The New Soviet Revolution: Eastern Europe Invades the Heavyweights

[K-DOGG]

Man I don't know.....is there such thing right now?I mean Brock is decent but I really don't know.I don't follow the HW division as much as others and don't know off too many young up and coming guys.Chazz Witherspoon looked good from what I saw of him though......Tough question and I don't know if anyone has a good answer at this point.

I've heard good things about Chazz; but it's too soon to say for sure. Anytime I'm talking heavyweight prospects, most of the time I hear names I can't pronounce....aka, there from the Eastern European area. I know there's got to be a young blood out there somewhere...it's just a matter knowing what name to look for.

[RAESAAD]

I've heard good things about Chazz; but it's too soon to say for sure. Anytime I'm talking heavyweight prospects, most of the time I hear names I can't pronounce....aka, there from the Eastern European area. I know there's got to be a young blood out there somewhere...it's just a matter knowing what name to look for.

True.....I really thought Guinn had it a couple of years ago but man has he been a bust.I mean he is no pushover but not what I expected from him.

[K-DOGG]

True.....I really thought Guinn had it a couple of years ago but man has he been a bust.I mean he is no pushover but not what I expected from him.

With Guinn I'm not sure if it's a case of too long of an amateur career and now he's burnt out, or if it's just a case of no real hunger for the sport. Looking at him in some of his earlier fights, you can see he's got the skills; but something going on in his head, I think, is the key. Boxing, after all, is 90% mental. If you're not dedicated to it, you don't belong in the ring. That's a fast way to get hurt.

[RAESAAD]

With Guinn I'm not sure if it's a case of too long of an amateur career and now he's burnt out, or if it's just a case of no real hunger for the sport. Looking at him in some of his earlier fights, you can see he's got the skills; but something going on in his head, I think, is the key. Boxing, after all, is 90% mental. If you're not dedicated to it, you don't belong in the ring. That's a fast way to get hurt.

Yeah he is probably a head case.It did look for a while tho that he had something.......Oh well what are you gonna do....

[Mr. Ryan]

To be honest, I don't think much at all of any of the heavyweight prospects out there. For some reason, there aren't any heavyweight prospects coming out that I look at and go "Damn, he's something special." Sam Peter was the **** to alot of people, but I recognized immediately that he was just a repackaged David Tua minus the cool sounds when he hits someone. Calvin Brock wasn't anything until Mesi got ****ed up and Guinn imploded. I really can't get excited for them. And these other prospects like Ibragimov and Ivan Drago, I just can't find myself rooting for them because I can't identify with their personalities. I saw Saleta fight once and fell in hate immediately with him.

[K-DOGG]

Yeah he is probably a head case.It did look for a while tho that he had something.......Oh well what are you gonna do....

Watch and hope, my man. Watch and hope.

[K-DOGG]

To be honest, I don't think much at all of any of the heavyweight prospects out there. For some reason, there aren't any heavyweight prospects coming out that I look at and go "Damn, he's something special." Sam Peter was the **** to alot of people, but I recognized immediately that he was just a repackaged David Tua minus the cool sounds when he hits someone. Calvin Brock wasn't anything until Mesi got ****ed up and Guinn imploded. I really can't get excited for them. And these other prospects like Ibragimov and Ivan Drago, I just can't find myself rooting for them because I can't identify with their personalities. I saw Saleta fight once and fell in hate immediately with him.

I seriously think there's somethig to the argument that "would-be" heavyweight contenders are going into other sports such as football, basketball, and baseball. There's the opportunity to go to college on a sports scholarship for those sports, while there isn't for boxing. That, I think is much of the key. Why take punches for a living with no guaranee of success when you can get an education and national exposure for free? That's just my thoughts though, I could be wrong.

[K-DOGG]

Guinn, if he plays his cards right, could get back in the game. His win over Harrison, exciting thought it wasn't, will help him.

He needs to fight Danny Williams next, IMO.

[enadeus]

Here is the article I wrote on some up and coming Eastern European fighers, and their scheduled fights, but they didn't take it:

After the successful capture of three heavyweight world titles by boxers of Eastern European nationality, many fans were excited to find out more about the up and coming fighters from these post-soviet countries. Further, they wanted the current champs to fight each other for title unification.

While our faiths in Sergei Liakhovich’s unification dreams are doubtful now that he is co-promoted by Don King for the next two years, at least the possibilities of a match with McBribe and a rematch with Lamon Brewster are on the horizon. It seems that Liakhovich will not take steps to unify this year, if he retains his title of course. Wladimir Klitschko, with few options in front of him, has called out Brewster. Many fans find this awkward, and want him to take steps toward unifying the titles. However, with Nikolay Valuev being carefully promoted, and fighting Owen Beck in June, a fight with Valuev seems unlikely. Hassim Rahman is also heavily obligated, slated to fight Oleg Maskaev and a rematch with James Toney thereafter if he retains his portion of the heavyweight crown. Some have called for an eliminator between James Toney and W. Klitschko. But, anyone with a clear head knows that this is almost suicidal for Toney. Yet, other Eastern European fighters are taking steps towards name recognition, and to reawake heavyweight boxing.

Sultan Ibragimov (19-0 16ko’s) has called out Sam Peter, and to an extent anyone else that is a top contender, in hopes of getting his shot at Wladimir Klitschko. In his last bout, he knocked out Lance Whitaker in the 7th round, to successfully defend his WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight Title six fights in a row. Along the way, he is building a fan base in Florida, a reputation as a brawler and willing to take risks, and stayed true to his roots by fighting at Brighton Beach (highly Russian populated community) in 2004. Starting his career late in life, the 31 year old boxer knows that he has only a few years left to leave his mark in heavyweight boxing.

