Sunday, April 22, 2007

Valuev - good riddance?

Ok, the Heavyweight division is no more interesting or American than it was before... but at least now, a fighter who wins with skill alone is holding a belt, and Universum now has no excuse not to make a unification between Chagaev and Klitschko. Valuev had skill, and was a hard worker.. but his rise to the top was marred by questionable judging, and his size bafflign opponents strategically. With Chagaev's win, Sauerland and King also both lose ground in the division, which is a good thing. Unification took a small half-step in the right direction. We are literally two fights away from possibly having the Klitschko brothers accomplish their dream of standing atop the heavyweight divsion alone. I'd pick W. Klitschko over Chagaev any day of the week. V. Klitshcko, if he has anything left, should also outbox Sam Peter fairly easily, should Peter win the title from Maskaev (which should almost certainly happen). Sure Briggs or Ibragimov would have the WBO belt, but would anyone care? Not me. I sure hope it's Briggs, though. At least a fight between he and a Klitschko would be interesting, and sell some tickets in the USA.

Warren vs. Palle... pissing contest about to start?

Ok, Frank and Bettina/Mogens. We get it. You have a ton of money, and can make a ton more... no matter who Mikkel Kessler or Joe Calzaghe fights. Here is the real question: Are you just showing off pocketbooks, or do you really want to make this fight happen? Jermain Taylor's request pretty much disqualifies him as a realistic option for Calzaghe... although who can blame him after watching Peter Manfredo get screwed by the officials in Calzaghe's backyard. For a guy like Taylor who likes fighting backwards, that has to be a big concern. This will not be an issue for Kessler, who prefers to move forward behind the solid one-two. In fact, there is not one issue to prevent this fight from happening, save for that of promoter egos. We're seeing it with Arum and Shaw over Vic Darchinyan's marketability, and here it starts again. The difference here, is that now Americans now know who both fighters are, and therefore a lot more fans really want this fight. Calzaghe can wait all he wants. He's not getting Taylor, Jones, Wright, or Hopkins in the ring, until he builds his price in the U.S. Those are big names not willing to concede what is necessary to go to the U.K. to make the fight. Kessler is high-risk, low reward for those big-name fighters as well... therefore there is no other big money option for either of them. Location is an issue as well, I guess... but one that can be solved easily. Put the fight on in Denmark, and let Calzaghe's team pick officials... or vice versa. There! Simple logic, point blank. The accusations of one promoter ducking the other have started already, but this boxing fan has had enough of it. The not being ready, not being reasonable excuses will not hold water this time. Make the fight! Or else, you will not be able to hide behind any rationalizations. You will have robbed the paying public of the fight they demanded, for business ego purposes. Let's be the hero this time, guys. The fans will not forget if you make this happen. They will also not forget if you don't. Don't believe me? Just remember, Roy Jones and Dariusz Michaelchewski still have to answer questions about each other from time to time.