Ruslan Chagaev vs. Matt Skelton - Revision history

Artur128: /* Chagaev Trapped In A Hug. Uzbek Boxer's Voluntary Defense Against Skelton Looked Rather Like Wrestling Match */

2026-03-02T16:34:57Z

Chagaev Trapped In A Hug. Uzbek Boxer's Voluntary Defense Against Skelton Looked Rather Like Wrestling Match

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:34, 2 March 2026
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	'''By Points, But With Zero Questions'''		'''By Points, But With Zero Questions'''

	It ~~seems~~ like Chagaev just ~~needs~~ to step it up, and the knockout is unavoidable. But Ruslan for some reason ~~keeps~~ going inside - into wrestling hugs. Or Skelton, taking advantage of his opponent's caution (there they are, nine months out of the ring!) successfully ~~ties~~ him up, ~~pins~~ down his arms, legs or you try to figure out what!		It seemed like Chagaev just needed to step it up, and the knockout is unavoidable. But Ruslan for some reason kept going inside - into wrestling hugs. Or Skelton, taking advantage of his opponent's caution (there they are, nine months out of the ring!) successfully tied him up, pinned down his arms, legs or you try to figure out what!

	"Figuring out" (about time, really!) ~~does~~ the ref - desperately trying to force Skelton to fight, he ~~gives~~ him an official warning in the eighth. Minus one point. It ~~does~~ little for Chagaev, he's comfortably ahead anyway, you could credit the Englishman with maybe three even rounds at best.		"Figuring out" (about time, really!) did the ref - desperately trying to force Skelton to fight, he gave him an official warning in the eighth. Minus one point. It did little for Chagaev, he's comfortably ahead anyway, you could credit the Englishman with maybe three even rounds at best.

	Which is how it turned out in the end. By all means, legal and illegal, Skelton made it to the ~~twelfth~~. But it did little for him - all three judges unanimously gave the nod to the Uzbek boxer: 117-111, 117-110, 117-111.		Which is how it turned out in the end. By all means, legal and illegal, Skelton made it to the final round. But it did little for him - all three judges unanimously gave the nod to the Uzbek boxer: 117-111, 117-110, 117-111.

	{{start box}}		{{start box}}

Artur128: /* Chagaev Trapped In A Hug. Uzbek Boxer's Voluntary Defense Against Skelton Looked Rather Like Wrestling Match */

2026-03-02T16:33:03Z

Chagaev Trapped In A Hug. Uzbek Boxer's Voluntary Defense Against Skelton Looked Rather Like Wrestling Match

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:33, 2 March 2026
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	I was surprised myself, - Ruslan told me after the fight, - He pokes me in the body as if gently stroking, where did everything go!		I was surprised myself, - Ruslan told me after the fight, - He pokes me in the body as if gently stroking, where did everything go!

	But that ~~will~~ come later, and for now, while Skelton's punch may be fading, his tenacity and desire to end the fight at any cost is still in full force.		But that would come later, and for now, while Skelton's punch may have been fading, his tenacity and desire to end the fight at any cost was still in full force.

	"At any cost" isn't said lightly here: the fight is increasingly less resembling boxing and more and more wrestling. Greco-Roman, and sometimes even sumo. The Englishman, taking advantage of his 10cm height and 11kg weight advantage, increasingly and openly ~~holds~~ Ruslan on the ropes and ~~tries~~ to keep him there for as long as possible.		"At any cost" isn't said lightly here: the fight was increasingly less resembling boxing and more and more wrestling. Greco-Roman, and sometimes even sumo. The Englishman, taking advantage of his 10cm height and 11kg weight advantage, increasingly and openly held Ruslan on the ropes and tried to keep him there for as long as possible.

	Skelton ~~doesn~~'t always succeed. In the fourth round, Chagaev's signature left hooks ~~start~~ landing, and the Englishman ~~begins to stagger~~.		Skelton didn't always succeed. In the fourth round, Chagaev's signature left hooks started landing, and the Englishman was staggered.

	And in the fifth, everything ~~becomes~~ definitively clear: a few successful combinations finished with a left, and not only Skelton's nose is shattered, but so is the slightest hope of success.		And in the fifth, everything became definitively clear: a few successful combinations finished with a left, and not only Skelton's nose was shattered but so was the slightest hope of success.

