BoxRec

Well, he did better than most of us (including me) thought he would, but while I've got full respect for Skelton's heart and his chin, I don't think I'll ever be able to enjoy watching him fight!
Chagaev was a disappointment - a few times he worked the angles to give himself room to tee off on Matt, but far more frequently he was content to fight Skelton's fight.
Rawlins had it to Chagaev by 1, which seemed to me to be incredibly kind to Matt. Whatever quality work there was in a poor fight came from the champ, and I thought Matt was on the verge of being stopped in the final two rounds. He'd soaked up some big shots earlier in the fight without blinking, but looked utterly knackered in rounds 11 & 12 and seemed to make it through to the final bell thanks to his tremendous heart and the fact that Chagaev was also blowing hard.
Skelton's very clearly gone as far as he can, and on this showing I don't see Chagaev hanging onto the belt for that long, even in the current piss-poor heavyweight division.

I think he can still be a 'gatekeeper' at British/Euro level, the biggest problem is that with his style he's a member of the 'who needs him' club as he can make anyone look bad - he's like Ruiz in that respect.
Ironically, while I have doubts about the level of impact Haye can have at heavyweight, I can see him beating Skelton and even stopping him as I think his speed would befuddle Matt.

Skelton can win the Euro title.

Theres not that much depth of talent In the Euro level scene that will give him trouble.

how bad can heavyweights get? this is world title material. chagaev won by a very slim margin from my point of view.

Deserter wrote:I think he can still be a 'gatekeeper' at British/Euro level, the biggest problem is that with his style he's a member of the 'who needs him' club as he can make anyone look bad - he's like Ruiz in that respect.
Ironically, while I have doubts about the level of impact Haye can have at heavyweight, I can see him beating Skelton and even stopping him as I think his speed would befuddle Matt.

If Haye fought with his hands down Matt would take his head off.

WildWaylon wrote:

Deserter wrote:I think he can still be a 'gatekeeper' at British/Euro level, the biggest problem is that with his style he's a member of the 'who needs him' club as he can make anyone look bad - he's like Ruiz in that respect.
Ironically, while I have doubts about the level of impact Haye can have at heavyweight, I can see him beating Skelton and even stopping him as I think his speed would befuddle Matt.

If Haye fought with his hands down Matt would take his head off.

That's my big concern with Haye against any heavyweight, but to be honest Skelton's among the worst examples to use as the one thing he doesn't have is a big punch - I can't recall him taking anyone's head off!

But he could wear Haye down. I think Matt chin is good.

Deserter - I agree entiely on your take of the fight. Very disappointed in Chagaev. White Tyson? He's not even the White McCall.

One thing I did think whilst watching it was just how disappointing Audley Harrison turned out to be given just how poor the division is. On the positive side David Haye will cream most of these guys.

I agree Skelton is a spoiler.

White Tyson??

I dont think so, He dont Fight anything like him, he hardly even looks like him..


Chagaev is Good, the Best HW at the moment (potentially) , but the HW Division is a different Scene as to what it was a while back

Maybe Skelton is just hard as fookin nails guys.

He'd give anybody a rumble, give him some credit.

Skelton did well, but Chagaev was obviously rusty. In a rematch Ruslan would win with much more ease.

Chagaev boxed only 8 months ago you french bell-end.

That is a regular break for champions between defences in all divisions these days. It was hardly Felix Trinidads layoff now was it?

I think Skelton does deserve some credit, but at the same time, he did not really look like winning at any Point.

Chagaev, all though has seen better days, was the dominant one throughout the Boxing Match