... Liakovich Won

[Derranged]

Where is everyone getting these unification assumptions? The current picture runs like this

WBC-Rahman is ordered to fight Maskaev and then Toney
WBA-Valuev is fighting who? Owen Beck
IBF-Chris Byrd is fighting Wladimir and then that fighter has to fight Ray Austin and I am sure their is a rematch clause for Byrd/Wladimir
WBO-Sergei has rematch w/ Brewster

We are already into April a Unification fight couldnt even possibly occur until 2007 especially at the rate most fighters fight which ranges between 3-6 months with most heavies taking the 6 month rest.

This fight has been mandated??

[spinksjinx]

This fight has been mandated??

Supposedly so it was mentioned a few weeks back that if Austin won last night he would be the runner up for the winner of that fight...Austin was also spewing it last night after he won so I would say that would be a good assumption. Even if it didnt occur their would still be the rematch and Valuev is the only HW title holder with 1 fight while the others have 2 lined up. Even then Valuev will defend in what May? Than a rematch might occur between Wlad/Byrd still whatever DOES occur nothing will be resolved in 2006 and thats the only truth we have for the division....Although since Lamon lost the only fight I want to see is Wlad vs Valuev as Byrd is the longest reigning champion and Valuev defeated Ruiz that would stake the claim the other 2 champions hold no merit to be claimed number 1.

[mECHsLAVE]

Technically Valuev is

Lennox lost to Rahman last
Rahman lost to Ruiz
Ruiz lost to Valuev (of course Toney could have been if he didnt get suspended)

Heavyweight division looks sadder than it did 6 months ago.

No way.

There is no "technically" when talking about HW rankings. The lineage ended with Lennox when he retired. It doesn't start again until someone unifies the titles.

The winner of Wlad/Byrd is clearly the #1 HW in the world.

[spinksjinx]

No way.

There is no "technically" when talking about HW rankings. The lineage ended with Lennox when he retired. It doesn't start again until someone unifies the titles.

The winner of Wlad/Byrd is clearly the #1 HW in the world.

You cant make that case and doing so is just as bad as having 4 different champions and each one...Unfortunately the public will be tricked into thinking Wlad/Byrd winner will be because of the hype machine Lampley will do commentating. If thats the case I am staking my claim that Oleg Maskeav is the best heavyweight out their we wont have a clear picture until atleast 2 of the champions fight and unify.

Just because Byrd is the reigning champion for the longest time doesnt make him the best. We need atleast one unified champion before we can call a #1 heavyweight....How about I call Sergei since Brewster knocked Wladimir out for the belt (Wladimir was considered the number 1 champ at the time) and has been the most active and most impressive heavyweight and was dethroned last night? Surely that claim brings more than a grain of salt to the table correct?

People choosing the HW champion now is all off of popularity and no actual merit. It is a division with no champions and a handful of contenders.

[mECHsLAVE]

You cant make that case and doing so is just as bad as having 4 different champions and each one...Unfortunately the public will be tricked into thinking Wlad/Byrd winner will be because of the hype machine Lampley will do commentating. If thats the case I am staking my claim that Oleg Maskeav is the best heavyweight out their we wont have a clear picture until atleast 2 of the champions fight and unify.

Just because Byrd is the reigning champion for the longest time doesnt make him the best. We need atleast one unified champion before we can call a #1 heavyweight....How about I call Sergei since Brewster knocked Wladimir out for the belt (Wladimir was considered the number 1 champ at the time) and has been the most active and most impressive heavyweight and was dethroned last night? Surely that claim brings more than a grain of salt to the table correct?

People choosing the HW champion now is all off of popularity and no actual merit. It is a division with no champions and a handful of contenders.

This is all wrong. I think you are confused.

Nobody is choosing a "HW champion." I'm not saying the winner of Wlad-Byrd is the HW champion. There isn't a definite HW champion again until at least 2 of the belts are unified. And a new lineage doesn't start until then. The winner of Wlad-Byrd should be ranked higher than any other HW in the world, though, clearly.

There is really no way anyone in their right mind can rank Valuev above the winner of Wlad-Byrd.

[spinksjinx]

This is all wrong. I think you are confused.

