Vitali Turns His Attention To Valuev, The Giant is Ready

[Jim Jeffries]

Everything about the sanctioning bodies is ridiculous; getting 3 1/2 years off and getting an 'emeritus' shot is ridiculous on paper. Three months is plenty of time to take time off and still be back for a five-six week camp.

Well I would like to see top fighters a little hungry and fighting more than twice a year, but it doesn't seem fair to punish one guy and not do it across the board. You think Vitali's break was long, Jim Jeffries was farming for 6 years without a fight before coming back to fight Jack Johnson. Of course with only one belt back then, and only 7 divisions, the champs were much more respected. I look to see Vitali vacate and fight Valuev anyway.

[Stickman]

Ninety days is enough time, Vitali shouldn't have a problem with it. If he's slow getting his camp started, he could probably request an extension.

Still, it seems like someone is trying to get the belt yanked from him...maybe Don King had something to do with the time frame. Wouldn't surprise me. Not really into conspiracy theories, but I wouldn't really disregard anything in the boxing "industry". Especially after one of King's just lost that particular belt.

[crold1]

Ninety days is enough time, Vitali shouldn't have a problem with it. If he's slow getting his camp started, he could probably request an extension.

Still, it seems like someone is trying to get the belt yanked from him...maybe Don King had something to do with the time frame. Wouldn't surprise me. Not really into conspiracy theories, but I wouldn't really disregard anything in the boxing "industry". Especially after one of King's just lost that particular belt.

No, it's that the WBC mandos were shot to hell by the Peter/Maskaev/Klit situation. As long as he signs the fight within 90, no one will trip but after the easy going he had last night 90 days wouldn't be a punishment. And, again, live by the dumb ass sanc mob for the good,m take the bad too. The sancs bend over backwards for Klit generated sanc fees plenty as is.

[Hattonrules]

I agree.

Gomez shoulds fight someone else for an interim title, as Martinez did.

Let Vitali fight Valuev in December...

Agreed, mate. Vitali has paid his dues being the best heavyweight today and from the last 20 years or so. Gomez will get his shot but I think the punters and most sensible boxing fans want to see Vitali take on the Russian giant. I certainly would. Vitali brought fresh air back to the sport which has considerably countered the bad air and taste left by Hopkins and Mayweather.

[crold1]

Agreed, mate. Vitali has paid his dues being the best heavyweight today and from the last 20 years or so. Gomez will get his shot but I think the punters and most sensible boxing fans want to see Vitali take on the Russian giant. I certainly would. Vitali brought fresh air back to the sport which has considerably countered the bad air and taste left by Hopkins and Mayweather.

Totally agree with the last part; he definitely breathed some life...but the notion that he's paid dues as the 'best Heavyweight of the last 20 yearsd or so" is preposterous. Based on what? Were you watching Boxing 20 years ago?

[!!Captain]

Don King will not let Valuev anywhere near Vitali. It's simply not going to happen, whether Valuev wants it or not. I want to see Vitali fight Haye, simply for entertainment value.

[Carlisle]

That light in the distance is the Freight Train coming

Vitali... remember the young heavyweight who made you retire 4 years ago in sparring? That "injury" that you lied about which was really from Travis whupping your ass in sparring? Well.. guess what? He's coming for you. After he beats Arreola on November 29th then the whole world will know about the Freight train.. and guess what else? If the fight against Arreola turns out to be the eliminator that is being negotiated then that means that either you or your punk ass brother will have to step in the ring with him again. Hope your rib is healed.. cuz Travis cant wait to crack it again. Remember how it felt? Made you fall down like a lil ***** and retire. That light in the distance is the Freight Train coming for your punk ass.

[!!Captain]

Vitali... remember the young heavyweight who made you retire 4 years ago in sparring? That "injury" that you lied about which was really from Travis whupping your ass in sparring? Well.. guess what? He's coming for you. After he beats Arreola on November 29th then the whole world will know about the Freight train.. and guess what else? If the fight against Arreola turns out to be the eliminator that is being negotiated then that means that either you or your punk ass brother will have to step in the ring with him again. Hope your rib is healed.. cuz Travis cant wait to crack it again. Remember how it felt? Made you fall down like a lil ***** and retire. That light in the distance is the Freight Train coming for your punk ass.

You're talking out of your ass. Vitali had a legitimate injury, I know that for a fact.

[edgarg]

This keeps things interesting because, when he's healthy, Chagaev will have to be dealt with. Ruslan is the only other fighter with the creds to mix with the Klitschko's as far as top three in class goes (for now).

What's the distinction there. I thought that Chagaev is the Champ, and Valuev only "interim". If that's the case, sinve Klitschko has just fought, he would be better off fighting Chagaev. Is he still on the injured list? I thought I read somewhere where he announced that he was back in training? I'm wrong somewhere here...but where, I'd appreciate being put straight. Thanks.

On another point, you talk about these big guys getting into top fighting shape within 5-6 weeks. This just can't be done, unless you're a Harry Greb type. Or always in perpetual battle hardened shape. Even Hopkins wouldn't take a fight on 5-6 weeks notice. It takes at leasy 8 weeks to get into REAL shape and the Klitschkos like longer, like 10-12 weeks. At least, so I read somewhere. Which is why they are always so perfectly turned out.

Apropos of this, in the old days, when guys DID get into shape in a 5-6 weeks, that was because they were perpetually fighting, maybe a couple of times a month, or 3-4 times in 3 months etc.(mainly because they were paid almost nothing per fight) Their fights also kept them in trim, but they wern't really all that fit, as we see in old fights in the late rounds. Unless it was a BIG fight, with enough money in it for them to take time off from their 5-10 fight a year calendar, they couldn't either spare the time to go to camp for 3 months, or figured 2 months was good enough. {Which it was actually for most fighters-if they stayed in shape between fights}.

But to get back to the Klitschkos for a sec. You NEVER see them slow down, or break down in the later rounds. They are just as fast and capable in the 12th as in the 1st, because they take enough time to train, as well as staying in shape.

I believe that I was almost the ONLY one who said that Vitaly K would be in shape with maybe only a little ring rust, depending on his battle hardiness, BECAUSE he was not out of action for 4 years but had been in top shape up to just before the Rahman fight, in Nov 2005, and then in top shape for the McCline fight in 2007. and I also saw somewhere an interview in late Jan 2008 where he said that he'd been back in the gym already for 6 weeks (which meant mid-Dec 2007) and felt fine, so he hadn't been out of the ring for all that long.

And I believe that this is what helped him in his successful return...apart from his talents and Peter's weaknesses, of course.

Look at Naseem Hamid. He never trained more than 405 weeks for ANY fight, but he was relying on KO ing his opponent early. You could see him slow down and get clumsy in the late rounds, even if he won.

[Carlisle]

Vitali is fraud.. after Travis beats Arreola Klitschko is next

Vitali is fraud.. after Travis Walker beats Arreola Klitschko is next. This time everyone will see the injury that made you retire 4 years ago. Vitali you are fraud.. step up and fight the last man who whupped your ass.

Don King will not let Valuev anywhere near Vitali. It's simply not going to happen, whether Valuev wants it or not. I want to see Vitali fight Haye, simply for entertainment value.