Re: Tommy Morrisson v. Ruslan Chagaev
Posted: 31 Jan 2014, 07:58
Wow. Are we talking about the same Chagaev? Old George certainly lacked speed, but when did Chagaev ever show any fire in the ring? Chagaev is the master of "mummy walking". And when did Chagaev ever take out anyone who was better than a club fighter? You're critical of Foreman, Williams and Ruddock, but what were Chagaevs best wins? And did he even hurt any HW that was a top 10 HW?dempseyfire wrote:Chagaev showed took more leather vs Klitschko than Morrison ever could've . . .I don't really care if he would've fought more stupidly and wailed haymakers prior to getting KTFO.Tuan_Jim wrote:You're using a fight where Tommy Morrison came through a broken jaw and a broken hand to spectacularly splatter his opponent against Morrison?
Morrison showed more heart, guts, and balls in nine rounds versus Joe Hipp than Chagaev did his whole career.
Even when Morrison was hopelessly outclassed, against Lennox Lewis, he was trying to decap his opponent right to the finish. Not like Ruslan Chagaev, who would have meekly quit on his stool.
People keep saying Chagaev is mediocre, but Morrison is one of the most over-rated fighters on this board. As chubby as Chagaev was, his conditioning was definitely superior to Morrison, who normally was gasping for air by the 5th. When his stamina went downhill, his hand-speed followed and footwork? Pluueeeze, he'd become a flatfooted sitting duck on the inside.
Chagaev was a Olympian and AM standout who defeated Felix Savon. He wasn't a huge puncher but definitely had enough power to hurt Morrison. He also showed a very good beard, good punch variety, timing, and toughness/ring tenacity. Morrison was the flashier fighter and of course more the fan favorite compared to the more technical, laboring Chagaev but it's extremely improbable Morrison is knocking him out early. It's is probable that as Morrison fatigues in the middle rounds, Chagaev will be nailing him with flush left hands and also working over Morrison's body.
Look at Tommy's best wins; he's not going to be just mummy-walking not throwing punches like Foreman, doesn't have the glass jaw of Williams, and won't just stand and sloppily slug like Ruddock (and Morrison was fairly lucky to win that fight). Chagaev, with far more overall boxing experience, fights smarter when he's tired than Morrison did. Chagaev will take over in the middle rounds and either win a decision or take out Morrison late.
I might agree that Morrison is a little over-rated, but at some point you have to compare accomplishments, and I'm not talking about amateur accomplishments. Close decisions over Valuev, Vyrchys and Ruiz might impress you, but a near shutout over old George and stoppages of Williams and Ruddock certainly seem more impressive. And did you say "mummy walking" and not mention Valuev and Vyrchys? And Tommy was "lucky to win" the fight with Ruddock? Are you saying that Chagaev clearly won all of his fights? Despite your disparagement of Morrisons best wins, his resume is light years more impressive than Chagaevs.