BoxRec

1. Lamon Brewster
2. Chris Byrd
3. Nicolai Valuev
4. Wladimir Klitschko
5. Hasim Rahman
6. James Toney
7. Luan Krasniqi
8. Oleg Maskaev
9. Samuel Peter
10. Paolo Vidoz

I would personally switch Krasniqi and Vidoz with Brock and Ibragimov

I wouldn't have Peter or Vidoz there. I'd replace with Brock and Ruiz.

Maskaev has no place in the top ten, and Rahman & Toney should be placed higher.

A quick look what could happen in 2006:

WBC: "Paperchamp" Rahman has to fight Toney in "the clash of the last outwashed American Heavyweights". No matter who wins: the winner will not be the best champion and has to face Maskaev who is not really better. Sinan Samil Sam missed the chance of his lifetime.......

WBA: The end of the Wrestler has come. Don King has a 4 fight option on Nico Valuev. His next fight will be in the USA. Second class Americans like Austin, Brock, Barrett, Williamson or Beck are expected. Wladi Klitschko wants (a win in a title fight provided) to fight Nico after the World Cup in Germany for a unification fight.

IBF: Byrd-Wladi Klitschko is in negotiations. Wladi wants to fight in Germany, Byrd not. Even when the fight takes place in Angola I think Wladi will be the winner.

WBO: Lamon Brewster proved to be the real #1 after his convincing fight against Golota and the lucky monster punch win vs Luan. There are rumuors that Brewster-Krasniqi II will be on in March 2006. Bring on this fight and give Luan a second chance to win the title though his chances would be better against the other guys. Other options for Brewster could be Wladi and Peter but he would make the most money in a rematch with Luan. We´ll see.

EBU: Vidoz defends his title vs Koc in January. a close fight with advantages for Vidoz who showed heart in his first title fight and an easy win vs Sprott. The winner could face Sam who wants to fight for this title again. I could also see Luan fighting for the EBU title again if he couldn´t get a world title fight. Dimitrenko, Chagaev, Hoffmann and the Skelton/Williams winner are other optons for title fights in 2006. Luan showed that there is the possibility to get a world title chance by fighting and defending the EBU title that is considered the 5th important title especially in Heavyweight.

That is probably the most sensible post you ever made.

I think Toney gets by Rahman, and has a chance of beating anyone out there other than Wlad and Byrd. Byrd too quick, Wlad too big, strong and Toney won't have the power to make Wlad nervous.

Being big doesn't matter when your in the same weightclass.

What are you on about? Toney is 5'10, Wlad is 6'6" and despite his numerous faults as a fighter, is not afraid to let his hands go, and has boxing ability too. He's mentally fragile, but physically has all the tools.

Toney is a great fighter, great skills, but he has very questionable power at heavyweight, aside from dropping Vander with a body shot, he hasn't shown any pop at heavyweight.

Whilst he might outland Wlad, Wlad won't have to fear for his life from Toney as he'll be bearing down on a small guy who cannot really hurt him. Wlad still has good offensive skills, the problems come when he starts getting whacked back. Toney doesn't hit as hard as Brewster.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:That is probably the most sensible post you ever made.

I think Toney gets by Rahman, and has a chance of beating anyone out there other than Wlad and Byrd. Byrd too quick, Wlad too big, strong and Toney won't have the power to make Wlad nervous.

maybe a bit harsh but thanks, James.

I also give Toney the better chance to win vs Rahman. The only chance of Rahman is to land a big bomb.

Taking Brewster I think that he has the power to knock Toney out. But in the Krasniqi-fight everyone could see that you can box him out when you pay attention the whole fight.

Krasniqi is a far better offensive mover than Toney is and was able to stick and move and make Brewster look bad...
Not Toney's style at all....

It seems a distance memory now but Wlad put SERIOUS hurt on Byrd, smashed him up dropped him a few times… completely dominated. Just as Vitali had done before the injury… I cannot imagine a Wlad V Toney fight being much different.. Sure Toney is crafty and slick but so was Byrd….

Toney might have the nous to frustrate Brewster though, and he takes a shot, but yes, he might be overwhelmed late in the fight.

Brewster isn't the busiest guy in the world though.

