Why doesn't RING magazine have a HW champ?

[Randall_Hopkirk]

after wlad beats sultan he will become the ring champ at heavyweight

No he won't. He'd have to beat the 2nd or 3rd ranked HW according to the Ring mag. Iggy is ranked 6th.

[Guest]

I mean, isn't it crystal clear that Klitchsko is the champ? He beat #2 seed Samuel Peter and is basically been the top guy ever since Lewis retired. What does Klitchsko have to do to get top spot? wlad being HW champ makes more sense than Hopkins being LHW champ IMO. I mean, is there something I'm missing here? I am by no means a wlad fan but I just think that he deserves to get that champ status even if it is only a paper title cuz alot of ppl take it seriously and wlad deserves that respect and recognition.

Since Lennox Lewis retired, the #1 and #2 fighters in their rankings have never fought. I think the closest they got was when Vitali Klitschko and Hasim Rahman were going to fight in 2004 they were #1 and #2, but Klistchko ended up retiring before the fight ever happened.

[Mike Tyson77]

I agree, Wlad should be The Ring magazine champion right now, he is clearly the best heavyweight in the world. After Wlad KO's Sultan in the Unification showdown he will be The Ring magazine champion. The fight is only 1 month away, I can't ****ing wait.

Ya buddy!! Wlad gonna whoop that ass!

[Randall_Hopkirk]

I agree, Wlad should be The Ring magazine champion right now, he is clearly the best heavyweight in the world. After Wlad KO's Sultan in the Unification showdown he will be The Ring magazine champion. The fight is only 1 month away, I can't ****ing wait.

But he hasn't proved that he's the best. Only he's looked more convincing than Maskaev, Chagaev, Peter et al recently.

[Mike Tyson77]

But he hasn't proved that he's the best. Only he's looked more convincing than Maskaev, Chagaev, Peter et al recently.

Ya he's proved it! Byrd was rated #1 when he beat him, Brock was 29-0, And Brewster he avenged a loss. Not to mention he beat Peter who's no dought #2.

What have you been smokin'?!!?

[Fox McCloud]

I agree, Wlad should be The Ring magazine champion right now, he is clearly the best heavyweight in the world. After Wlad KO's Sultan in the Unification showdown he will be The Ring magazine champion. The fight is only 1 month away, I can't ****ing wait.

He won't get The Ring belt. I think Sultan is ranked #5 or something. Peter is #1 and Maskaev is #2. He has to beat one of them, while they are still that highly ranked in order to be the champ.

Since he already defeated Peter, Wlad should be Ring Champion if he defeats Sultan. But they won't do it.

Ring rankings sometimes don't make much sense, the best fighter is not necessarily the champion. For example Juan Diaz should be lightweight champ instead of Casamayor.

It all depends on when you do it... Then Ring rankings make perfect sense... you have to beat the champion to get the belt... OR, if #1 faces #2 they get the belt if it was vacant. (Or sometimes #1 vs. #3 will do it, although I don't know the exact criteria behind that).

[BrooklynBomber]

No he won't. He'd have to beat the 2nd or 3rd ranked HW according to the Ring mag. Iggy is ranked 6th.

Whad he said, the #1 have to beat #2 to become the ring champ.

[beez721]

But he hasn't proved that he's the best. Only he's looked more convincing than Maskaev, Chagaev, Peter et al recently.

are you serious? look at his resume compared to the rest. its not even close

[Fox McCloud]

This really doesn't even seem to be difficult.

Wlad is ranked #1... so if he beats #2, he is for sure The Ring champ. The ball is in his court.

He can take his chances whether or not The Ring would promote him to champion if he fought and beat #3, but...

He should really just fight Peter again. I doubt Sammy would mind getting another shot at a guy he knocked down 3 times.

[Fox McCloud]

Two of those were from Peter's rabbit punches. Wlad has improved since, I'm sure Sam would be KOed.

Peter's ranked too high - he shouldn't be Ring #2 for a win and a loss against a fat shot Toney.

Well the Ring doesn't actually do their rankings based on how you scored the Peter-Toney fight. Peter is 2-0 against Toney according to the judges, and The Ring accounts for that accordingly.

All I was saying is that Peter probably thought he made a hell of a good fight against Wladimir and he can improve the next time. Whether he can remains to be seen, but I think he would want another shot at Wladimir.