chesh wrote:
Yes, John Rawling did say that. He also mentioned Chagaev's close fight with Ruiz, saying he wasn't the second coming of Ali. Skelton's clearly the underdog, but the result of this isn't a foregone conclusion. At those odds, I might have a little flutter on Matt and I'll certainly be cheering him on.
Me too. Big Matt seems a nice lad, and it would be great if he pulled it off.
Save your money - there is too much of a skills gap between the two.
I expect the Bedford Bear to put up a decent showing but he will be widly outpointed/stopped late IMO.
Chagev can be just as dirty believe me!! I don't know wether Chagev has the one shot power to knock Skelton out?? But he has the skills to do it that's for sure!! I think it'll just be a technical hiding!!
I think at them odds Matts worth a bet, Chagaev will be made to work the full 3 minutes of every round against a bigger stronger guy who loves to fight and if there are any flaws in his temprament Matt will exspose them.
A big heart,good fitness and a huge will to win can help Matt push it to the wire.
Will can beat skill so come on Matt
At least not when the skill gap is as large as I perceive it to be.
I have been following Skelton's career since I watched him batter Ricky Nickolson with leg kicks and eventually top him with a punches in the K1 Battle of Britain event in 2000.
He is a lovely fellar, a credit to the sport and his dedication at his advanced aged is exemplary, but I fully expect Chagaev to put on a clinic on Saturday night. You can't 'bull' your way to the heavyweight championship and I have a feeling Matt is going to learn this the hard way.
Good luck to him and I hope he pulls it off but I just can't see it myself..
I just think Mats got a bit more skill than people give him credit for and nowhere near as limited as the think he is.
I had a fighter on the undercard that night when Matt won the K1 he was very impressive .
Last edited by thaibox uk on 13 Jan 2008, 15:50, edited 2 times in total.
Have the feeling the Chagaev is one of those fighters who will only do enough to win, fight to the opponents level and never try and look like some super star and dominate an opponent. So he could pick it up vs Skelton, who I think
offers the most workrate out of the three opponents I have seen him face (Ruiz, Valuev and Sprott).
If thats all Chagaev is though, basically a good jab and decent movement - then I give Skelton a chance. He aint a huge puncher, and can be outworked.
I don't give Skelton a punchers chance at all.... how many KO's has he scored when he fought decent UK opperators - two late stoppages, Sprott basically quit and Long's stoppage was controvesial. Williams in 24 rounds never looked close to being stopped - and he isn't the most resistant. I think that notion should be forgot about... Skelton doesn't hit as hard as Ruiz or Valuev any (maybe not Sprott).
Had a look on Utube at Chagaev and when he does KO opponents its pretty brutal stuff - He has dropped some big guys along the way - I know Matts chin is good and it needs to be.
I'd love to see Skelton win just to see how Warren falls over himself trying to keep a hold of the belt. Skelton-Burton for the WBA heavyweight championship of the worrrrld anyone?
leforge wrote:I can see it now headbutts rough house tactics and Matt will get disqaulified as it in Germany.
You know , i was thinking along the same lines, i don't know who the Ref will be on Saturday, but you can bet the Germans will of made him aware of Skelton's rough house moves.
I'd love to see big Matt win, but i don't think he will.
Skelton is one of the worst fighter's to watch I have ever seen but he can be effective, Either way neither of these would hold the title for too long IMO.
so come on Matt 
