Sultan Ibragimov vs. Ruslan Chagaev: Who Will Win?

[Steelhammer86]

This is the first heavyweight unification fight of the 21st century, and may be followed by a second one,with the winner against Wladimir Klitschko.

I think this is a great matchup between two undefeated heavyweights. Both are exciting to watch, both have KO power and both have had top level amateur achievements. Both have defeated much bigger men to earn their titles.

This is a fairly even matchup, I believe. Although Chagaev has a win over Ibragimov in the amateurs and won two Gold medals in international tournaments, Sultan did better in the 2000 Summer Olympics. The opponent who defeated and eliminated Chagaev that year, was decisively beaten by Ibragimov in the semi-final for the Silver Medal. And many thought Ibragimov was robbed of a win in the final - Felix Savon was awarded the Gold with a narrow decision over Sultan.

[Ironside]

idk it seems pretty hard to call, they both have some solid names on their record , they both have a high KO percentage so i think it will most likely end in a KO by late rounds...

[Feint]

Most people like Chagaev in this fight but I think Ibragimov is one of the most underrated Heavyweights in the division. I say he takes this fight.

(Although to be fair I have not seen a lot of Chagaev either so take my opinion with a grain of salt.)

[kayjay]

I have nothing against Ibragimov, but Chagaev is an outanding boxer. I expect him to win a considerable UD or even a late TKO. If he's outboxing Ibragimov like I expect, dominating him with the jab, he'll be patient as he always seems to be and won't press for the KO.

But SI may be a bit of a stylistic problem for him. I've not seen RC against another southpaw or another counterpuncher.

[phallus]

chagaev should take this, he won his title in the harder fight. i like chagaev, it'll be cool seeing him become a unified champ, until he loses to wlad

[duffgun]

i got chagaev by UD, i am no sure why people are taking into account amateur records so heavily, audley harrison won the gold medal at the 2000 olypimcs.

[Steelhammer86]

i got chagaev by UD, i am no sure why people are taking into account amateur records so heavily, audley harrison won the gold medal at the 2000 olypimcs.

Audley Harrison was already 28 when he won his medal against mostly 18 and 19 year olds. Some people like to mention Audley as evidence the amateurs don't mean much, but when you consider most of the great profesional boxers had top amateur careers, you realize it is usually an important indication of a fighter's ability.

The best current heavyweight, Wladimir Klitschko, and the two best heavyweights of the 90's, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis, all had great amateur records including gold medals. As did the best heavyweights of the 60's and 70's: Muhammed Ali, Joe Frazier and George Foreman all won Olympic gold.

Amateur success is not a guarantee of professional success - other factors may come into it, some boxers decline, others improve. But amateur success is a good indication of a boxers ability. Other successful amateurs: Roy Jones, Floyd Mayweather, Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks, etc.

[duffgun]

Audley Harrison was already 28 when he won his medal against mostly 18 and 19 year olds. Some people like to mention Audley as evidence the amateurs don't mean much, but when you consider most of the great profesional boxers had top amateur careers, you realize it is usually an important indication of a fighter's ability.

The best current heavyweight, Wladimir Klitschko, and the two best heavyweights of the 90's, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis, all had great amateur records including gold medals. As did the best heavyweights of the 60's and 70's: Muhammed Ali, Joe Frazier and George Foreman all won Olympic gold.

Amateur success is not a guarantee of professional success - other factors may come into it, some boxers decline, others improve. But amateur success is a good indication of a boxers ability. Other successful amateurs: Roy Jones, Floyd Mayweather, Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks, etc.

yes i agree that amateurs is a fairly important first step for a young boxer but i would not take into account amateur fights as a way of determining a possible outcome of a pro fight, frazier was beat several times in the ams by buster mathis but he KO him for the world title.

[Ironside]

most pro boxers who have an olympic amateur medal turn out to be champs, of course that's not always the case, but even so the person has automatically a name for himself once he steps into pro, take amir khan for example, he only has 13 pro fights and he is only famous because he was an olympic medalist, you think anyone would have known him now if he wasnt such a good amateur?

[Derranged_]

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