BoxRec

Lurch was lucky against Holyfield and got outboxed by Chagaev the last time.

Surely Lurch will get beaten again?

I'll go for Chagev by points unan...

Its a tough one to call, fight 1 was a close one, and Chagaev has been so inactive through injury.

Lurch, lol

I hope so.

The big fellar has improved from side show freak to a decent enough boxer - he has certainly mastered the basics and doesn't look as dis jointed as most fighters over 6 and a half feet tend to.

That said I dont really relish another championship run from him. I hope Chagaev can outbox him and take a points win.

One behemoth was felled last night (Semmy Schilt in a K1 rules match) I am hoping Chagaev can make it two

Agreed. I think everyone is hoping that Chagaev does us all a favour and disposes of Lurch. But Lurch tends to get the best of dodgy decisions so it really is a very tough fight to call.

I think Lurch will win big. He looked like he didn't want to punch Holyfield, but he's improved a lot since the first fight and he's not going to let Chagaev steal it like last time.

I agree with Bomber, Chagaev should win on points.

Valuev is underrated, I feel. Not exciting by any means, but people always go on as if he'll be soundly defeated by the first decent heavyweight he faces - forgetting that he's already beaten quite a lot of decent heavyweights! OK, he's unconvincing and boring in a weak era, but the results speak for themselves - wins over Donald, Ruiz, Lyakovich, even Barrett and Holyfield, may not be the stuff of legends but they are the stuff of a world class heavyweioght at this time. Chagaev doesn't exactly set the pulse racing either. I think that contrary to the opinions above, a win for Valuev is better for boxing because at least the belt will stay with someone who's known to the wider public. He's "that 7-foot Russian", while Chagaev is "just another Russian" (I know he's Uzbeki, but you get the point).

chagaev on points

oliverfennell wrote:Valuev is underrated, I feel. Not exciting by any means, but people always go on as if he'll be soundly defeated by the first decent heavyweight he faces - forgetting that he's already beaten quite a lot of decent heavyweights! OK, he's unconvincing and boring in a weak era, but the results speak for themselves - wins over Donald, Ruiz, Lyakovich, even Barrett and Holyfield, may not be the stuff of legends but they are the stuff of a world class heavyweioght at this time. Chagaev doesn't exactly set the pulse racing either. I think that contrary to the opinions above, a win for Valuev is better for boxing because at least the belt will stay with someone who's known to the wider public. He's "that 7-foot Russian", while Chagaev is "just another Russian" (I know he's Uzbeki, but you get the point).

Trouble is there are degrees of contention with the Donald, Ruiz I and Holyfield fights, which largely leaves you with Lyakovich and Barret - I think people are hard on him. I htink he is the fight Vitaly should have been targetting for his comeback.

DavidPayne wrote:

oliverfennell wrote:Valuev is underrated, I feel. Not exciting by any means, but people always go on as if he'll be soundly defeated by the first decent heavyweight he faces - forgetting that he's already beaten quite a lot of decent heavyweights! OK, he's unconvincing and boring in a weak era, but the results speak for themselves - wins over Donald, Ruiz, Lyakovich, even Barrett and Holyfield, may not be the stuff of legends but they are the stuff of a world class heavyweioght at this time. Chagaev doesn't exactly set the pulse racing either. I think that contrary to the opinions above, a win for Valuev is better for boxing because at least the belt will stay with someone who's known to the wider public. He's "that 7-foot Russian", while Chagaev is "just another Russian" (I know he's Uzbeki, but you get the point).

Trouble is there are degrees of contention with the Donald, Ruiz I and Holyfield fights, which largely leaves you with Lyakovich and Barret - I think people are hard on him. I htink he is the fight Vitaly should have been targetting for his comeback.

Yes I realise they were close fights with a sizeable body of opinion saying he lost them. However "frauds", "jokes", "bums" or whatever other labels are flung at Valuev, do not even go to close decisions in that class.