Toney's let himself go physically so much. he'll have great difficulty chasing after anyone with a big size / reach / speed advantage. he needs ppl to fall on top of him and throw sloppy shots, that he can counter. like Guinn. looking at Toney, since that great fight with Jirov, he's done very little outside fighting.

and another question about him is, in his state, can he fend off insistent, powerful guys like Brewster and Peter?

I want Brewster despite his limitations to prevail. Ilike his spirit and his willingness to take some shots and keep coming.

And the mother* can punch.



*(in a glib attempt to appeal to American readers).

DavidPayne wrote:I want Brewster despite his limitations to prevail. Ilike his spirit and his willingness to take some shots and keep coming.

And the mother* can punch.



*(in a glib attempt to appeal to American readers).

I like Brewster for the same reasons...
He has a lot of bottle, is explosive when he opens up and is generally a warrior!!!!!

The way he chased Wlad down when he had him reeling was how heavyweights should fight.... quick feet and letting their hands go.....

None of this pawing the wet lettuce Jab for 12 rounds...

Brewster deserves respect, he was getting panned by Wlad before turning it around and jumped on the chance, same against Luan, getting outpointed, finds the punch to win....something few modern heavies seem to have, a killer instinct.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:That is probably the most sensible post you ever made.

I think Toney gets by Rahman, and has a chance of beating anyone out there other than Wlad and Byrd. Byrd too quick, Wlad too big, strong and Toney won't have the power to make Wlad nervous.

I second that, he really used to piss me off with all that Sam is the next world champ ect and the Hoffman is the next ali ect. :P

Razor wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:That is probably the most sensible post you ever made.

I think Toney gets by Rahman, and has a chance of beating anyone out there other than Wlad and Byrd. Byrd too quick, Wlad too big, strong and Toney won't have the power to make Wlad nervous.

I second that, he really used to piss me off with all that Sam is the next world champ ect and the Hoffman is the next ali ect. :P

Sam missed the chance of his lifetime, he was 1 fight away. But I only like a few of the "german based" fighters and I hate Hoffmann, seriuosly.

And don´t forget how some peolple here pissed me on when they were saying, one year before, that Harrison is the next Lennox an would KO every serious boxer on the mainland.........

Peace to all my friends on British Boxing here on boxrec.

Bubi, I don't think ANYONE in the UK thought Audley was the next Lewis. Lewis is a proper heavyweight, he was a real champ who fought the best of his era by and large when possible, and had real skills.

I thought Audley might have enough conkers to win a portion of a world title, but I was wrong, but I NEVER thought he would achieve anywhere near what Lennox achieved.

Imagine Audley against David Tua...he would have been annihilated.

Whilst I don't know if they felt it, I can see why Bubi thought that. James Wilson and Chamber's posts were so pro Harrison that I perceived that they thought Audley would be a dominant champion.

I think Bubi is a quality poster, whilst he rankings have tended to be quite pro european, he is very knowledgable and an asset to the forum.

I think he's a German twat....

Only kidding Bubi...you're alright with me mate...

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I think he's a German twat....

Only kidding Bubi...you're alright with me mate...

While we are all in a mood for compliments, I have to say its nice to have you back in full swing James. Know you've had a tough couple of months and its good to see you back posting more often. I was getting worried that I would overtake you in the post count stats.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Bubi, I don't think ANYONE in the UK thought Audley was the next Lewis. Lewis is a proper heavyweight, he was a real champ who fought the best of his era by and large when possible, and had real skills.

I thought Audley might have enough conkers to win a portion of a world title, but I was wrong, but I NEVER thought he would achieve anywhere near what Lennox achieved.

Imagine Audley against David Tua...he would have been annihilated.

James, I konow that you were not thinking that. But the Harrison supporters went away more and more. I always said that he needed a good promoter with good sparring partners (e.g. Universum) who leads him quickly to the good fights. He spent too much time in fighting "no-names". Now he is too old to reach the top, even in Europe. And this was my opinion in the last 2 years.

Have a good time, James and keep healthy.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I think he's a German twat....

Only kidding Bubi...you're alright with me mate...

ROTFL! Me too Bubi i think your cooler now than a year ago :)

I was never a Harrison fan but some on here worshiped him and bigged him up too much

Razor wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I think he's a German twat....

Only kidding Bubi...you're alright with me mate...

ROTFL! Me too Bubi i think your cooler now than a year ago :)

I was never a Harrison fan but some on here worshiped him and bigged him up too much

The Hatton-fight healed me....