Sultan’s brother, Timor Ibragimov (21-0-1 13ko’s), is going to face determined American boxer Calvin Brock (28-0 22ko’s) in June. Being the less thrilling of the brothers, many see this as Timor’s chance to showcase his skills, and a win over Brock would be huge.

Out of Russia, two young heavyweights are making a buzz. Supposedly being offered a promotional contract by Don King before turning pro, 20 year-old Denis Boytsov (13-0 13ko’s) has raised the eyebrows of many boxing fans and experts. Yet to face any major opposition, the relatively small heavyweight (210 pounds, 6’1) is scheduled to face Jucimar Francisco Hipolito (11-5 4ko’s) on May 27th. His next few parings will probably ended by a quick knockout, as his promoters are not rushing him and allowing his body mass to grow.

The other Russian fighter coming up the ranks quickly is twenty six year-old Alexander Povetkin (7-0 5ko’s), a 2004 Olympic Games Super Heavyweight Gold Medalist. He is scheduled to face Livin Castillo (13-3 8ko’s) on June 3rd, and should be ready for some serious competition very soon.

Other fighters include Alexander Dimitrenko (21-0 12ko’s), a 6’7 Ukrainian giant, with big ambitions, is scheduled to fight in August. Vladimir Virchis (20-1 17ko’s) gets lucky after a majority decision loss to Ruslan Chagaev (20-0 16ko’s), and is scheduled to fight in August against Paolo Vidoz (21-2) for the European Heavyweight Title. Chagaev is also scheduled to fight in August, and is considered one of the best Eastern European prospects. This Uzbekistani fighter has earned himself the nickname “White Tyson”, and is quickly becoming a fan favorite to watch.

[K-DOGG]

Here is the article I wrote on some up and coming Eastern European fighers, and their scheduled fights, but they didn't take it:

After the successful capture of three heavyweight world titles by boxers of Eastern European nationality, many fans were excited to find out more about the up and coming fighters from these post-soviet countries. Further, they wanted the current champs to fight each other for title unification.

While our faiths in Sergei Liakhovich’s unification dreams are doubtful now that he is co-promoted by Don King for the next two years, at least the possibilities of a match with McBribe and a rematch with Lamon Brewster are on the horizon. It seems that Liakhovich will not take steps to unify this year, if he retains his title of course. Wladimir Klitschko, with few options in front of him, has called out Brewster. Many fans find this awkward, and want him to take steps toward unifying the titles. However, with Nikolay Valuev being carefully promoted, and fighting Owen Beck in June, a fight with Valuev seems unlikely. Hassim Rahman is also heavily obligated, slated to fight Oleg Maskaev and a rematch with James Toney thereafter if he retains his portion of the heavyweight crown. Some have called for an eliminator between James Toney and W. Klitschko. But, anyone with a clear head knows that this is almost suicidal for Toney. Yet, other Eastern European fighters are taking steps towards name recognition, and to reawake heavyweight boxing.

Sultan Ibragimov (19-0 16ko’s) has called out Sam Peter, and to an extent anyone else that is a top contender, in hopes of getting his shot at Wladimir Klitschko. In his last bout, he knocked out Lance Whitaker in the 7th round, to successfully defend his WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight Title six fights in a row. Along the way, he is building a fan base in Florida, a reputation as a brawler and willing to take risks, and stayed true to his roots by fighting at Brighton Beach (highly Russian populated community) in 2004. Starting his career late in life, the 31 year old boxer knows that he has only a few years left to leave his mark in heavyweight boxing.

Sultan’s brother, Timor Ibragimov (21-0-1 13ko’s), is going to face determined American boxer Calvin Brock (28-0 22ko’s) in June. Being the less thrilling of the brothers, many see this as Timor’s chance to showcase his skills, and a win over Brock would be huge.

Out of Russia, two young heavyweights are making a buzz. Supposedly being offered a promotional contract by Don King before turning pro, 20 year-old Denis Boytsov (13-0 13ko’s) has raised the eyebrows of many boxing fans and experts. Yet to face any major opposition, the relatively small heavyweight (210 pounds, 6’1) is scheduled to face Jucimar Francisco Hipolito (11-5 4ko’s) on May 27th. His next few parings will probably ended by a quick knockout, as his promoters are not rushing him and allowing his body mass to grow.

The other Russian fighter coming up the ranks quickly is twenty six year-old Alexander Povetkin (7-0 5ko’s), a 2004 Olympic Games Super Heavyweight Gold Medalist. He is scheduled to face Livin Castillo (13-3 8ko’s) on June 3rd, and should be ready for some serious competition very soon.

Other fighters include Alexander Dimitrenko (21-0 12ko’s), a 6’7 Ukrainian giant, with big ambitions, is scheduled to fight in August. Vladimir Virchis (20-1 17ko’s) gets lucky after a majority decision loss to Ruslan Chagaev (20-0 16ko’s), and is scheduled to fight in August against Paolo Vidoz (21-2) for the European Heavyweight Title. Chagaev is also scheduled to fight in August, and is considered one of the best Eastern European prospects. This Uzbekistani fighter has earned himself the nickname “White Tyson”, and is quickly becoming a fan favorite to watch.

Thanks for the tips on up and comers. I'll keep an eye and an ear out. Peace.