BoxRec

Skelton all the way IMO

this is right up skelton's alley, if there ever was a fringe world/euro guy he could beat, it's Sam. promises to be a bruising affair!

That would be a cracking fight in my opinion.

I'm a big admirer of Sam, he is a genuine tough guy and pretty slick.

Skelton would make it hard for him but I can't see him taking it off Sam over 12 rounds in Germany or Turkey.

Samil Sam and slick do not exist together.

Max Molyneux wrote:Samil Sam and slick do not exist together.

I think so, he has decent handspeed, underrated power and a good defence.

He isn't a worldbeater by any means but a decent fighter who has good skills... well I think so!

Winnable fight for Skelton, hopefully it won't be in Germany. Samil Sam has never quite developed into the boxer we thought he would.

Seems to have taken training lightly in some of his fights, and its not a good showing to get outworked by Oliver Mccall.
Also he's not got a KO punch that much anymore.

This fight has the makings of a very boring wrestling match....but winnable for Matt.

Wow, Sam is made to measure for Skelton, whatever the country. Not only will Skelton win, he wont be on his ass like Danny or Jules, either. Sturdy & tough as old boots, the fat old hairy bear is.

2nd title shot for Skelton later in 08 it seems...

Matt Skelton looks to bounce back from his credible WBA title defeat to Ruslan Chagaev when he takes on German-based Turk Sinan Samil Sam for the vacant European heavyweight title (made vacant by Vladimir Virchis) in the next two or three months.
The 40-year-old Bedford Bear pushed Chagaev all the way in Düsseldorf in January, before conceding a unanimous verdict, and the experience will serve him well against another cute, stocky fighter in the underrated Sam, a former world amateur champion who licked Audley Harrison in the unpaid ranks and butchered Danny Williams in six rounds for the same European heavyweight title.
Williams, of course, holds a win over Skelton.
Sam is known deceptively as "The Bull from Bosporus" and first won the title hammering Poland's Przemyslaw Saleta in seven rounds in Germany in 2002, a title he retained a year later in Berlin against Williams (busted up and put down four times) and against Julius Francis (seven rounds). When you consider Williams came back to destroy Mike Tyson in four rounds and outscore Skelton in a bruising, foul-filled encounter, it shows you what a good performance it was from Sam.
And not many stopped Francis at the time.
But the champion never really pushed on and dropped his title to Universum stablemate (at the time) Luan Krasniqi on a contentious decision in Stuttgart in February 2004 and was forced to rebuild up to a crossroads eliminator with big Oleg Maskaev in Hamburg in November 2005, when he was soundly outboxed over 12 rounds by the current WBC champion. It's not a bad loss in hindsight, and Sam was able to string together three solid wins before a more humbling setback at the hands of Oliver McCall in Turkey last year. McCall, who is 42 and not the full shilling, outscored Sam over 12 rounds.
It makes you wonder if Europe is 33-year-old Sam's level - but this is Europe and the strong, canny Sam, who has never been stopped and can do 12 rounds in his sleep (nine times), already knows he is good enough to be European champ (Skelton has his first crack at the title). Make no mistake, he is no gimmee for Skelton. Much depends on where the fight takes place. In Germany or Turkey, one has to favour Sam to come through a rough affair on points.

If Sam is anywhere near on form for this one then he outboxes Skelton coming through a few rough moments but winning a clear decision.

Pfft Sam couldn't outbox a 43 year old McCall and he was awful against Orkhello.

The guys a ponderous fat slug.

Certainly looks a winnable fight for big Matt.

Max Molyneux wrote:Pfft Sam couldn't outbox a 43 year old McCall and he was awful against Orkhello.

The guys a ponderous fat slug.

McCall would beat Skelton.

nickd wrote:

Max Molyneux wrote:Pfft Sam couldn't outbox a 43 year old McCall and he was awful against Orkhello.

The guys a ponderous fat slug.

McCall would beat Skelton.

Maybe but Skelton would beat Samil Sam.

Flabil flab will be outworked by Skelton.

Its a good opportunity for Skelton and he stands a good chance of picking up the title IMO. Both have got solid whiskers, so it looks like going the distance where Skeltons workrate will stand him in good stead, although he'll do well to get a decision if he has to travel, plus I can't see the Kraut refs liking BIG Matts in your face style.

Come on BIG Matt!!!

would have much prefered Danny Williams to grab the grudge return fight and spank sam good

its not to be ..skelton willgive it a go

i like Sam...he is just a little too slow andone dimensional for the big fights....was just a little way away from getting a world bauble shot...and now seems to be fading away...the punch has gone and the belly gets bigger baby

funso banjo baby wrote:would have much prefered Danny Williams to grab the grudge return fight and spank sam good

its not to be ..skelton willgive it a go

i like Sam...he is just a little too slow andone dimensional for the big fights....was just a little way away from getting a world bauble shot...and now seems to be fading away...the punch has gone and the belly gets bigger baby

Williams is too mentally weak to beat Sam in a rematch. The demons of the first KO would beat him before the first bell.

nickd wrote:

funso banjo baby wrote:would have much prefered Danny Williams to grab the grudge return fight and spank sam good

its not to be ..skelton willgive it a go

i like Sam...he is just a little too slow andone dimensional for the big fights....was just a little way away from getting a world bauble shot...and now seems to be fading away...the punch has gone and the belly gets bigger baby

Williams is too mentally weak to beat Sam in a rematch. The demons of the first KO would beat him before the first bell.

ur being insendiary


u knw danny is just an honest rockem and shockemfighter with a bit of a funny mind at times

but mentally weak ?????

ask mark potter ? discl shoulder

ask Mike Tyson ? tyson !!!!

or scott gammer ? massive weight loss to get in super shape

or matt skelton (the first fight) battle of attrition



Williams would beat Sam THIS TIME


lets get the fight on

It's not like the last fight was even close. I don't think Williams would win a rematch. Sam just had a bad style for him.

Will be a good fight. I remember the danny vs Sam fight where Danny was put down a few times.. Sam looks big, fat slow and ponderous but there was nothing wrong with his hand speed..a few years back..