BoxRec

WBC: Vitali Klitschko will have a difficult defense of his belt vs the man knocked Lewsi out. But Vitali would even handle Rahman. Next fight Vitali promised will be in Germany vs a good name. Sinan Samil Sam, actualy #5 WBC, will step up after his last victory. Sam has beaten Vitali in sparring some times. it woul´d be a tough and close fight. No matter who wins. ´The belt stays in Germany.

WBO: Luan Krasniqi has the chance of his lifetime this year. he has the WBO-title-eliminator-fight at home vs Whitaker who is beatable and has then the chance to fight for the world title in the year Max passed away. I hope the boxing gods give Germany the first heavy champ since Max. Luan has good chances vs both. he beat Brewster twice at the amateurs and could win a 12 rounder after points. i would give the same prediction vs Golota if he would not get knocked down in the first rounds. Golota will run out of gas after 8 rounds.

WBA: "The American Dream of Wrestling" John Ruiz won´t avoid the ultimate Wrestling clash vs Nicolai Valuev after his next fight. Even the mafiosi King can´t avoid this fight. Valuev will wrestle Ruiz to death and will konock him out in round 6.

IBF: A rematch betwenn Wladi Klitschko and Byrd seems possible. If Wladi could really come back he could win it with a late KO or after points. IMO it would be a 50/50 fight. An other possibility could be a unification bout between Vitali and Byrd. this time no chance for Byrd.

All together there is the possibilty that all titles will be held by german based or promoted boxers at the end of 2005. Besides the named boxers there are Gomez and Colonel Sanders, both now under contract at Universum who also are in waiting position for a title-fight. IMO they first have to work on their fitness.

For once in my life i'm actually in agreement with what you said there.

And i must admit that Germany has a pretty good heavyweight scene compared to Britain. Luan Krasniqi has a good chance against Whitaker, who for all his size isn't the biggest puncher or that busy in the ring.
Krasniqi on points for me.

The only one i don't see coming back to what he was is Wladi Klitschko , i just think he has got to the end of his abilities, he's had 2 bad losses, and seems to be fighting with something missing now

topper123 wrote:The only one i don't see coming back to what he was is Wladi Klitschko , i just think he has got to the end of his abilities, he's had 2 bad losses, and seems to be fighting with something missing now

Chin?

Bubi:
what is the deal with Klitchkos contract with german TV now??
They have left universum and have their own K2 promotion company.. will they be working in conjunction with Sauerland???

topper123 wrote:For once in my life i'm actually in agreement with what you said there.

And i must admit that Germany has a pretty good heavyweight scene compared to Britain. Luan Krasniqi has a good chance against Whitaker, who for all his size isn't the biggest puncher or that busy in the ring.
Krasniqi on points for me.

The only one i don't see coming back to what he was is Wladi Klitschko , i just think he has got to the end of his abilities, he's had 2 bad losses, and seems to be fighting with something missing now

he is still too young to write him off. he can improve. but you are right, i also have my doubts. let´s see how he fights Byrd.

Audley Harrison is 5 years older and is still named "prospect" or "talent". What is he in comparison? With all fairness we should also give Wladi some more chances.

bubi we all know that age doesnt necessarily make you an old or shot fighter.
not the best yardstick.
Vlad has take a couple of real beatings now, that ages a fighter far more than a couple of years age difference.

Wlad was finished from the moment the first bombs from Sanders landed, he will never be the same fighter psychologically as he was before that fight. Had he fought Brewster before Sanders, I'm pretty sure he would have won. The next durable guy who hits him back with any authority will win. He may get by byrd, because Byrd has no punching power, but don't be surprised if he falls apart late on again.

knockout wrote:Bubi:
what is the deal with Klitchkos contract with german TV now??
They have left universum and have their own K2 promotion company.. will they be working in conjunction with Sauerland???

In Europe they are promoted by Sauerland and K2. they have to make 2 fights in Germany per year with Sauerland as Matchmaker. At the K2 events in the States Sauerland has the rights for two fights (last time Häussler and Kurzawa). They also made a TV contract with the same station like Sauerland, ARD.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Wlad was finished from the moment the first bombs from Sanders landed, he will never be the same fighter psychologically as he was before that fight. Had he fought Brewster before Sanders, I'm pretty sure he would have won. The next durable guy who hits him back with any authority will win. He may get by byrd, because Byrd has no punching power, but don't be surprised if he falls apart late on again.

I also think that it is a psychological thing. the bombs he got from Sanders would have knocked almost all boxers out. that was just brilliant. you should leave it back and look further on. maybe Wladi doesn´t do that. maybe he has nightmares about that KO. but I give him a chance if he works with a psychologist. he wouldn´t be the first one who comes back. and he is still not old for a heavy.

I don't want to get picky but none of those guys are actually German.

Coconut wrote:I don't want to get picky but none of those guys are actually German.

Luan Krasniqi is german. All others are under contract at Universum or Sauerland.

BubiScholz wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Wlad was finished from the moment the first bombs from Sanders landed, he will never be the same fighter psychologically as he was before that fight. Had he fought Brewster before Sanders, I'm pretty sure he would have won. The next durable guy who hits him back with any authority will win. He may get by byrd, because Byrd has no punching power, but don't be surprised if he falls apart late on again.

