Who do you think will win this?
Michael Sprott's manager Jim Evans says it will be on the undercard of Chagaev vs. Valuev, which will likely be on July 5.
Michael Sprott vs. Taras Bidenko
Ruslan Chagaev defends his WBA heavyweight title against Russian giant Nikolai Valuev in Germany on July 5.
Southpaw Chagaev, an Uzbekistani based in Hamburg, won the title from Valuev on a shock decision in April last year in Stuttgart. He outboxed the lumbering 7ft, 23st Valuev, 46-0 going in and thus closing in on Rocky Marciano's ghostly record, but it was still close on the cards (a majority) and Valuev has bounced back well, with wins over former WBO champ Sergei Liakhovich and previously unbeaten Jean-Francois Bergeron.
Chagaev, in contrast, laboured to outscore Britain's Matt Skelton in defence of his title in Dusseldorf in January and illness and alleged eye problems - the latter of which he absolutely refutes - have restricted him to just the Skelton appearance since he beat Valuev.
To date, it's not been much of a reign.
Unbeaten in 25 outings (one technical draw, when his opponent was cut), the 29-year-old Chagaev, at his best, has quick hands, good boxing skills and a respectable dig (his "White Tyson" nickname flatters him). He was conceding 90lbs and a foot in height to Valuev but fought the perfect fight as he moved, timed his attacks and moved again. Valuev's lack of mobility was never more apparent but he will surely have worked on that this time under new trainer Alexander Zimin, who already seems to have improved him. For a big guy, the 34-year-old Valuev does have ability. He's not just a freak.
Both champion and challenger are based in Germany, by the way.
This could boil down to Chagaev's sharpness and mental state. He went into the first fight on a hot run, with victories over the likes of John Ruiz, Vladimir Virchis and Michael Sprott, but with all sorts of rumours and subsequent denials swirling around this time, and one fight in 15 months, he looks up against it (literally), especially as Valuev is now the man with the momentum.
The man mountain reclaims the title.
On the undercard, Reading's Sprott takes on lanky German-based Ukrainian Taras Bidenko over 10 rounds in his first appearance since he was outscored by Bedford's Skelton last summer.
The classy, sharp-hitting but horrendously erratic Sprott never got to grips with the burly Skelton in a drab encounter at the 02 Arena. Michael was coming off a sensational third-round knockout of Audley Harrison but Skelton proved too big and strong, and turned it into a maul. Surprisingly the judges had it close, so Michael will feel he can come again at 33. His record in Germany is certainly an outstanding one.
The busy, neat-boxing Bidenko has lost only to Valuev and Virchis in 27 fights; Valuev outscored him in a 12-rounder back in 2002 in South Korea (of all places); Virchis stopped him in the 12th and last round in Hamburg in March 2005. Since the latter, Bidenko has won 11 on the spin, but when you consider Sprott looked unlucky against the same Virchis in Austria in December 2005, dropping a 12-round decision, this fight is even Steven. The 28-year-old home man is certainly not much of a puncher and hasn't stopped anyone since 2006.
Given Bidenko has won his last four by 12-round decision, however, he probably comes through on points.
Southpaw Chagaev, an Uzbekistani based in Hamburg, won the title from Valuev on a shock decision in April last year in Stuttgart. He outboxed the lumbering 7ft, 23st Valuev, 46-0 going in and thus closing in on Rocky Marciano's ghostly record, but it was still close on the cards (a majority) and Valuev has bounced back well, with wins over former WBO champ Sergei Liakhovich and previously unbeaten Jean-Francois Bergeron.
Chagaev, in contrast, laboured to outscore Britain's Matt Skelton in defence of his title in Dusseldorf in January and illness and alleged eye problems - the latter of which he absolutely refutes - have restricted him to just the Skelton appearance since he beat Valuev.
To date, it's not been much of a reign.
Unbeaten in 25 outings (one technical draw, when his opponent was cut), the 29-year-old Chagaev, at his best, has quick hands, good boxing skills and a respectable dig (his "White Tyson" nickname flatters him). He was conceding 90lbs and a foot in height to Valuev but fought the perfect fight as he moved, timed his attacks and moved again. Valuev's lack of mobility was never more apparent but he will surely have worked on that this time under new trainer Alexander Zimin, who already seems to have improved him. For a big guy, the 34-year-old Valuev does have ability. He's not just a freak.
Both champion and challenger are based in Germany, by the way.
This could boil down to Chagaev's sharpness and mental state. He went into the first fight on a hot run, with victories over the likes of John Ruiz, Vladimir Virchis and Michael Sprott, but with all sorts of rumours and subsequent denials swirling around this time, and one fight in 15 months, he looks up against it (literally), especially as Valuev is now the man with the momentum.
The man mountain reclaims the title.
On the undercard, Reading's Sprott takes on lanky German-based Ukrainian Taras Bidenko over 10 rounds in his first appearance since he was outscored by Bedford's Skelton last summer.
The classy, sharp-hitting but horrendously erratic Sprott never got to grips with the burly Skelton in a drab encounter at the 02 Arena. Michael was coming off a sensational third-round knockout of Audley Harrison but Skelton proved too big and strong, and turned it into a maul. Surprisingly the judges had it close, so Michael will feel he can come again at 33. His record in Germany is certainly an outstanding one.
The busy, neat-boxing Bidenko has lost only to Valuev and Virchis in 27 fights; Valuev outscored him in a 12-rounder back in 2002 in South Korea (of all places); Virchis stopped him in the 12th and last round in Hamburg in March 2005. Since the latter, Bidenko has won 11 on the spin, but when you consider Sprott looked unlucky against the same Virchis in Austria in December 2005, dropping a 12-round decision, this fight is even Steven. The 28-year-old home man is certainly not much of a puncher and hasn't stopped anyone since 2006.
Given Bidenko has won his last four by 12-round decision, however, he probably comes through on points.
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Kronkpride
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 4553
- Joined: 20 Nov 2005, 17:55
The only saving grace for Sprott is that it is not a "home" fight, as he tends to freeze. I give him more than a punchers chance, but think you're probably pretty close with your prediction.Kronkpride wrote:I got Bidenko by UD 116-112 ish. His only losses are to Virchis and Valuev. He was ahead on the cards vs Virchis and went the full 12 with the giant in his 3rd fight. Goes 12 rounds routinely. He should be a future WBA title challenger with all his defenses.
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Bard of Boxrec
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 13114
- Joined: 22 Feb 2002, 20:00
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funso banjo baby
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 4417
- Joined: 23 Sep 2005, 11:05
great fight potentially
we know michael sprot blows hot and cold..but bidenko dsnt have a dig and the fight should be very even...bidenko is also a smaller hw so this fight is evenly poised...both are smart stylish boxers with stamina...sprott however can knock a lot of boxers out if he catches them
winner is in a top euro position
we know michael sprot blows hot and cold..but bidenko dsnt have a dig and the fight should be very even...bidenko is also a smaller hw so this fight is evenly poised...both are smart stylish boxers with stamina...sprott however can knock a lot of boxers out if he catches them
winner is in a top euro position
Re: Michael Sprott vs. Taras Bidenko
Good fight card on Saturday - Bidenko vs. Sprott, plus Alexeev in action and Sidorenko defending his bantamweight title.