Comments Thread For: Vitali's Next Challenger: David Haye is Not Deserving

[Jam Jars]

The worst era in heavyweight boxing history? I just love to keep hearing that bs, what because they are white europeans it is the worst era? Ok so the K brothers have beaten/fought:

Ray Mercer
Jameel McCline
Chris Byrd
Monte Barrett
Corrie Sanders
Lamon Brewster
Sam Peter
Hasim Rahman
Lennox Lewis
Ruslan Chagaev
Sultan Ibragimov
Oleg Maskaev
Kirk Johnson
Chris Arreola
Shannon Briggs

So during Lennox Lewis's "era" which is pretty close to being the same era the K's have fought in, the only quality opponents he fought the K's didn't were: a crappy Oliver McCall, a underachieving Michael Grant, a nutty Andrew Golota, a shot Mike Tyson and an almost over the hill Evander Holyfield? Are you serious? I am sick of hearing about how ****ty this heavyweight era is just because there is no american superstar dominating it, its ridiculous and it is racist. Other than the eras of Dempsey/Tunney, Louis/Marciano and Ali/Frazier, please tell me what other era's were so overwhelmingly better than right now? With the possible exceptions of a prime Ali, Foreman, Tyson and Holmes, the K's would have pretty much destroyed every other heavyweight in history so I am tired of hearing this argument about how crappy it is right now. Their styles are cerebral and may sometimes look boring sure, but don't blame the era for that. Lennox retired immediately after the Vitali fight because he knew his ass was grass if he fought Vitali again. He kept rubbing this dreadlock knots all over Vitalis eye cut to open it up because he was on his way to being KOed. But it seems since no one can compete with them for the most part, the era is **** right?? No the era seems like **** because they are dominating everyone, that is why, so it is not exciting to many people.

LOL half thsoe guys were 5 year past there best when Klitschko's fought them.

[4Corners]

The worst era in heavyweight boxing history? I just love to keep hearing that bs, what because they are white europeans it is the worst era? Ok so the K brothers have beaten/fought:

Ray Mercer
Jameel McCline
Chris Byrd
Monte Barrett
Corrie Sanders
Lamon Brewster
Sam Peter
Hasim Rahman
Lennox Lewis
Ruslan Chagaev
Sultan Ibragimov
Oleg Maskaev
Kirk Johnson
Chris Arreola
Shannon Briggs

So during Lennox Lewis's "era" which is pretty close to being the same era the K's have fought in, the only quality opponents he fought the K's didn't were: a crappy Oliver McCall, a underachieving Michael Grant, a nutty Andrew Golota, a shot Mike Tyson and an almost over the hill Evander Holyfield? Are you serious? I am sick of hearing about how ****ty this heavyweight era is just because there is no american superstar dominating it, its ridiculous and it is racist. Other than the eras of Dempsey/Tunney, Louis/Marciano and Ali/Frazier, please tell me what other era's were so overwhelmingly better than right now? With the possible exceptions of a prime Ali, Foreman, Tyson and Holmes, the K's would have pretty much destroyed every other heavyweight in history so I am tired of hearing this argument about how crappy it is right now. Their styles are cerebral and may sometimes look boring sure, but don't blame the era for that. Lennox retired immediately after the Vitali fight because he knew his ass was grass if he fought Vitali again. He kept rubbing this dreadlock knots all over Vitalis eye cut to open it up because he was on his way to being KOed. But it seems since no one can compete with them for the most part, the era is **** right?? No the era seems like **** because they are dominating everyone, that is why, so it is not exciting to many people.

Every HW era has a few people that dominate, with the 70's probably being the deepest ever.

America hasn't had a good HW since Riddico Bowe, Evander Holyfield, and probably Mitchael Moorer. Shannon Briggs, Lamon Brewster, Chris Arreola, Eddie Chambers, Kirk Johnson.....no thanks. Chris Byrd in his prime was pretty good, I'll give most people that. Other HW era's were still deeper with top guys though. Joe Louis fought Max Baer, Max Schmeling, Primo Carnera, Joe Walcott, Billy Conn, Buddy Baer, his era was pretty deep.

Lennox Lewis was sort of like the modern day Rocky Marciano. He came in at a great time. Granted, Rid**** Bowe f**ked everyone over with not seeing Lewis-Bowe, which would have been HUGE. But, Lennox came in when Tyson was past hims prime and when Holyfield was past his prime as well. He grabbed some good wins over Tua, Tucker, Bruno, Morrison, Akinwande, Golota, Mavrovic, Grant, Botha, and Rahman, and than was on his way out as the Klitschko's werer coming in. He did fight a prime Vitali and though he was not getting dominated by any means, he was losing. But you have to take into account that by the time Vitali decided he wanted to fight Lennox, Lennox was 37 years old. And Lennox beat him on a lucky cut stoppage. But, Rocky Marciano came in when Walcott, Charles, and Louis were on their way out, and he got out before Floyd Patterson came in to be a threat at HW. It was good timing.

