Klitschko: "I Want Valuev or Maskaev Next"

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

The Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali, were in attendance to watch Brian Minto destroy Axel Schulz at the Gerry-Weber stadium in Halle, western Germany, on Saturday night. [details]

[!! Mr. Soprano]

The Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali, were in attendance to watch Brian Minto destroy Axel Schulz at the Gerry-Weber stadium in Halle, western Germany, on Saturday night.
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He did admit that a fight with Maskaev would be easier to make, because Valuev is co-promoted by Don King, who would want options on Klitschko in order to make the fight.
"Valuev is with Don King. To make the fight would be difficult. The fighters want the fight, but the promoter is the problem. He would want options, but I am not going to agree to that. If there are no options than we can fight. Maskaev is an easier fight to make because there are no problems dealing with his promoter. I think that fight can be made," Klitschko said.
[details]

says it all...

[Leo Pradun]

We all wish that it was easy as that but its not. Maskaev has one optional defense coming up in december, the Peter-Toney fight is in early January, I dont think the wbc will allow Maskaev to make another optional defense. Also te IBF made Ray Austin their mandatory and Wlad just had an optional defense I doubt they will let him another??? If any unification will take place it will probably be late next year...

[Guest]

I'll be the first to say it... why no mention of Briggs?

[PBDS]

says it all...

....Yep, it sure does. You can throw out a Valuev fight because Don King is a certified ******* who will insist on getting options. Why the hell does he always think he can demand that? Valuev will hold that title hostage for quite some time while fighting chumps.

[TyrantT316]

At least a HW champion is narrowing down the field to other title holders...

[Derranged_]

The sanctioning bodies, promoters, and fighters should realize that not unifying the belts hurts the pockets of everyone who's involved. For example, the prospect of Klitschko-Austin and Briggs-Ibragimov fights are not likely to sell out large arenas nevermind selling ppv's. The sooner we have a unified or partially unified heavyweight champ the sooner we can have heavyweight "super fights" and the money that comes along with them.

[Kid Achilles]

Briggs is the least respected of the champions, and yet is still fairly dangerous and has a puncher's chance. Losing to Briggs would be more damaging than losing to Valuev, and Maskaev is just not much of a threat to Wlad. I don't think Wlad is afraid of Briggs, but he's going to want to go after the Valuev fight, which is a bigger money fight, or the Maskaev fight, which is the lowest risk.

[werewolf]

The Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali, were in attendance to watch Brian Minto destroy Axel Schulz at the Gerry-Weber stadium in Halle, western Germany, on Saturday night. [details]

They were not only in attendence, they were doing some of the the broadcast and interviews as well.




ww

[kayjay]

Briggs is the least respected of the champions, and yet is still fairly dangerous and has a puncher's chance. Losing to Briggs would be more damaging than losing to Valuev, and Maskaev is just not much of a threat to Wlad. I don't think Wlad is afraid of Briggs, but he's going to want to go after the Valuev fight, which is a bigger money fight, or the Maskaev fight, which is the lowest risk.

I don't see Briggs as less respected than Valuev or Maskaev. Valuev is perceived as a joke, whereas Maskaev is widely viewed as a loss waiting to happen (I dare you to find someone who is willing to bet he finishes 2007 as champ!).

Eventually, Wlad will be accepted as champ with or without unification. He needs only to keep knocking out the best available opponents, which he's done this year.

James Toney will be up for Wlad if he can beat Peter and Maskaev, which is hardly a stretch of the imagination.