No Heavyweight Title Unification in Sight

[Southpaw16]

Wladimir Klitschko looks like he already has his next two fights lined up. One against Brewster and then it looks like Rahman

There is going to be Maskaev versus Peter and the winner against Vitali Klitschko. Obviously those aren't unification fights.

I don't know who Ruslan Chugaev and Sultan Ibragimov are going to fight. It would be nice if they fought each other, but it doesn't look like it. Especially not in their first title defenses.

I think the last time two heavyweight champs fought one another was Lewis versus Holyfield, that is ridiculous. These guys need to start fighting one another.

[Crazy Dude]

They'll probably fight their mandatories and lose. At heavyweight, everyone gets to be champion for one match.

[Steelhammer86]

The rumor that Wlad is going to fight Rahman is unsubstantiated. There is a better chance for unification now than ever before, because Don King has no heavyweight titleholder!

Look for Chagaev, Ibragimov and Wlad to agree to a couple of unification fights within a year.

[-Antonio-]

I think every time there is a new titlist the division takes a step back from being unified. With a new titlist comes two mandatory fights before they even think about unification. It just makes a unification seem impossible.

[Southpaw16]

The rumor that Wlad is going to fight Rahman is unsubstantiated. There is a better chance for unification now than ever before, because Don King has no heavyweight titleholder!

Look for Chagaev, Ibragimov and Wlad to agree to a couple of unification fights within a year.

Well, the rumour is coming from Dan Rafael, who is an ESPN correspondent, so it is somewhat reliable. Maybe the fight with Rahman won't end up happening, but I'm sure for a rumour to pop up like this it means there is at least discussion about a fight with Rahman. That shows that Klitschko isn't looking for a unification match if these discussions are taking place.

I hope I'm wrong and your right, but I don't think so.

[Sweet Pea 50]

I'm not mad at the Eastern Bloc holding the Heavyweight belts. Shannon Briggs is the best we can come come up with? Then the U.S. dosent belong with any belts. But the U.S. best heavyweights aren't fighting right now. They are playing football and basketball. Thats were the money's at.

[Steelhammer86]

Well, the rumour is coming from Dan Rafael, who is an ESPN correspondent, so it is somewhat reliable. Maybe the fight with Rahman won't end up happening, but I'm sure for a rumour to pop up like this it means there is at least discussion about a fight with Rahman. That shows that Klitschko isn't looking for a unification match if these discussions are taking place.

I hope I'm wrong and your right, but I don't think so.

It was reported today that Wlad said Rahman was just one of several boxers with whom they've had some discussions, but there has been no such decision made. He said he has a very "dangerous" opponent in Brewster to defeat first, and sounded like a fight with Rahman is unlikely and would happen only under certain circumstances. He has been saying many times that his first priority is a unification match, if it is possible.

The outcome of tonight's fight may add another name to the list of possible opponents for Wlad if he defeats Brewster, which is not a certainty.

[Steelhammer86]

I'm not mad at the Eastern Bloc holding the Heavyweight belts. Shannon Briggs is the best we can come come up with? Then the U.S. dosent belong with any belts. But the U.S. best heavyweights aren't fighting right now. They are playing football and basketball. Thats were the money's at.

Lamon Brewster is much better than Shannon Briggs, who is far from being America's best heavyweight. Wlad said in an interview in his training facility in the Alps today, that he thinks Lamon would defeat either Ibragimov or Briggs.

[-Antonio-]

America's best heavyweight is probably Calvin Brock.

[Feint]

Ruslan Chugaev and Sultan Ibragimov should do what they can to work out a fight deal. Neither have major recognition other than the East and so the winner would not only have two titles, but also would gain said recognition. Besides, it would be a bigger money fight than if each fight other challengers.