Heavy weekend...

[bennie]

Greenberg on Friday, and:

Former WBO heavyweight champion Lamon Brewster makes his way back from a pasting at the hands of Wladimir Klitschko when he takes on New York clubfighter Danny Batchelder in a 12-rounder this Saturday in the States (August 30, Cincinnati).
Brewster never got into the rematch with Klitschko in Germany just over a year ago and was pulled out at the end of the sixth round. It was a particularly heavy defeat for Brewster, physically and mentally, given he had overwhelmed Klitschko in five rounds to win the WBO heavyweight title in a big upset in the States in 2004. Brewster went on to make three impressive defences until Belarussian battler Sergei "White Wolf" Liakhovich climbed off the floor to outscore him in a thrilling, bruising, punishing encounter. Indeed, the 35-year-old Brewster suffered an eye injury that night, took a year out and then jumped straight into the Klitschko rematch in Cologne, which really was asking way too much of him. Lamon, 33-4 (29), hasn't fought since, and there are inevitable concerns for his eyesight.
Batchelder is a gutsy, capable fighter possibly flattered by an excellent effort last year against James Toney, whom he pushed all the way in California (Toney's backyard). Old "Lights Out", pushing 40 and considered 'shot' by the experts, still managed to get home on a 10-round split decision, but the 31-year-old Batchelder, 25-5-1 (12), deserves this second big fight and is certainly durable enough and competent enough to drag Bewster into middle or later rounds.
Batchelder has been stopped before, however, and the solid-looking Brewster, unless Klitschko finished him, must be fancied to do likewise.



Monster man Nikolai Valuev takes on former opponent John Ruiz of Puerto Rico for the vacant WBA heavyyweight title on Saturday (August 30) in Berlin, fittingly at the Max Schmeling Hall. The title was made vacant by Hamburg southpaw Ruslan Chagaev, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in training for a defence against Valuev earlier this year and will fight the winner once he recovers (and if he really wants a fight).
Valuev stands an incredible 7ft and weighs an equally incredible 23 stone. He has lost only to Chagaev (majority points) in 50 outings. Based in Britain for a while, the 34-year-old is scary and scary looking. Chagaev, barely 6ft tall, did a good job in outspeeding him last year in Stuttgart but seems none too keen to face him again, crying injury or illness for much of his old reign. Most of Valuev's opponents are beaten before the first bell. Ruiz stood up to the giant in their first encounter in Berlin in December 2005, also at the Max Schmeling Hall and also for the WBA title, and dropped a majority decision after 12 entertaining rounds.
"The Quiet Man" cried "Robbery!", but it wasn't: it was a genuinely close affair.
Since then, however, the 36-year-old Ruiz has gone back while Valuev has improved under new trainer and fellow Russian Alexander Zimin, who came in for Armenian Manuel Gabrielian after the Chagaev setback. He is boxing more these days, and still thumping away earnestly when he gets the chance, wearing down opponents with sheer strength and size, although he lacks real snap in his work. Given a target, however, and a comfortable pace, Valuev can fight a bit; he is more than a freak. Typically, he stands 10 inches taller than Ruiz and weighs 100 pounds heavier.
The Beast from the East looks likely to repeat his win.
Scott Gammer launches his comeback on the bill against Italian prospect Francesco Pianeta in a 12-rounder for the vacant European Union (EU) heavyweight trinket.
Gammer announced his retirement following a points defeat at the hands of blubbery Essex boy John McDermott last September in Sheffield. It was the burly Welshman's second defeat in three fights: Danny Williams had shorn him of his British heavyweight title six months earlier in Neath on a nine-round stoppage. Clearly, at 31, his decision to quit was a hasty one but he looks in for a rough ride against unbeaten Pianeta, a 23-year-old, 6ft 5ins southpaw who is based in Germany and boasts a 16-0 (10) tab - everything is stacked in Pianeta's favour. Last time out in May, Pianeta stopped previously unbeaten American Michael Marrone in two rounds. Three of his last four victims have been taken out early.
Still, Gammer showed he could fight it out with the good Williams, in an exciting, competitive affair for much of the way. In the end Danny's greater natural power proved the deciding factor but Pianeta hardly represents the same sort of threat, although you fancy him to prove too sharp for for the rusty Gammer on the way to a decision.
The EU title at stake, incidentally, is a handy thing to have when bartering for a 'proper' European title shot (held by crafty Turk Sinan Samil Sam).