Nobody is choosing a "HW champion." I'm not saying the winner of Wlad-Byrd is the HW champion. There isn't a definite HW champion again until at least 2 of the belts are unified. And a new lineage doesn't start until then. The winner of Wlad-Byrd should be ranked higher than any other HW in the world, though, clearly.

There is really no way anyone in their right mind can rank Valuev above the winner of Wlad-Byrd.

Well I personally dont care for Valuev and thought he lost to Ruiz and Donald but why should Wladimir or Byrd be considered the number 1 heavyweight in the world? Neither has looked impressive and if Byrd wins I will give you that he is the number 1 right now but if Wladimir wins why should he be? He hasnt beaten anyone of note to be considered number 1. I know people love Klitschko and everything and thinks he is the best heavyweight out their and all that hooplah but I dont and I think it is a bigger deal if Byrd beat Klitschko than vice versa...As I said Byrd is tailor made for Klitschko and beating him does nothing and clears nothing more up. Their are no champions or "number 1" guy in the division....Being number 1 is the same as being the champion the claim of being number 1 is the same as being the "best" which is what the champ is considered...

Heck I stake my official claim that Calvin Brock is the best heavyweight out their and number one. He has skill and heart and seems like the total package....

Anything warranting anything in the heavyweight division is just straight opinions with no facts so everything said by ANYONE is meaningless...

[ejk22]

Where is everyone getting these unification assumptions? The current picture runs like this

WBC-Rahman is ordered to fight Maskaev and then Toney
WBA-Valuev is fighting who? Owen Beck
IBF-Chris Byrd is fighting Wladimir and then that fighter has to fight Ray Austin and I am sure their is a rematch clause for Byrd/Wladimir
WBO-Sergei has rematch w/ Brewster

We are already into April a Unification fight couldnt even possibly occur until 2007 especially at the rate most fighters fight which ranges between 3-6 months with most heavies taking the 6 month rest.

Whoever wins the Byrd vs Wlad fight I think can take an optional defense. I do not believe they immediately need to face Ray Austin. Hopefully the optional defense turns into a unification defense against Lyackovich or Valuev.

[spinksjinx]

Whoever wins the Byrd vs Wlad fight I think can take an optional defense. I do not believe they immediately need to face Ray Austin. Hopefully the optional defense turns into a unification defense against Lyackovich or Valuev.

I do not believe they should be fighting Austin at all...That is just more of the political BS boxing is dealt with through the promoters and organizations.

The fact is after 3 years we have not had a legitimate HW fight or champion and not even one Unification bout all because of politics.

[Nautilus]

Where is everyone getting these unification assumptions? The current picture runs like this

WBC-Rahman is ordered to fight Maskaev and then Toney
WBA-Valuev is fighting who? Owen Beck
IBF-Chris Byrd is fighting Wladimir and then that fighter has to fight Ray Austin and I am sure their is a rematch clause for Byrd/Wladimir
WBO-Sergei has rematch w/ Brewster

We are already into April a Unification fight couldnt even possibly occur until 2007 especially at the rate most fighters fight which ranges between 3-6 months with most heavies taking the 6 month rest.

WBO has the "no immediate remacth" rule... That's the reason Wlad could not rematch Corrie immediately after.

[spinksjinx]

WBO has the "no immediate remacth" rule... That's the reason Wlad could not rematch Corrie immediately after.

Did not actually know that but still none the less Sergei just came out of a tough fight and has a rematch clause w/ Brewster I highly doubt he will sit and wait it out and we will most likely see a tune-up from Sergei as opposed from a unification fight...Aside from that their isnt one current HW champion who doesnt have a full schedule...Nothing is clearer and nothing ever will be until the champions stop fighting these mandatories...We all know who the current crop of champs are what they need to do is follow the path of the Light Heavyweight division we all know who the champ is their and he isnt even carrying a belt and the HW division needs to follow in those footsteps.

I say they make a tournament like so

Sergei vs Rahman
Valuev vs Byrd

and then the winner of those 2 meet while the "fringe" contenders have a little tournament of their own and when it is resolved they fight champion.....Screw the belts they are meaningless and only hold merit to the organizations themselves.