The IBF #1 is fighting Taurus Sykes on July 19th in his tune-up before an expected fight with Wladimir. Samuel Peter may also have a tune-up on the same day before his expected fight with Vitali. From Secondsout:
Not bad for a stay busy fight, though if he's not yet ready to challenge for a title, then this won't be the fight to get him any closer.
Do you think he's ready for that title challenge? There's a lot of heavyweights I think Povetkin can beat, but judging from the Chambers fight I'm not sure Wladimir is one of them (though his camp claimed he was sick).
I would pick Povetikin over Chagaev and possibly over Peter. It suprises me they don't have him fight Chagaev and get a belt. Then take on Wlad. Unification fights always make good coin.
You think its that easy? :: Besides, Chagaev is a hell of a lot better than internet fans are giving him credit for. He's a legit fighter.
I'd take Povetkin over Peter without much hesitation. Chagaev brings a lot more to the table than Peter, IMO.
I liked Chagaev at the beginning of his career, he barely ever took a backwards step,..unfortunately, these days he circles and backs up like a true German based product.
Right now, Chagaev crushes Povetkin. Most European trainers would tell you that. But like KaukipRrr said before me, Chagaev has actually made himself worse by trying to refine his game....if that's even possible. By the time a Povetkin-Chagaev fight happens, Chagaev would have regressed so much that he'd be the lesser fighter in the ring. Don't base Chagaev off of the Valuev fight, though. The way to beat Valuev is to take backwards steps and stay out of his range and pop in and out. That was never really Chagaev's style, so we're going to have to see if he goes back to his more entertaining ways. Back to the topic at hand, Sykes is probably the worst tune up for Klitschko. They should have put Povetkin in with a tall and rangy heavyweight that will try to stay away. Joey Abell would have been perfect. The guy has no chin, so his fear causes him to virtually run away the entire fight....sometimes similar to Klitschko... and it could eventually turn into a nice highlight reel KO that will make people think he's the second coming of Tyson (see Peter-J. Williams). Although, if I remember correctly, Abell is a southpaw....maybe J. D. Chapman?
dsimon writes: I don't know how I could figure that one out. Hard to judge the relative merits of these guys condsidering the comp in the division right now.
dsimon writes: If he can't beat Chagaev then he might as well go home then. And I think you are right. We need a puncher to make it interesting anything short of a puncher against Vlad is a waste of time right now. Including Valuev.
