Today in 2003

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 21 Jun 2005, 15:22

Lennox Lewis beat Vitali Klitchsko.

It feels like an age ago.

A little bit dissapointing the Klitchsko has only had two fights since - one against a part time golfer the other against Danny.

I'm sure Klitchsko must be gutted about his progress.

Nels · Post by **Nels** » 21 Jun 2005, 15:42

'Scuse me Stu, but didn't he whack out Canadian Whaleboy as well?

I'll get my *pedantic* coat.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 21 Jun 2005, 15:45

Nels wrote:'Scuse me Stu, but didn't he whack out Canadian Whaleboy as well?

I'll get my *pedantic* coat.

Oh yeah, forgot that one.

Hesketh Vampire · Post by **Hesketh Vampire** » 21 Jun 2005, 15:59

In all honesty though even if he'd beaten Ruiz, Byrd and Rahman as well it wouldn't have created much excitement either. I've been fairly impressed with Vitali overall, I can accept he is the top dog at heavyweight right now, but he has yet to show dominance. He looked extremely nervous against Sanders, the Johnson fight he was in there with Butterbean Mk II, and brave Danny was a little too limited to mount a serious challenge. Perhaps fights with Toney and Rahman will mean more, but it's not an awe-inspiring picture.

Nels · Post by **Nels** » 21 Jun 2005, 16:06

Dinnae get me wrong mate; it's an incredibly easy achievement to forget about! Canadian Whaleboy would make a good Audley opponent.

It's just there in the record books, is all.

I get your overall point, about the rather less than KRUSHING dominance of the heavyweight division's mighty Mittel-European overlord (TM). S'a shame really, though I don't love the Klit any more than the next man; the passage of uneventful time has soured me toward the Klit. The Klit's perceived dominance rings more hollow every day.

I can now only watch fighters under 140 lbs, for fear of triggering memories of the Klit floundering to cuddle Lenny after eating one too many right uppercuts. You have brought it all back, you horrid horrid man.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 21 Jun 2005, 18:21

Yes after all his talk about lewis ducking him, blah blah blah blah....what has he done, fornicate all.

J · Post by J » 22 Jun 2005, 05:31

theres talk of maskeav being his next oppoenent as well i read the other day.

its not that impressive is it really.

shame cos i think vitali is actually quite exciting to watch when he lets his hands go.

he just needs to start taking on the top guys in the division.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 22 Jun 2005, 06:06

If he fights Maskaev he has to be removed as the #1 in the division. He really need to improve his opponents if thats the case. What are they scared of?

Hesketh Vampire · Post by **Hesketh Vampire** » 22 Jun 2005, 06:13

nickd wrote:If he fights Maskaev he has to be removed as the #1 in the division. He really need to improve his opponents if thats the case. What are they scared of?

I believe there's some kind of amateur history between Maskaev and Vitali, with Oleg claiming the only knockdown of Klitschko amateur or pro. I did read an account that this was bull though, and Vitali's corner just pulled him out with an injury (sounds familiar) in what was an unimportant bout. But all that hardly makes a pro bout right now any more appealing, Oleg had some good times on HBO after he catapulted Hasim Rahman out of the ring in 1999 but he subsequently went on to suffer some pretty comprehensive KO losses that showed his fragility.

ps - Vitali was knocked down in the fight with Sanders as far as I'm concerned, whether the ref called it or not.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 22 Jun 2005, 06:18

Hesketh wrote:
nickd wrote:If he fights Maskaev he has to be removed as the #1 in the division. He really need to improve his opponents if thats the case. What are they scared of?
I believe there's some kind of amateur history between Maskaev and Vitali, with Oleg claiming the only knockdown of Klitschko amateur or pro. I did read an account that this was bull though, and Vitali's corner just pulled him out with an injury (sounds familiar) in what was an unimportant bout. But all that hardly makes a pro bout right now any more appealing, Oleg had some good times on HBO after he catapulted Hasim Rahman out of the ring in 1999 but he subsequently went on to suffer some pretty comprehensive KO losses that showed his fragility.

ps - Vitali was knocked down in the fight with Sanders as far as I'm concerned, whether the ref called it or not.

Well Klitschko will lose all credibility in my book if he sidesteps Rahman/Barrett to fight Maskaev.