I also think that it is a psychological thing. the bombs he got from Sanders would have knocked almost all boxers out. that was just brilliant. you should leave it back and look further on. maybe Wladi doesn´t do that. maybe he has nightmares about that KO. but I give him a chance if he works with a psychologist. he wouldn´t be the first one who comes back. and he is still not old for a heavy.

I don't think it's that simple. Wlad is a fighter who throughout his career had been matched against physically inferior opponents, who couldn't get near enough to him to actually do any damage. I think probably the Purrity fight never left his mind.

Well, Vitali will KO rahman in my opinion so you are gith about that Bubster. Rahman COULD cut Vitali with a jab and finish him or he might get lucky again but no way he can outbox Vitali and he can be hurt quite easily so I can only see an early win for Klitschko.

Nicolai Valuev is gaining some momentum in his career, has wins over Nobles, Levin and Vidoz in his last few fights, so has gone from freak show to fringe contender.

If he gets the contest against Ruiz, it could be the most ugly fight for a while, or at least since the last Ruiz fight. Would be interesting in as much to see wether Ruiz can reach Valuev's chin and test it, noone has yet.

I'd go for a Valuev win ,late KO or decision, one thing it won't be pretty

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

BubiScholz wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Wlad was finished from the moment the first bombs from Sanders landed, he will never be the same fighter psychologically as he was before that fight. Had he fought Brewster before Sanders, I'm pretty sure he would have won. The next durable guy who hits him back with any authority will win. He may get by byrd, because Byrd has no punching power, but don't be surprised if he falls apart late on again.

I also think that it is a psychological thing. the bombs he got from Sanders would have knocked almost all boxers out. that was just brilliant. you should leave it back and look further on. maybe Wladi doesn´t do that. maybe he has nightmares about that KO. but I give him a chance if he works with a psychologist. he wouldn´t be the first one who comes back. and he is still not old for a heavy.

I don't think it's that simple. Wlad is a fighter who throughout his career had been matched against physically inferior opponents, who couldn't get near enough to him to actually do any damage. I think probably the Purrity fight never left his mind.

it´s not simple. an intensive work with a good psychologist can help. E.g. Markus Beyer has been working with a psychologist for almost a year. without him he wouldn´t had this comeback. he would be retired. so i still see a chance for Wladi but only with a mental coach.

valuev should beat ruiz if he gets his shot, all he needs to do is keep the fight at distance and ruiz will have no answers. As Richie would say 'He needs to keep it long' and at 6'11 to ruiz 6' this should be relatively simple, obviously ruiz doesn't have the capacity to do anything but maul and if nicolay has any boxing sense he should pick ruiz off.

krasniqi/whitaker is very interesting indeed, i believe krasniqi will want it more and get a close decision, although i keep changing my mind on this one. if krasniqi gets past goofi he should beat brewster.

vitali will destroy rahman

the other one, wlad will get past byrd again, i'm sure. He has nothing to fear in this one, surely psychological problems can't affect that one, byrd has no real way of winning the fight, even now. To expect him to slap and move and win rounds for the whole 12 is a tall order, and I still don't believe he can knock wlad out.

I hope it goes the way of the europeans, just to see what the americans would think of the domination of the heavyweight scene.

What if Byrd just keeps him chasing though and he tires? I think even Byrd has a chance against Wladimir now, I might have a bet on it.

BubiScholz wrote:

Coconut wrote:I don't want to get picky but none of those guys are actually German.

Luan Krasniqi is german. All others are under contract at Universum or Sauerland.

Thought he was from somewhere in the Baltics?

Coconut wrote:

BubiScholz wrote:

Coconut wrote:I don't want to get picky but none of those guys are actually German.

Luan Krasniqi is german. All others are under contract at Universum or Sauerland.

Thought he was from somewhere in the Baltics?

No. He is born in Albania and has ben living here for more than 20 years. he won the bronze medal in Atlanta for Germany.

Sam was born in Frankfurt to Turkish parents, wasn't he?

mickeybeard wrote:Sam was born in Frankfurt to Turkish parents, wasn't he?

yes, but he was raised in Turkey. He has ben living in Germany now for 6 or 7 years.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:What if Byrd just keeps him chasing though and he tires? I think even Byrd has a chance against Wladimir now, I might have a bet on it.

normally Wladi is really good trained. he should not get tired. on the other hand Byrd is a good boxer who could win on points if Wladi couldn´t knock him out. an interesting fight anyway. 50/50

Err, have you forgotten the Brewster fight then? It's easy not getting tired when you're opponent is completely negative. Wlad's tiredness comes from being involved in a real fight. It's anxiety, not physical tiredness.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Err, have you forgotten the Brewster fight then? It's easy not getting tired when you're opponent is completely negative. Wlad's tiredness comes from being involved in a real fight. It's anxiety, not physical tiredness.

..or psychological breakdown...

I don´t know what he is doing therefor actually. But you are right. If he doesn´t do anything for his psychological problems he won´t have a positive comeback.