Step up for Valuev...

jameswilson · Post by **jameswilson** » 20 Apr 2005, 14:28

I bet Bubs delighted to hear that the winner of Skelton v Williams will allegedly fight the winner of Ruiz v Toney

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 21 Apr 2005, 08:05

jameswilson wrote:I bet Bubs delighted to hear that the winner of Skelton v Williams will allegedly fight the winner of Ruiz v Toney

Stop press- WHAAAA?!

Raff The Frenchman · Post by **Raff The Frenchman** » 21 Apr 2005, 08:18

actually, it might sound crazy but apart from Vitali and Wladimir, i see nobody in the division who could beat Valuev within 1 year...
Ruiz? no way he could manage to wrestle against a 7' 320 lbs guy
Toney? c'mon, 5'10 against 7'0 skills won't be enough to balance the size
Byrd? has shown big men posed him troubles, moreover he has lost a lot of his speed.
Brewster? is not better than Levin (lost to shufford AND arguably to Meehan)
Rahman? has a puncher's chance but has always had trouble against bigger men, and is easily scared.
Golota? would low blow and get DQ'd
McCline? showed he was not aggressive enough for a big guy and would fight same fight as vs Wlad imo
Tyson? shot
Tua? shot, 5'11 vs 7'0 and only has his left hook haymaker which Valuev would see coming from 10 mile away...

The only 2 guys to beat him are Vitali and Wladimir because of his power and size and offensive skills...Vitali knows how to fight big guys and would outmuscle Valuev,
Wlad is tall enough, has the greatest offensive skills and fastest hands in the division+ huge KO power...

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 21 Apr 2005, 08:21

Mate, Wladimir melted against fornicating Lamon Brewster, I wouldn't have much confidence in him beating anyone with a pulse these days. I bet he loses his next fight.

Raff The Frenchman · Post by **Raff The Frenchman** » 21 Apr 2005, 08:24

Wlad has shown he could punch himself out against a bum like Brewster, yes, he also showed he could woop Byrd who is the now said to be the n°1 HW, MCCline too...don't forget that

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 21 Apr 2005, 08:24

I hear he's got one of the Castillo brothers, who are light punchers so if he does his career will be in the mire.

Vladimir really should win and I think he probably will, but I do think he's on borrowed time.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 21 Apr 2005, 08:32

Raff The Frenchman wrote:Wlad has shown he could punch himself out against a bum like Brewster, yes, he also showed he could woop Byrd who is the now said to be the n°1 HW, MCCline too...don't forget that

That was a long time ago now. Wlad has imploded mentally since then. He's never been the same since Sanders nuked him. He also punched himself out against Ross Purrity earlier in his career don't forget.

They are feasting Wlad on patsies since the loss to Sanders, Brewster was meant to be a low risk opponent, and Wlad lost again.

It's Elicier next, who is a light puncher, but he's fast and mobile, and the longer the fight goes, the more chance that Wlad unravels again.

Wlad is mentally shot. He's the second coming of Michael Grant.

jab · Post by **jab** » 21 Apr 2005, 09:37

Ralph, Byrd indeed lost a lot of his speed and reflexes. He is easier to hit, as we saw in the Golota and McCline fights. He has little chance against Valuev.
Wlad might have as good a chance as Vitali, but his chin is very suspect and has major stamina problems and mental weaknesses lately. He could beat Val if he were his own self (pre-Sanders), but now he is a mental wreck; h eshouldnt fight Valuev for at least 12 months. Wlad needs easy confidence fights, mot clashes with boxers as strong or stronger than himself, who can ko him if he has again stamina or mental problems.

Vitali is king right now, and Val should avoid him for another 18 months, Val needs 5-6 fighte before facing Vitali.

Toney has been mentioned as a Valuev beater. That is a good one. He barely gets past a cruiser mediocrity fighting 30lb above his natural weight (Booker) and you think he has a prayer against a guy 13 inches taller, 13 inch reach advantage and 100lb heavier? Toney has injuries against little guys like Booker.

We could see better fights from Valuev. Koing Etienne is a good step, but he needs to meet some good jabber, like Donald or Kirk Johnson before he is thrown against ane champ. (except for Brewster whom he could beat right now)

He needs to improve the jab, learn the right uppercut and tighten up his defense.