	'''By Points, But With Zero Questions'''		'''By Points, But With Zero Questions'''

Artur128: /* Notes */

2026-03-02T16:30:29Z

Notes

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:30, 2 March 2026
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	'''Boxing? Sumo?'''		'''Boxing? Sumo?'''

	Quickly, but for a short period of time - the second round ~~follows~~ the same pattern, and the third, too. Though it's noticeable that ~~more and more often~~ Skelton was openly holding on to Chagaev, trying to avoid his infrequent but powerful punches. The ref was working as hard as he could trying to pull them out of the clinch. The judges didn't have it easy either - trying to determine who was better during the almost even opening rounds was not easy. Nevertheless, in my opinion, Chagaev was ahead - though not by a wide margin.		Quickly, but for a short period of time - the second round followed the same pattern, and the third, too. Though it was noticeable that Skelton was openly holding on to Chagaev increasingly more often, trying to avoid his infrequent but powerful punches. The ref was working as hard as he could trying to pull them out of the clinch. The judges didn't have it easy either - trying to determine who was better during the almost even opening rounds was not easy. Nevertheless, in my opinion, Chagaev was ahead - though not by a wide margin.

	Everything ~~falls~~ into place in the fourth round. Unlike the first three, Skelton ~~doesn~~'t start it on the offensive. Didn't have time to recover? It seems so. He's holding on to Chagaev ~~completely~~ blatantly, and his initially formidable punches ~~are~~ clearly losing their explosiveness and power.		Everything fell into place in the fourth round. Unlike the first three, Skelton didn't start it on the offensive. Didn't have time to recover? It seems so. He was holding on to Chagaev very blatantly, and his initially formidable punches were clearly losing their explosiveness and power.

	I was surprised myself, - Ruslan told me after the fight, - He pokes me in the body as if gently stroking, where did everything go!		I was surprised myself, - Ruslan told me after the fight, - He pokes me in the body as if gently stroking, where did everything go!

Artur128: /* Chagaev Trapped In A Hug. Uzbek Boxer's Voluntary Defense Against Skelton Looked Rather Like Wrestling Match */

2026-03-02T16:27:28Z

Chagaev Trapped In A Hug. Uzbek Boxer's Voluntary Defense Against Skelton Looked Rather Like Wrestling Match

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:27, 2 March 2026
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	There were plenty of volunteers. And Gerald Asamoah even made Ruslan break a sweat, launching a furious attack on him accompanied by his teammates' laughter.		There were plenty of volunteers. And Gerald Asamoah even made Ruslan break a sweat, launching a furious attack on him accompanied by his teammates' laughter.

	Before the fight, footage of this "fight" was shown on large monitors suspended above the ring. Seemed like it paid dividends - as the bell rang, Matt Skelton ~~rushed~~ into an equally vigorous attack without any feeling-out process. It looked as if the fight wasn't going last 12 rounds, but three or four at most. But Chagaev was prepared for this turn of events - he quickly cooled off Skelton's ~~aggressiveness~~ with counterattacks.		Before the fight, footage of this "fight" was shown on large monitors suspended above the ring. Seemed like it paid dividends - as the bell rang, Matt Skelton charged into an equally vigorous attack without any feeling-out process. It looked as if the fight wasn't going last 12 rounds, but three or four at most. But Chagaev was prepared for this turn of events - he quickly cooled off Skelton's aggression with counterattacks.

	'''Boxing? Sumo?'''		'''Boxing? Sumo?'''

Artur128: /* Chagaev Trapped In A Hug. Uzbek Boxer's Voluntary Defense Against Skelton Looked Rather Like Wrestling Match */

2026-03-02T12:25:29Z

Chagaev Trapped In A Hug. Uzbek Boxer's Voluntary Defense Against Skelton Looked Rather Like Wrestling Match

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:25, 2 March 2026
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	Skelton doesn't always succeed. In the fourth round, Chagaev's signature left hooks start landing, and the Englishman begins to stagger.		Skelton doesn't always succeed. In the fourth round, Chagaev's signature left hooks start landing, and the Englishman begins to stagger.

	And in the fifth, everything becomes definitively clear: a few successful combinations finished with a left, and not only Skelton's nose it shattered, but so is the slightest hope of success.		And in the fifth, everything becomes definitively clear: a few successful combinations finished with a left, and not only Skelton's nose is shattered, but so is the slightest hope of success.

