Do you want Holyfield to beat Sultan Ibragimov?

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dsimon writes:

We are talking the heavyweight division as it stands presently. You really think any of these Eastern Euro guys are a lock to beat Holly? Maybe but I don't see it.
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Pretty much all of them. Who has Holyfield beat in the TEN YEARS since the Tyson fights and the Moorer rematch - which in retrospect weren't that great? His wins over Ruiz and Rahman were very controversial, and in the FIVE YEARS since then, he's gotten a disputed decision over Fres Oquendo, and beaten a couple of total no-hopers like Jeremy Bates and Lou Savarese. The last time he got a clear victory over a top-25 fighter was in 1998, against Vaughn Bean.

 

I can't help but pull for Holyfield. The guy has given me so many great fights, I know he isn't the same fighter, but he still has a warriors heart and I dig that. I think Sultan is shit. :shit: I don't only want Holyfield to win, but I think he will and by KO.

 

dsimon writes:

Agreed. Now kindly name me a heavyweight that one can say has distinguished himself, beat top comp consistantly and shown dominance inthe division since Lewis? Holyfield is about in the middle of the pack as far as I can figure.

One could cite James Toney as an exception. Vitalie looked good against Lewis but lost... who had he beat?

Vlad is the one most people name but remember he lost to a few guys as well and it is starting to look like Sam Peter is not that good.

Ruiz and Byrd got their hands raised but were hardly dominant. And the Eastern Euro guys? Well Brigg's took one of them out and Sultan just has not fought enough to really tell us anything.

The way I figure Holy is a little behind your boy Jawney Ruiz (who he beat) and therefore worthy of as much half hearted praise as any of the other heavies.

 

What's wrong with that? Holy is the man!

 

Wow, this post states my sentiments TO THE LETTER :eeeek:

 

Wlad, for one. And there are plenty of heavyweights who - unlike Holyfield - have clearly beaten top-20 fighters in the past six or seven years.

 

dsimon writes:

Didn't you say ten years? In ten years time Vlad's relative merits are skewered. But yes Vlad, if anybody, has emerged. I have no problem conceding that point. I would also say Toney because he had a dominant win over Rahman and should have won the first Peter fight as well.

But the point you make about Hollyfield, a guy who beat Ruiz and won against Rahman BTW is academic at best. Holly is just as credible interms of his opposition as any other of these guys right now... and I say this as somoene who does not care for him much at all.

Again I would be interested to see who to you qualifies, besides Vlad & Toney, as having shown convincing victories as a heavy that totally eclipse Hollyfield.

 

1 Wlad
2 Vitali
3 Chagaev
4 Peter
5 Maskaev
6 Sultan
7 Thompson
8 Valuev
9 Virchis
10 Skelton
11 Ruiz
12 Byrd
13 Chambers
14 Mccall
15 Rahman
16 Brewster
17 Dimitrienko
18 Brock
19 Donald
20 Liakhovich
21 Briggs
22 Aereola
23 Williams
24 Mccline
25 Johnson
26 Meehan
27 Povetkin
28 Austin
29 Krasniqui

:crafty: ? Howzat

 

Liakhovich, Nipple Boy, Ray Austin and Quitali don't belong above Holyfield.

 

Little strange with Povetkin at 27. ::

 

In no particular order* ...I mean,... but Holyfield wouldn't beat any of them ^ PLUS more.