mostly comes down to just two people :) I knew a guy @ work that blew £1,500 during the last world cup!!
Lol I remember making £3,000 on this fight.
My rational?
Vitali may have been retired 4 years but only a fool would think he didn't spend that time traning with the best HW in the world (his brother).
Easiest money I ever made!
WAR HAYE
lmao "don't go in the ambulance with your brother, face me after the fight"
So after saying he'll retire he's now not going to retire? Shocking; Haye goes back on his word....
Well Joe's probably thinking:
"Ok, the 1st fight looked shaky because I got knocked down but once the fight progressed I got better at handling Hopkins, the rematch should be easier."
And Hopkins is thinking:
"Ok last time I worked defensively and Joe outworked me so this time I'll fight like I did against Roy / Pavlik agressively"
Personally I think if this fight happens it won't be similar to the first - it'll play out totally different.
The whole 'Taylor was dominating' is bullshit, truth. Froch was at most 2 points behind in r12 and he got2 KD's.
Honestly, as a fair guy Froch aint been beat yet (only robbed v Kessler) *but* a quality slcik fighter could beat him. And no Dirrell didn't better him but Dirrell is better - if that makes sense. (basically i'm saying Dirrell is better bt didn;t win vs Froch that day)
Basically Froch - imo - is undefeated. But not ATG far far from it atm.
(P.S. Froch'll dismantle Abraham on neutral ground)
Cinton's improved alot he actually boxes now. That said I'm not sure how this fight progresses tbh it all depends on what gameplan Cintron uses.
Winky saw the final bell vs Williams. Cintron Saw the final bell vs Martinez who gave Williams all he could handle so I think Cintron will see the final bell.
He was a joke.
Are you joking or being an idiot? Seriously? I don't normally get agressive but Rocky was a natural 185lb'r; that's 30 lb less than Ali when he fought Frazier and a good 40/50 lb less than a Klit / Lewis.
Give the man some bloody credit please. I just gt the impression you're biased buddy. :(
Congrats, I made $300 on Kessler so I'm all smiles.
How much did you bet at what odds?
8/11 a few days back and I dropped big on that then when watching the fight I was betting live & around round 5/6 Froch landed some big shots the odds for Kessler went way up to around 8/3 so I put a hundred down because I knew this was going to be one of those fights with alot of to and throw domincance from either fighter ending in a decision (which had to go Kessler's way imo). It was risky but it paid off in the end!
Seriously, Kessler didn't have footwork vs Ward, watch it again guys. You'll notice kessler simply rocked his upper body looking for spots but not making them. Ok at a push you could argue I'm hyped for Kessler - and I am - after this fight but I still maintain a fairer playing field would result in a close match and I'd favour Kessler in that situation.
Shit, do it in America lol
I think both Froch and Abraham will want a EU venue so their fans can come to it.
Don't ask me why but for some reason I'm feeling the O2 and 100,000 people will end up being the venue. I'd go to that in a heartbeat.
Congrats :beerchug:
Thanks bud. (I toasted the screen :boxing:).
Gonna make some some good use for this cash, really enjoy myself. You know what makes it extra special? Knowing that I combined making money with my favourite sport - honestly; does life get any better than that feeling?
You all do know that Muslims, Christians, and Jews all worship the same God correct? In fact, they're all practically the same religion.
Go Pakistan. Walk into some village and say that out loud then savour the last few moments of your life before....well I won't say it because it's sickening but you've seen the videos of Ken Bigley right? Trust me mate it aint nice.
Individual Muslims are, like all the human race, generally nice. And the religeon has great facets like for example how it helps it's follower maintain focus and clarity through prayer - great for boxing! Hopkins is a prime example of this strength of Islam.
But that religeon is completely evil and written in a manner which promotes hate and isolation. I know Muslims that won't socialize with non-muslims & who'll openly denounce Christianity. I'm all for equal rights and people believing what they like but forcing/imposing their views on others, or affecting their life through your own religeon (like restriciting what others can do) is in my view utterly immoral
If you lived on modern day britain you'd see where I'm coming from. Did you know that in certyain parts of the UK the police force must notify 'community leaders' of muslim areas if they are doing a raid? And that if they storm a building while the criminal is in prayer they must wait until he is finished before arresting him!! Bomb or not; that is crazy!
P.S. For the record I have no religeon. I'm more spiritual than religeous.
dude it was a good fight but very sloppy just dont get carried away
Maybe I am getting carried away but this Kessler was improved on the last - anyone disagree?
Anyway I think they'll rematch down the line. Hopefully ina neutral location too so that'll settle this debate :boxing:
STFU you racist moron. That's 100% bullshit. Stop making weak excuses.
Soviet fighters weren't allowed to turn pro until the 1990s because of the cold war.
Now Soviets are allowed to turn pro and they're ALREADY DOMINATING.
AND there are TONS of potential Eastern European Heavyweight Boxers are doing Combat Sambo, MMA, Kickboxing, Hockey, Olympic Wrestling, Olympic Weightlifting, Powerlifting, Worlds Strongest Man Competitions, etc.
America isn't the only country on the planet that has other sports you racist moron.
Eastern European heavyweights are superior.
Steelhammer is correct. People forget that while Ali, Tyson etc and 'black' Americans dominated the soviet and cuban boxers were doign equally well in the olympics and non professional fields.
Also what about the italian american dominance pre black dominance in boxing? I could argue it was because Italians all became police officers and opened pizzarias and that boxing was - at the time - simply a way of escaping poverty which is why we dont see them dominating today.
There's no place for racism in boxing. We're better than this & it need to be stopped.
I'm with Richardson here. Floyd's often made recist comments and this is what Richardson is referring to. No shame in him being ashamed of Floyd, I'm ashamed of Hitler but I also know I am nothing like him - I suspect this is how Richardson feels.
I give him his dues. Floyd is a great boxer but a truly bad character.