	'''By Points, But With Zero Questions'''		'''By Points, But With Zero Questions'''

Artur128: /* Chagaev Trapped In A Hug. Uzbek Boxer's Voluntary Defense Against Skelton Looked Rather Like Wrestling Match */

2026-03-02T12:25:05Z

Chagaev Trapped In A Hug. Uzbek Boxer's Voluntary Defense Against Skelton Looked Rather Like Wrestling Match

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:25, 2 March 2026
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	But that will come later, and for now, while Skelton's punch may be fading, his tenacity and desire to end the fight at any cost is still in full force.		But that will come later, and for now, while Skelton's punch may be fading, his tenacity and desire to end the fight at any cost is still in full force.

	"At any cost" isn't said lightly here: the fight is increasingly less resembling boxing and more and more wrestling. Greco-Roman, and sometimes even sumo. The Englishman, taking advantage of his 10cm height and 11kg weight advantage, increasingly and openly holds Ruslan to the ropes and tries to keep him there for as long as possible.		"At any cost" isn't said lightly here: the fight is increasingly less resembling boxing and more and more wrestling. Greco-Roman, and sometimes even sumo. The Englishman, taking advantage of his 10cm height and 11kg weight advantage, increasingly and openly holds Ruslan on the ropes and tries to keep him there for as long as possible.

	Skelton doesn't always succeed. In the fourth round, Chagaev's signature left hooks start landing, and the Englishman begins to stagger.		Skelton doesn't always succeed. In the fourth round, Chagaev's signature left hooks start landing, and the Englishman begins to stagger.

Artur128 at 12:19, 2 March 2026

2026-03-02T12:19:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:19, 2 March 2026
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	=== Chagaev Trapped In A Hug. Uzbek Boxer's Voluntary Defense Against Skelton Looked Rather Like Wrestling Match===		=== Chagaev Trapped In A Hug. Uzbek Boxer's Voluntary Defense Against Skelton Looked Rather Like Wrestling Match===
	<small>by ''Sovetskyi Sport''</small>		<small>by ''Sovetskyi Sport'', January 20, 2008</small>

	By comfortably beating Skelton on points in Dusseldorf in a fight that looked rather like sumo than boxing, Uzbek boxer Ruslan Chagaev successfully defended his WBA world heavyweight title.		By comfortably beating Skelton on points in Dusseldorf in a fight that looked rather like sumo than boxing, Uzbek boxer Ruslan Chagaev successfully defended his WBA world heavyweight title.

Artur128: /* Notes */

2026-03-02T12:19:23Z

Notes

@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 * Skelton was deducted a point in round eight because of repeated holding and hitting.
 * The bout [[Television Viewership Of Boxing Fights In Germany|generated 4.42 million average viewers]] on [[ZDF]].
 {{start box}}

Artur128 at 14:31, 9 August 2025

2025-08-09T14:31:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:31, 9 August 2025
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	\| WBO \|\| 6 \|\| 01.10.2007 \|\| 11-12.10.2007		\| WBO \|\| 6 \|\| 01.10.2007 \|\| 11-12.10.2007
	\|-		\|-
	\| Ring \|\| ~~N/A~~ \|\| ~~N/A~~ \|\| ~~N/A~~		\| Ring \|\| NR \|\| 22.10.2007 \|\| 21-28.10.2007
	\|-{{pstable-bg1}}		\|-{{pstable-bg1}}
	! colspan="4"\| 2+ Mth. Old		! colspan="4"\| 2+ Mth. Old

Artur128 at 14:27, 9 August 2025

2025-08-09T14:27:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:27, 9 August 2025
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	\| WBA \|\| NR \|\| 23.10.2007 \|\| 23.10.2007		\| WBA \|\| NR \|\| 23.10.2007 \|\| 23.10.2007
	\|-		\|-
	\| WBC \|\| ~~N/A~~ \|\| ~~N/A~~ \|\| ~~N/A~~		\| WBC \|\| 23 \|\| 30.09.2007 \|\| 27.09-11.10.2007
	\|-		\|-
	\| IBF \|\| NR \|\| 16.10.2007 \|\| 11-17.10.2007		\| IBF \|\| NR \|\| 16.10.2007 \|\| 11-17.10.2007