Wladimir's showing

[neils7147933]

No Byrd will never fight Wlad as long as he has IBF belt and as long as Wlad is not his mandatory. Byrd will probably fight the winner of Ruiz vs. Toney or TOS vs. Jefferson.

If Vitali really is ready vs. Rahman for Sept., won't Byrd have to fight Monte Barrett? Isn't that what Barrett's win over Owen Beck was for?

[Exciterx30]

Most of his pre Sanders fights were boring. McCline, Botha, Shufford, etc.

I think the fight with Botha is one of the best examples of a well prepared and in top condition Wladimir Klitschko.

[Neuraxis]

If Vitali really is ready vs. Rahman for Sept., won't Byrd have to fight Monte Barrett? Isn't that what Barrett's win over Owen Beck was for?

I thought that Barrett signed to fight Rahman for the interim WBC heavyweight title because of Vitali's surgery, or did Vitali and his people successfully block that?

[abdiel2k3]

i liked this performance
i liked it even more when i saw castillos record
18(14kos)
thats pretty decent
specialy comin off 2 KOs
he def looked more like the wlad of before
they key was just like b4
establishing that jab and workin behind it

with the sanders debacle
he never got a chance to reall extablish it
he got caught early and sanders was able to finish him

with brewster
i think it was more of a case of him not pacen himself against a guy that was able to handle his punch
brewster simply capitalized on his desire to show that he was the same if not an improved more aggressive wlad

id say the future does look good for wlad
but then again
i also thought DLH would beat hopkins

[neils7147933]

I thought that Barrett signed to fight Rahman for the interim WBC heavyweight title because of Vitali's surgery, or did Vitali and his people successfully block that?

Vitali didn't mention that tonight on the HBO telecast. He said he was ready for Rahman in September, and made no mention of Barrett or an interim fight.

I can't imagine Rahman taking 2 heavyweight fights in 2 months, not to mention risking losing his shot to Two Guns...

[Neuraxis]

I think the fight with Botha is one of the best examples of a well prepared and in top condition Wladimir Klitschko.

I agree which is why it may have been the most boring of them all. Wlad fought patiently, and eventually TKO'd Botha in the 8th. 241 lbs. is a great weight for Wlad.

[Pno]

when he's not panicing, things go alright.
I think Manny's gonna help him more to be calm.

plus the weight he added against Brewster.. not good.

sparring more definitely helps Wlad.

[Neuraxis]

Vitali didn't mention that tonight on the HBO telecast. He said he was ready for Rahman in September, and made no mention of Barrett or an interim fight.

I can't imagine Rahman taking 2 heavyweight fights in 2 months, not to mention risking losing his shot to Two Guns...

I have no idea why nothing was said about the Barrett vs. Rahman being signed, but then again it happened yesterday according G. Leon.

[neils7147933]

I have no idea why nothing was said about the Barrett vs. Rahman being signed, but then again it happened yesterday according G. Leon.

I don't believe any fight is happening until I see the press conference...

[moochi]

well it is good for Wlad's confidence, but any neutral person could have seen that this was not much of a fight. It seemed that Castillo just turned up to receive his check, and I have questions regarding the knockdown....as to me it seemed that it could have been a dive......perhaps not, but he didn't seem too interested in fighting anyway and he wobbled his jaw when he was down, even though he got hit on the nose?!?!?

either way this win should do well for Wlad's confidence, however, he'll have to fight in the states if he wants to become a proper world champion....and in the states you won't be seeing such a "controlled environment" (quoted by manny steward himself).