Vitali Klitschko, the last great heavyweight

[Willie Pep 229]

In my experience Americans usually have a fairly hazy idea about geography.

True. What I was trying to say was Eastern Europe, to us, was/is a political term not necessarily a geographical one.

But yea we Anericans embarrass ourselves with our geographical ignorance.

[JAB5239]

In my experience Americans usually have a fairly hazy idea about geography.

Poland is listed as both eastern and Central from what I've just looked up. Just give it to him, it really doesn't help his case considering how many others Vits did not fight.

[BattlingNelson]

We Americans consider Poland Eastern Europe. Anything east of East Germany (or any part of the Soviet empire) was eastern Europe to us.

Not that that matters. There were no eastern Europeans in the fight game during those years.

So do we Western Europeans.

[BattlingNelson]

I see 5. And the number 2 you're talking about was a lightheavyweight that was practically shut out by Chad Dawson. Why didn't Vits fight Maskaev, Sultan or Timur Ibragimov, Chagaev, Valuev, Dimetrenko, Boystov, Pulev or Povetkin? He seems to have missed a lot of guys who were rated during that era.....and that just the eastern europeans that make up roughly 30% of the 28 Ring rated top 10 contenders Vits somehow didn't fight. Bottom line is he didn't fight a lot of good eastern europeans in comparison to what he did fight. I think it funny you give him a pass for this but will rag on Louis for not fighting a few Black fighters but instead fighting higher ranked competition.

I haven’t checked but maybe these fighters you mention first became relevant during Vitalis injury related hiatus?

[Dr. Z]

I see 5. And the number 2 you're talking about was a lightheavyweight that was practically shut out by Chad Dawson. Why didn't Vits fight Maskaev, Sultan or Timur Ibragimov, Chagaev, Valuev, Dimetrenko, Boystov, Pulev or Povetkin? He seems to have missed a lot of guys who were rated during that era.....and that just the eastern europeans that make up roughly 30% of the 28 Ring rated top 10 contenders Vits somehow didn't fight. Bottom line is he didn't fight a lot of good eastern europeans in comparison to what he did fight. I think it funny you give him a pass for this but will rag on Louis for not fighting a few Black fighters but instead fighting higher ranked competition.

Um , he did offer Valuev a fight. Valuev passed! It was a title match. And according to sources was talked about getting the winner between Peter and Maskaev, which of course tuned out to be Peter. Vitali only fought heavyweights as a boxing pro! Vitali gave 2 of his title shot to Eastern Europeans, Louis fought only 2 black men for title defenses or 3 if count his beating by Charles is 26 title shots. Disgraceful. Of course Louis used the color line and fought zero eastern europeans. Not to mention the fact he lost to three sub 200 pounds men. Make that 4 with fair judging ( Walcott fight ) and 5 if the losses to sub 200 pound men one of the Conn fights was 12 rounds!

All of the above is true.

[JAB5239]

Um , he did offer Valuev a fight. Valuev passed! It was a title match. And according to sources was talked about getting the winner between Peter and Maskaev, which of course tuned out to be Peter. Vitali only fought heavyweights as a boxing pro! Vitali gave 2 of his title shot to Eastern Europeans, Louis fought only 2 black men for title defenses or 3 if count his beating by Charles is 26 title shots. Disgraceful. Of course Louis used the color line and fought zero eastern europeans. Not to mention the fact he lost to three sub 200 pounds men. Make that 4 with fair judging ( Walcott fight ) and 5 if the losses to sub 200 pound men one of the Conn fights was 12 rounds!

All of the above is true.

Here is the truth about why Valuev didn't fight Vits. As far as your smear campaign against Louis goes.....you will never change the FACT that Louis is seen by nearly every expert and historian as either the greatest heavyweight of all time, or just behind Ali. Vits on the other hand.....he's not even in the top 10. As far as I'm concerned he barely makes the top 20. But I digress. Here is the real truth about the proposed Valuev fight and its entirely believable since this wasn't the only fighter K2 tried to do this with.

https://www.boxingscene.com/valuev-e...ppened--102740

[Bundana]

True. What I was trying to say was Eastern Europe, to us, was/is a political term not necessarily a geographical one.

But yea we Anericans embarrass ourselves with our geographical ignorance.

I think, I may have posted this before - but it never ceases to be hilarious!

Can You Name a Country? - YouTube

[BattlingNelson]

Here is the truth about why Valuev didn't fight Vits. As far as your smear campaign against Louis goes.....you will never change the FACT that Louis is seen by nearly every expert and historian as either the greatest heavyweight of all time, or just behind Ali. Vits on the other hand.....he's not even in the top 10. As far as I'm concerned he barely makes the top 20. But I digress. Here is the real truth about the proposed Valuev fight and its entirely believable since this wasn't the only fighter K2 tried to do this with.

https://www.boxingscene.com/valuev-e...ppened--102740

How can Valuevs side of the story be entirely believeable? There’s two sides of all stories, and there’s just no way Valuevs story fits how I remember it back then. The fight was big, but Valuevs promoter (Sauerland?) was just not interested in losing one of their main cash cows. Valuev was always carefully matched and to my recollection never had a fight where he was the underdog.

[Dr. Z]

I think, I may have posted this before - but it never ceases to be hilarious!

Can You Name a Country? - YouTube

Pep can reply to that but to us Americans, Europe was split up at WW II between West Germany and Eastern Europe which includes Berlin. The old soviet Soviet bloc which modern boxing has proven to be a hot bed to talent at light heavyweight to heavyweight. The nations to the for this conservation and boxing in general are considered Eastern European.

[JAB5239]

I haven’t checked but maybe these fighters you mention first became relevant during Vitalis injury related hiatus?

I don't think Timur Ibragimov was ranked, and I'm not entirely sure about Dimetrenko. But I'm fairly certain of the rest.