Comments Thread For: Klitschko vs Briggs is Set For October 16 in Germany

[Steak]

lets be honest guys...although Briggs isnt really the most 'boring' choice for a Vitali opponent(Kevin Johnson and Sosnoskapoli were much worse), the fact that hes getting a title shot is hilarious.

I can flat out guarentee you that if Haye had chosen Briggs as an opponent, when Briggs' only claim to fame in the last 2 years was KOing Rob Calloway, most Klitschko fans would be laughing and ridiculing Haye for his terrible cherry picking of opponents.

As it happens though Haye is fighting A-Force, which is even worse than Briggs, so we get to make fun of him anyway. Yippie! The point is Briggs flat out did not deserve a title shot, and if this was some other non-Klitschko titleholder, theyd be getting ridiculed by the Klitschko fans. oh well!

[Dave Rado]

He's a much more clever fighter now, though. His experience helps him offset ageing.

In particular, his ability to judge distance and space is now almost uncanny, whereas that wasn't particularly noticeable in his early career. That is now his biggest asset, IMO, and is the main reason he is so adept at hitting without being hit. He's also much more relaxed and fluid than he used to be. For all those reasons, I'd still have him as the narrow favourite to beat Wlad, despite his age. (That said, I do recognise Wlad as the lineal Heavyweight champion; and because he's fought much better competition overall in the last couple of years, I do agree that with The Ring that Wlad deserves to be ranked higher P4P than Vitali does.)

[WladIsTheChamp]

I don't believe Adamek has turned down an opportunity to fight Vitali, or was ever offered one. He's fighting this week, in a stay busy fight he'll win easily, so it's a funny week for Vitali to announce he's fighting someone so much less deserving, without at least trying to make a fight with Adamek first. And there are scores of other fighters more deserving of a shot than Briggs, most of whom have never been approached.

He turned a fight down with Wlad, he said that he wasn't ready yet. I respect that, he is settling into the HWs and not talking trash, he will fight either Kltischkos eventually.

[Dave Rado]

He turned a fight down with Wlad.

That was a year ago, plus he said the notice was too short for him to prepare (only 3 weeks), so it's completely irrelevant to the current situation with Vitali, who could have made him another offer now, but AFAIK, hasn't approached him.

[BattlingNelson]

I don't think there have been any negotiations with Adamek? I find it hard to believe he would turn down the opportunity, and he's fighting an easy work-out this week, so is available after that. And he likes to fight four times a year, so Vitali wouldn't have to wait long.

And I think there are many other fighters more deserving (and certainly more highly ranked by boxrec) than Briggs, who have never been approached.

Briggs is just an easy money-making fight against a shot fighter, which is money-making only because of his achievements in the distant past; but two fights against journeymen in a row isn't how a borderline ATG should be closing out a great career.

I think I meant Solis TBH.

Who of all those would you rather see?

[Fox McCloud]

I think I meant Solis TBH.

Who of all those would you rather see?

Adamek doesn't seem ready. Povetkin and Haye don't want to fight the Klitschkos right now.

Solis is the best choice I think.

I wouldn't mind seeing Boytsov, but he isn't ready. By the way, Dimitrenko vs. Boytsov... what a fun matchup that would be.

[Hitman932]

Who of all those would you rather see?

He obviously thinks Briggs is a terrible opponent, but at the same time he has not made a single suggestion about a fighter ranked by the WBC that he would want to see Vitali fight.

Klitschko made it clear he wanted Haye, Valuev or Povetkin. All 3 turned down the chance and embarrassed themselves in the process.

So basically Vitali tried to make the fights that fans wanted to see, was turned down by all of them, and now he is being criticized for it?

Seems pretty ****** to me. Especially since Dave seems to think it's Vitali's job to go out of his way to try and get Adamek, who is a good fighter, but only a fake Heavyweight himself.

Adamek did not have to sign to fight Michael Grant, if he desired a Klitschko fight he could have been pressing for it for the past 4 months but he did not.

If Vitali wanted Adamek he would have had to wait until December or January, and he is too old, and enjoys fighting too much, to sit around on his ass for that long.

Dave Rado wants to talk **** about Vitali, and I am not sure why, he has not made any constructive suggestions about who Vitali could be fighting on October 16th instead of Briggs.

Adamek seems to be the only name he can regurgitate and it's pretty safe to say that he would not be ready for Vitali 2 months after fighting Grant.

[Hitman932]

Solis is the best choice I think.

I wouldn't mind seeing Boytsov, but he isn't ready. By the way, Dimitrenko vs. Boytsov... what a fun matchup that would be.

Solis is probably the best choice only in that he is undefeated and unknown so it would be a chance to judge his true potential.

At the same time all the criticisms leveled at Briggs for being overweight, out of shape and a 3 round fighter could also be leveled at Solis.

Vitali would have a much easier fight with Solis because Solis is shorter, doesn't have Briggs hand speed, and has nowhere near the power of Briggs.

As sorry as everyone is convinced Briggs is I believe this is far and away the most dangerous opponent for Vitali who is ranked in the top 15 by the WBC.

[Hitman932]

lets be honest guys...although Briggs isnt really the most 'boring' choice for a Vitali opponent(Kevin Johnson and Sosnoskapoli were much worse), the fact that hes getting a title shot is hilarious.

I can flat out guarentee you that if Haye had chosen Briggs as an opponent, when Briggs' only claim to fame in the last 2 years was KOing Rob Calloway, most Klitschko fans would be laughing and ridiculing Haye for his terrible cherry picking of opponents.

As it happens though Haye is fighting A-Force, which is even worse than Briggs, so we get to make fun of him anyway. Yippie! The point is Briggs flat out did not deserve a title shot, and if this was some other non-Klitschko titleholder, theyd be getting ridiculed by the Klitschko fans. oh well!

Your issue should be with the WBC and not with Klitschko.

You say it's a joke that Briggs is getting a title shot but look at the WBC rankings. Ray Austin is the #1 contender.

Are you going to call Vitali names when he is forced to fight his mandatory next?

And comparing Briggs as an opponent to Haye choosing Harrison isn't comparing apples to apples.

For one thing Audley Harrison isn't even ranked by the WBA, not only is it a ***** move for Haye to choose him, but he is gonna have to bribe the WBA just to get the fight sanctioned.

Secondly, no matter what you say about Briggs, his win over Sergei Lyakovich is 100x more significant than any win on Harrison's resume.

[BattlingNelson]

He obviously thinks Briggs is a terrible opponent, but at the same time he has not made a single suggestion about a fighter ranked by the WBC that he would want to see Vitali fight.

Klitschko made it clear he wanted Haye, Valuev or Povetkin. All 3 turned down the chance and embarrassed themselves in the process.

So basically Vitali tried to make the fights that fans wanted to see, was turned down by all of them, and now he is being criticized for it?

Seems pretty ****** to me. Especially since Dave seems to think it's Vitali's job to go out of his way to try and get Adamek, who is a good fighter, but only a fake Heavyweight himself.

Adamek did not have to sign to fight Michael Grant, if he desired a Klitschko fight he could have been pressing for it for the past 4 months but he did not.

If Vitali wanted Adamek he would have had to wait until December or January, and he is too old, and enjoys fighting too much, to sit around on his ass for that long.

Dave Rado wants to talk **** about Vitali, and I am not sure why, he has not made any constructive suggestions about who Vitali could be fighting on October 16th instead of Briggs.

Adamek seems to be the only name he can regurgitate and it's pretty safe to say that he would not be ready for Vitali 2 months after fighting Grant.

I hear you.

Let's see if Rado will enlighten us as to who he thinks Vitali should fight.