... Liakovich Won

[ejk22]

If Lyackovich rematch's Brewster instead of fighting another champion, then you know king is pulling the strings. Brewster does not deserve a rematch, he did not give one to Wlad after they fought so why should he get the benefit of one now? I hope Sergei's manager Goltzov pushes him towards a unification against the winner of Byrd/Wlad. This is the only way we can start answering questions. A potential showdown between Wlad (if he wins the IBF) and Lyackovich could be a big fight.

[Nautilus]

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.

I think The Ring should take leadership in organizing this tournament, but it is not clear how this all would unravel.

[oldgringo]

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.

welcome back stranger.

[spinksjinx]

If Lyackovich rematch's Brewster instead of fighting another champion, then you know king is pulling the strings. Brewster does not deserve a rematch, he did not give one to Wlad after they fought so why should he get the benefit of one now? I hope Sergei's manager Goltzov pushes him towards a unification against the winner of Byrd/Wlad. This is the only way we can start answering questions. A potential showdown between Wlad (if he wins the IBF) and Lyackovich could be a big fight.

I totally agree and I just read the post-press conference of Sergei and he said he wants Klitschko which is good because than we could get one unified champ provided it happens. IMO Wladimir didnt deserve a rematch against Brewster and Brewster doesnt deserve a rematch against Sergei. Both of them fought ****** fights and should be ashamed for performing the way each of them did. If Sergei/Wlad were to come off I could definately see them fighting Valuev as it seems he has also been calling out Wladimir...Of course that all depends if Sergei grants Brewster another fight and if Byrd has a rematch clause against Wladimir...

I know I said earlier everything is just opinions and nothing is factual at this point but could we all agree that Rahman/Maskaev/Toney whoever winds up w/ the WBC strap is meaningless in unification? I dont consider Rahman the champ as he never earned his belt in the ring and the WBC belt holds no merit. As Valuev/Sergei/Wladimir will have all earned their belts and the champions they fought to get those belts also earned them. Correct?

Nautilus-If the ring were to do so things could get messy. Although they hold just about as much credibility as any other organization...Isnt the Ring championship vacated?

[spinksjinx]

welcome back stranger.

It's good to be back old friend...Here to make some new ones as well..

[ejk22]

The WBC ****ed things up already with their bull**** ruling. Maskaev fights Rahman and then the winner face's Toney, so realistically we will not be seeing any unification coming out of the WBC for at least another year. This is why the fight between Lyackovich and the winner of Byrd/Wlad needs to happen. There is also a great chance of it happening since the WBO and IBF has not implemented any kind of bull**** rule about who fights who when the smoke clears come April 22.

[mECHsLAVE]

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...

No, I'm ranking him on the merits of his record and performances. Byrd, to me, should be ranked about 4th now. He's put on a couple of VERY weak showings over the past couple of years and has gotten some gift decisions in his last 4-5 fights. But, I feel Wlad was ranked #2 behind Brewster (before last night), and if he can beat Byrd, then his resume over the past 2 years since the Brewster fight would be wins over Williamson, Peter and Byrd. That will be a resume that nobody out there can beat. Likewise, if Byrd can beat the #2 HW out there (Wlad) then coupled with his reign (albeit a weak one) and high level of career opposition, then he should be vaulted to the top spot with Brewster having dropped down.

Brock? I mean, sure Brock is a solid-looking HW, but we are talking rankings here. You can't just vault someone to the top of the rankings because you THINK they are good. You have to base it on their performances. Brock is lower top 10, right now, not #1.

Yes, it's just everyone's opinions. But ranking them not only on your opinions of them, but their performances in the ring against dangerous and quality oppoisition.

Valuev really only has one siginificant fight, an ugly win over Ruiz, who had come off of a 2 terrible showings (against Golota where he got a gift decision, and against a steroided Toney). I just don't see ANY WAY POSSIBLE to rank Valuev as the #1 HW in the world right now from that. Sorry. We are just going to absolutely disagree on that.

[Leo Pradun]

There aint gonna be unification. No way is King gonna let Brewster out of the picture that easily because he knows Lamon has the best chance of beating Wlad. A rematch will be made and King will just hope Brewster wins.

makes no difference liakhovich still is a king fighter...

[Leo Pradun]

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.

if wlad beats byrd no way byrds gonna get a rematch, are u on drugs...

[spinksjinx]

No, I'm ranking him on the merits of his record and performances. Byrd, to me, should be ranked about 4th now. He's put on a couple of VERY weak showings over the past couple of years and has gotten some gift decisions in his last 4-5 fights. But, I feel Wlad was ranked #2 behind Brewster (before last night), and if he can beat Byrd, then his resume over the past 2 years since the Brewster fight would be wins over Williamson, Peter and Byrd. That will be a resume that nobody out there can beat. Likewise, if Byrd can beat the #2 HW out there (Wlad) then coupled with his reign (albeit a weak one) and high level of career opposition, then he should be vaulted to the top spot with Brewster having dropped down.

Brock? I mean, sure Brock is a solid-looking HW, but we are talking rankings here. You can't just vault someone to the top of the rankings because you THINK they are good. You have to base it on their performances. Brock is lower top 10, right now, not #1.

Yes, it's just everyone's opinions. But ranking them not only on your opinions of them, but their performances in the ring against dangerous and quality oppoisition.

Valuev really only has one siginificant fight, an ugly win over Ruiz, who had come off of a 2 terrible showings (against Golota where he got a gift decision, and against a steroided Toney). I just don't see ANY WAY POSSIBLE to rank Valuev as the #1 HW in the world right now from that. Sorry. We are just going to absolutely disagree on that.

Are you talking HW achievments or all around? All around Toney is but if HW strictly I would pick Ruiz. Of course out of all of the Belt holders at the moment Byrd gets the nod.

God this is a mess just to discuss..