[funso banjo baby]

Greenberg on Friday, and:

Former WBO heavyweight champion Lamon Brewster makes his way back from a pasting at the hands of Wladimir Klitschko when he takes on New York clubfighter Danny Batchelder in a 12-rounder this Saturday in the States (August 30, Cincinnati).
Brewster never got into the rematch with Klitschko in Germany just over a year ago and was pulled out at the end of the sixth round. It was a particularly heavy defeat for Brewster, physically and mentally, given he had overwhelmed Klitschko in five rounds to win the WBO heavyweight title in a big upset in the States in 2004. Brewster went on to make three impressive defences until Belarussian battler Sergei "White Wolf" Liakhovich climbed off the floor to outscore him in a thrilling, bruising, punishing encounter. Indeed, the 35-year-old Brewster suffered an eye injury that night, took a year out and then jumped straight into the Klitschko rematch in Cologne, which really was asking way too much of him. Lamon, 33-4 (29), hasn't fought since, and there are inevitable concerns for his eyesight.
Batchelder is a gutsy, capable fighter possibly flattered by an excellent effort last year against James Toney, whom he pushed all the way in California (Toney's backyard). Old "Lights Out", pushing 40 and considered 'shot' by the experts, still managed to get home on a 10-round split decision, but the 31-year-old Batchelder, 25-5-1 (12), deserves this second big fight and is certainly durable enough and competent enough to drag Bewster into middle or later rounds.
Batchelder has been stopped before, however, and the solid-looking Brewster, unless Klitschko finished him, must be fancied to do likewise.



Monster man Nikolai Valuev takes on former opponent John Ruiz of Puerto Rico for the vacant WBA heavyyweight title on Saturday (August 30) in Berlin, fittingly at the Max Schmeling Hall. The title was made vacant by Hamburg southpaw Ruslan Chagaev, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in training for a defence against Valuev earlier this year and will fight the winner once he recovers (and if he really wants a fight).
Valuev stands an incredible 7ft and weighs an equally incredible 23 stone. He has lost only to Chagaev (majority points) in 50 outings. Based in Britain for a while, the 34-year-old is scary and scary looking. Chagaev, barely 6ft tall, did a good job in outspeeding him last year in Stuttgart but seems none too keen to face him again, crying injury or illness for much of his old reign. Most of Valuev's opponents are beaten before the first bell. Ruiz stood up to the giant in their first encounter in Berlin in December 2005, also at the Max Schmeling Hall and also for the WBA title, and dropped a majority decision after 12 entertaining rounds.
"The Quiet Man" cried "Robbery!", but it wasn't: it was a genuinely close affair.
Since then, however, the 36-year-old Ruiz has gone back while Valuev has improved under new trainer and fellow Russian Alexander Zimin, who came in for Armenian Manuel Gabrielian after the Chagaev setback. He is boxing more these days, and still thumping away earnestly when he gets the chance, wearing down opponents with sheer strength and size, although he lacks real snap in his work. Given a target, however, and a comfortable pace, Valuev can fight a bit; he is more than a freak. Typically, he stands 10 inches taller than Ruiz and weighs 100 pounds heavier.
The Beast from the East looks likely to repeat his win.
Scott Gammer launches his comeback on the bill against Italian prospect Francesco Pianeta in a 12-rounder for the vacant European Union (EU) heavyweight trinket.
Gammer announced his retirement following a points defeat at the hands of blubbery Essex boy John McDermott last September in Sheffield. It was the burly Welshman's second defeat in three fights: Danny Williams had shorn him of his British heavyweight title six months earlier in Neath on a nine-round stoppage. Clearly, at 31, his decision to quit was a hasty one but he looks in for a rough ride against unbeaten Pianeta, a 23-year-old, 6ft 5ins southpaw who is based in Germany and boasts a 16-0 (10) tab - everything is stacked in Pianeta's favour. Last time out in May, Pianeta stopped previously unbeaten American Michael Marrone in two rounds. Three of his last four victims have been taken out early.
Still, Gammer showed he could fight it out with the good Williams, in an exciting, competitive affair for much of the way. In the end Danny's greater natural power proved the deciding factor but Pianeta hardly represents the same sort of threat, although you fancy him to prove too sharp for for the rusty Gammer on the way to a decision.
The EU title at stake, incidentally, is a handy thing to have when bartering for a 'proper' European title shot (held by crafty Turk Sinan Samil Sam).

all in all a pretty crap load of hw boxing


the only results that would be good for the sport are

Boswell to Ko Greenberg

Valuev to Ko Ruiz

Pianetta to Ko Gammer

Brewster to Ko Batchelder

either out of dettweiler or Koc to be Ko'd



however wudnt be surprised if all those plod the distance ....big yawn

[Exoddus]

Chagaev, barely 6ft tall,

How can you be "barley 6ft tall? You're either 6ft tall, or not 6ft tall.

[steve689]

Maybe he's 5ft 11 10/15ths...okay so still not 6ft tall

[funso banjo baby]

Maybe he's 5ft 11 10/15ths...okay so still not 6ft tall

its like greenberg is barely a fighter