Is the desire to see Valuev lose on Saturday just inate racism?

[Guest]

For the very first time I'm seeing people get behind John Ruiz to win a fight.

There seems to be some kind of racial fear that a Russian - the self-styled "Beast from the East" - will equal or overtake Marciano's unbeaten 49-0 record. He's just seven off it as I type.

Yet I'm watching him vs. Paolo Vidoz (one of the most hirstute bouts in history?) and it really does seem unfair to write him off as just a "freak show" because of his size.

What's impressing me is that Valuev is actually quite clued up on the fundamentals and is working off the jab quite delicately, instead of pressing with his 323lb mass. This is no gimmick or Comrade Ruiz, this is a guy who wants to box seriously and respects the science behind it.

He's faster than I'd been led to believe - okay, he's no Ali but he's no McBride either - and he's reasonably trim at the weight, even bouncing on his toes. There are allegations that he's fought "bums" to get where he is. Newsflash: Hasim Rahman got into contendership via a run of Mario Cawley, Rob Calloway, Terrence Lewis, Kali Meehan and Monte Barrett.

I think if this was any other heavyweight era I'd probably be running the guy down but the heavies ARE pretty crap today. Okay, there are probably six names you could pull out of the hat that could beat this guy (Brewster seems to be everyone's favourite right now after a pretty good 2005) but you don't need to be great to be heavyweight champion of the world in 2006.

[TheEvilSaint]

For the very first time I'm seeing people get behind John Ruiz to win a fight.

There seems to be some kind of racial fear that a Russian - the self-styled "Beast from the East" - will equal or overtake Marciano's unbeaten 49-0 record. He's just seven off it as I type.

Yet I'm watching him vs. Paolo Vidoz (one of the most hirstute bouts in history?) and it really does seem unfair to write him off as just a "freak show" because of his size.

What's impressing me is that Valuev is actually quite clued up on the fundamentals and is working off the jab quite delicately, instead of pressing with his 323lb mass. This is no gimmick or Comrade Ruiz, this is a guy who wants to box seriously and respects the science behind it.

He's faster than I'd been led to believe - okay, he's no Ali but he's no McBride either - and he's reasonably trim at the weight. There are allegations that he's fought "bums" to get where he is. Newsflash: Hasim Rahman got into contendership via a run of Mario Cawley, Rob Calloway, Terrence Lewis, Kali Meehan and Monte Barrett.

I think if this was any other heavyweight era I'd probably be running the guy down but the heavies ARE pretty crap today. Okay, there are probably six names you could pull out of the hat that could beat this guy (Brewster seems to be everyone's favourite right now after a pretty good 2005) but you don't need to be great to be heavyweight champion of the world in 2006.

valuev cant overtake that, cuz valuev has had 1 No Decision so he has only had 20 some victories since then.

rocky's record is 49 consecutive victories that has never been beaten in the HW division. and since that no decision, valuev has had to start all over again.

dont worry, valuev's not gonna break that record.

but it wont end against ruiz...

[Guest]

Yeah, I forgot to say his chin don't look too hot.

But as for the No Decision, they say any bull**** these days to make a record... look at how the Slop defended his title 20 times.

[TheEvilSaint]

Yeah, I forgot to say his chin don't look too hot.

But as for the No Decision, they say any bull**** these days to make a record... look at how the Slop defended his title 20 times.

i heard valuev's chin was pretty solid.

with a face that ugly, his chin's so big it must be hard.

[Guest]

This Vidoz guy wobbled him a little in the second round. Actually, "wobbled" might be an exagerration, but we'll see. Ruiz is 10" shorter.... how's he gonna reach?

[TheEvilSaint]

This Vidoz guy wobbled him a little in the second round. Actually, "wobbled" might be an exagerration, but we'll see. Ruiz is 10" shorter.... how's he gonna reach?

larry donald got to valuevs chin.

[Guest]

Yeah, I need to see that one as well. I'm doing this thread off the back of 2 round research, which is as lazy and ill-informed as Hell. I normally hate threads done by the BoxRec lovers, but that's virtually what this is.

[MetalVomit]

I think Valuev is garbage, but I truly hope he KO's Ruiz.

[XionComrade]

Valuev KO in 1!!! Yeahhhh!!!
Man its guys like Chris Byrd(According to the fight with Williamson) and John Ruiz(According to his....career) that make the really good heavyweights of today(David Tua, JAMES TONEY, Sam Peter, Wlad) look like bums.

[Guest]

I think Valuev is garbage, but I truly hope he KO's Ruiz.

I agree, but then you could also say "I think [insert name of 90% of the current heavies here] is garbage" and I would agree. By current standards he's an average turd.