BoxRec

if i were Warren.... id be preparing a press release about how HW isnt the be all and end all of boxing.... and id be trying to sign David Haye. Enzo doesnt seem to be interested in moving on from cruiser atm

Watching Skelton-Sprott II reminded me just how bad Skelton is technically. When he tries to box and move i cringe! However saying that i respect him, a 40 year old with good strength and stamina who has done well with his limited abilities in the fight game.

But flip me....would he last even 3 rounds with say Oleg Maskaev? We forget that even though Skelton btings heart and workrate he would be so easy to pick off by a world level fighter. Please Warren just do something with these Heavyweights, something that involves them fighting off TV at least.

In terms of building a creditable future in the heavyweight division over the next few years David Haye is the only show in town.

Thanks for posing the question Boxingchat, I normally charge a consultancy fee but you can report this back to the boss for free.

Heavyweight Schmeavyweight.

Grew up with poor British Heavyweights, Bruno came along to give a little hope and then Lennox delivered what I had considered unthinkable but take away the 90's (and early this decade) and it's just back to service as usual....

Until the next one comes along when you're least expecting it.

The world Heavyweight scene is now crying out for the next Tyson or Ali (or even Holmes) too....

The world Heavyweight scene is now crying out for the next Tyson or Ali (or even Holmes) too....

Would be boring to see the American's constantly seize control of the HW's though.

It doesn't have to be an American. Just someone good enough to clear out all the dross that currently masquerades as the top 10.

boxrec wrote:The british public want a heavyweight champ to fly the flag. Its been a while since lennox lewis, and the heavyweight scene isn't very healthy. Warren has made it difficult for himself (because he keeps promising world title fights).

Who would you send out to challenge for a title (and against which champ?)

Maybe a WBU title is more realistic.....but is that a big enough title?

Skelton has already given the WBU title up in favour of the British

The WBU title is garbage and no one would find that person to be a true champion. Same with the WBF belt.

His only option is Matt Skelton, and the only target would be the WBO belt since that's the only organization that ranks Skelton. After Ibragimov and Chagaev unify, they may have a possibility of an optional defense. If Skelton is willing to go to Russia or if Warren puts up enough money for a fight in England, he could potentially lure the winner into a fight.

I hope Skelton is kicking himself at not taking the short money for that mandatory against Maskaev.
Warren must have advised him that the British Heavyweight merry-go-round could go on for ever as every one loves a heavyweight fight and i can keep telling them that the winner gets a world title shot.

If only Warren would concentrate on making the most entertaining fights and make the heavyweights give him a good reason to put them on show it might make them raise their game. Perhaps the merry-go-round makes them complacent knowing that a rematch is always around the corner.

boxrec wrote:
Maybe a WBU title is more realistic.....but is that a big enough title?

Didn't Skelton win the WBU and was asked where the belt was and he didn't have a clue - he lent it to a mate for a fancy dress party and never got it back.

Sums the WBU up!

Haye and Enzo (although for me the latter, frame-wise, should be staying at cruiser comfortably for the forseeable) would mop up the current shower. Skelton is so technically crude the thought of him at world level is scary) Danny is on the verge of retirement despite his win and better shape last time out. Audley say no more, although we'll see what September brings, and Sprott, well, wtf was he doing on Saturday?

Due to the WBA/O unification, and the fact that the winner will probably fight Thompson (harmless defence, in Germany, teach the American a lesson for having the audacity to beat Krasniqi etc.) and the WBC mess, we're looking at Klitschko as the only possible opponent within the next 12 months. I wouldn't even give any of the four Brits a chance against Virchis on current form. In fact they'd be struggling with Herbie. In fact anyone weighing 200lb please report to the board of control by 12 sharp to become the saviour of theBritish heavyweight scene

states wrote:It doesn't have to be an American. Just someone good enough to clear out all the dross that currently masquerades as the top 10.

Absolutely, I never said it had to be a septic.

Even better and more refreshing if a previously unreknowned nation deliver up the next boxing superstar out of nowhere.

If I was Frank I would send Skelton out to fight for a title knowing he has little chance of winning and coming to the end of his career so squeezing that last bit of cash out of the cow before sending it to the slaughter house.

~ MIKEE ~ wrote:if i were Warren.... id be preparing a press release about how HW isnt the be all and end all of boxing.... and id be trying to sign David Haye. Enzo doesnt seem to be interested in moving on from cruiser atm

Macca has designs on heavyweight - I'm sure I saw a SN press release or something on fw.tv site a month or 2 ago. Obviously it rests on him being a top drawer cruiserweight champion first, and coming out of Calzaghe's shadow, so Macca-Braithwaite is a doubly important fight.

IMO Warren could do with Haye - who's shown authentic heavyweight promise - and Macca than Sprott, Skelton, Audley, etc who are nowhere near world class.

Skelton doesn't punch hard enough to be a world-title contender, despite his frame and strength there is no knockout pop in his punches.

Cumulative, possibly. But he doesn't have a decisive punch. His jab is slow and cumbersome and he'd be jabbed to bits by a decent ranked heavyweight.

I'd have given him a sniff versus Shannon Briggs, a sniff. But only because Briggs can't breath in the park, let alone in a Skelton clinch.

And Briggs isn't champ any more of course.

If I were Warren.

I'd look to match Skelton with Holyfield in the UK or on an American card.

Skelton v Holyfield would do some numbers.

I'd match Sprott with the winner of Gammar v McDermott, but he'll probably earn more being flattened by Povotekin.