Liston beat Cleveland Williams, Roy Harris, Zora Folley, Eddie Machen, and of course....Floyd Patterson, an ATG HW. Patterson beat Tommy Jackson, Roy Harris, Ingemar Johansson, Tom Mcneeley, Eddie Machen, George Chuvalo, Herny Cooper, but lost to Liston and Ali, and lost to Quarry when he was past it. I'd still say the Liston-Patterson-Ali (Late 50's to Mid 60's) era was better than today.

Ali dominated everyone in the 60's and ended up beating everyone in the 70's, which was probably the best HW era ever. Frazier, Foreman, Norton, Shavers, Lyle, Quarry, Ellis, Bonavena, Bugner, Young, M. Foster, B. Foster, etc.

Then, we go into the Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson era's, which are really similar to the era's on the 90's and 00's as well.

The Klitschko's are ATG HW's, and H2H they are probably Top 10, but career, era, and resume, I don't see them inside the top 10. It could change depending on how these up-and-coming HW's do and if the Klitschko's beat them.

The only HW's prime for prime that I'd favor over the Klitschko's are Ali, Foreman, Holmes, Holyfield, Lewis, and Bowe.

Tyson and Liston are 50-50 fights to me.

I think the Klitschko's H2H would beat any of the HW's prior to the Liston/Patterson fights. And I'd favor them over Moorer, Norton, Shavers, Frazier, Patterson, Lyle, H2H as well.

That doesn't mean I think they are higher all-time, just H2H.

[crold1]

Nobody is deserving.

You might as well pick the most interesting challenger and that's probably Haye at this point. I'm not saying a Vitali-Haye fight interests me necessarily but it will receive more media attention than most other heavyweight fights.

We have to accept the fact that there's a dearth of viable challengers for the Klitschko brothers. See ancient Rahman and cruiserweight Huck receiving "title" opportunities against Povetkin. Or Mormeck.

This and all of this.

[JAB5239]

That's what a fighter with superior height and reach has to do, grab your opponent before he can attack you inside where you have the disadvantage. It was Hayes job to find a way around that problem, he couldn't make it. Guess who won the fight?

No, not true. Wlad just doesn't know how to fight on the inside or break a fighter down to the body. There are countless fighters in history who had height advantages but could still do these things. The truth is Wlad is one dimensional. He's excellent at that one dimension, but he certainly doesn't have to fight that way, he just doesn't know how to be multidimensional.

[Superflo777]

No, not true. Wlad just doesn't know how to fight on the inside or break a fighter down to the body. There are countless fighters in history who had height advantages but could still do these things. The truth is Wlad is one dimensional. He's excellent at that one dimension, but he certainly doesn't have to fight that way, he just doesn't know how to be multidimensional.

Let's be honest his chin isn't the best and he fights safety first and is not comfortable at infighting. His fighting style is - what Emanuel Steward taught him - the best way to use his reach and height without getting into much trouble and it works. It's not much different to how Lennox fought Tyson who was deadly on the inside (not so much anymore in 2002 but still). I wouldn't dare to call an Olympic gold medalist with an extensive amateur and pro career like Wlad technically limited.

[4Corners]

Haye should come back and make a statement against someone like Huck, than go for Vitali. The last time we saw Haye, he wen't full retreat mode against Wlad. I was actually hoping Haye would win and hoping Haye would stay relevant.

[Jedi Vader]

Let's be honest his chin isn't the best and he fights safety first and is not comfortable at infighting. His fighting style is - what Emanuel Steward taught him - the best way to use his reach and height without getting into much trouble and it works. It's not much different to how Lennox fought Tyson who was deadly on the inside (not so much anymore in 2002 but still). I wouldn't dare to call an Olympic gold medalist with an extensive amateur and pro career like Wlad technically limited.

[JAB5239]

Let's be honest his chin isn't the best and he fights safety first and is not comfortable at infighting. His fighting style is - what Emanuel Steward taught him - the best way to use his reach and height without getting into much trouble and it works. It's not much different to how Lennox fought Tyson who was deadly on the inside (not so much anymore in 2002 but still). I wouldn't dare to call an Olympic gold medalist with an extensive amateur and pro career like Wlad technically limited.

Good post, but I still disagree and consider him one dimensional. He's never shown himself to be an inside fighter or body puncher. Of course he has never had to given his comp and the fact that his one dimension (my opinion) is so good.

[Daddy T]

pretty crap and nonsensical article - but then most hate is. Vitali v Haye will attract more interest from outside the small band of hardcore fans than just about any other fight right now. How does that damage the sport? Besides depite haye not deserving it,(which is true) he is still one of the few out there that is likely to give vitali a few problems.

[Daddy T]

Oh and BTW what people really mean when they say 'worst heavyweight era ever' is - 'worst american heavyweight era ever' - which it is, lol.

Obviously all in all this era is piss poor in comparison to say the 70s but compare it to say the 80s before the arrival of Tyson,holyfield,bowe Lewis etc and its not that terrible.