Williams, I'd be looking for a Briggs type match or again Holyfield. Something to inspire the old dog to stay in the 220's/

Let's accept that even IF - and that's a big if - Warren HAD intended to dleiver on his "promise" of a heavyweight title shot, I think we'll forgive him if he doesn't now jeopardise his health and family in trying to make it.

I say Danny Williams has a better chance than Skelton, but in any case all champs bar Klitschko are tied up at the moment, and I don't think anybody harbours any delusions about one of our boys beating Klitschko.

In a year's time, if he fights on and builds on the Gammer result, Danny will still "only" be 35 and might make for an attractive voluntary for Chagaev/Sultan. The WBC will presumably still be tied up in a year's time.

Forget ever again putting the words "Skelton", "world" and "title" in the same sentence ever again.

They said that about Evander Holyfield.

And Andrew Golota.

And Shannon Briggs.

And John Ruiz.

DavidPayne wrote: I'd look to match Skelton with Holyfield in the UK or on an American card.

Skelton v Holyfield would do some numbers.

I'd match Sprott with the winner of Gammar v McDermott, but he'll probably earn more being flattened by Povotekin.

Williams, I'd be looking for a Briggs type match or again Holyfield. Something to inspire the old dog to stay in the 220's/

That's not a bad idea i see that the WBO have Holyfield at 13 & Skelton at 10. It's probably the most winnable fight for old Evander that will also advance him towards his title ambitions. The excitement of having a future hall of famer fight on our shores would take a little heat off Warren too.

DavidPayne wrote:They said that about Evander Holyfield.

And Andrew Golota.

And Shannon Briggs.

And John Ruiz.

I'd venture three of those four were/are better than Skelton, maybe four of four. In any case, and very importantly, all of them were/are more marketable and/or better connected than Skelton. Nobody's going to be offering Skelton a shot after Saturday, and nobody's going to be chasing one for him.

In a post last week I said I hoped the winner of Skelton-Sprott gets a world title shot........I take that statement back unreservedly.
I thought that in the shittiest era of heavyweights ever, that one of them could nick a victory, or at least be competitive in a "title" bout, but obviously after Saturday they havent got a snowball chance in hell against even Maskaev.
David Haye is the only current British fighter that could make a mark in the wider HW division. With his power but vulnerability hed probably win some and lose some. Cant wait to see the Mormeck fight

Who would pay to see a Matt Skelton V Evander Holyfield, world title elmination showdown? Could be entertaining.

steve689 wrote:Who would pay to see a Matt Skelton V Evander Holyfield, world title elmination showdown? Could be entertaining.

I would for certain!

I love watching Matt Skelton fight. People talk about tough guys and hard men but Skelton is one of these in its most purest form. He is a British heavyweight version of Vito Antuerfermo, he comes forward and throws punches and is a fit, commited, strong fighter.

As OF Snelling said of Tony Galento 'he was far from unbeatable but nobody liked fighting him' Skelton does have a plodding manner and slow hands and no footwork but he is also very durable and he is on your case for 12 rounds.

People in boxing, knowledgeable people too, put too much faith in multi punch combinations and fancy footwork when Skelton has proved that all you need is a heart as big as a wedding cake and fitness and commitment as well as having a cement bucket for a head and you can do well.

Warren can only do so much with what he has. He would have to persuade a titlist to take Skeleton - which isn't impossible but what are the plans for:

Wlad - Sanders?
Maskeev - hasn't signed to fight Peter maybe stripped, then isn't Vitali fighting the winner of all this?
Changeev - is he fighting Ibragimov in a unificastion?
Ibagimov - see above

Wlad may be the most likely fighter to offer Skeleton too. Is Skeleton ranked in the IBF?

Warren has no clout on the world Heavyweight scene that is clear - he's promised a world title fight for about 2 years and delivered fornicate all. I don't see what he could do for Haye there. If Haye was going to sell his soul he'd be better doing it with someone like King than Warren in terms of the Heavyweight picture.

Skelton may have been awful to watch on Saturday but he still beat a known European quantity.

Few foriegn fans will know beyond victories over Williams, Sprott, Mirovic that awful Argie. They wont have even seen the fight.

All of which look good on paper/boxrec.com

And remember if Skelton had sparked Sprott in one, Warren would be saying he'll never get a shot now because the champions wont touch him.

Skelton is 21-1 (or similar) and eminently beatable. Are we sure nobody with ambition would believe he was a slow, one-paced, predictable stepping stone?

I for one would put a hungry fighter with balls and a jab in with him were I the manager of such a fighter.

Skelton would do better with an opponent who comes to meet him but a decent snappy jab would limit him to lunging in and as long as you don't panic, he smothers his own work if he gets you inclose and lacks snap in his swings. Without his bulk, stamina and strength Skelton has little else

He's still very, very limited. Remember Mirovic had him on queer street, if memory serves. And he was beaten by an unmotivated Williams.

I'm sure if Warren bargains well enough Skelton could be fighting a serious contender before year end. Depends how much time and effort Warren wants to invest.

Lets remember he promoted Johnny Nelson for about five years. He was hardly Jake LaMotta in the entertainment stakes.

Money talks, Skelton sells a few, has one defeat and comes to fight.

The truth is probably whether with Khan being held back now, can Skelton versus a decent contender be paid for through ITV.

Setanta bought into Calzaghe if I'm correct.

So Skelton is now an undercard fighter who wants paying and so would a foriegn contender.

Can the pruses be squeezed.

I;m waffling.