Vitali wins arbitration, doesn't have to fight Maskaev next

Double L has jumped the shark.

Valuev has gigantism and shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a boxing ring. I'd be absolutely shocked if he lived another 10 years.

 

If Valuev can jab with Vitali, Klitschko won't be able to set his own pace, and his face -- which has torn before when it's actually been hit -- could get all cut up really fast.

I really hope this fight comes off. Nicolay is the only guy who can fight at long range against these guys.

The best chance to see Wlad and Vitali in an exciting, competitive fights are to put them in with equally big orthodox fighters who can jab and fight on the outside with them. That will prevent both from employing their grab and hold tactics (which they have mastered against smaller guys) and their opponents will be able to land their own right hands coming behind their own jab.

That's why the Vitali and Lennox Lewis fight was so exciting. Both were big guys with excellent jabs, and they jabbed each other to death and landed big rights from the outside.

If the Klitschkos are only going to fight on the outside and grab when the guy gets close, then the guy who fights them has to be able to compete on the outside.

Muhammad Ali had an excellent jab. Larry Holmes had an excellent jab. But the reason Muhammad Ali had trouble with Ken Norton three times, and the reason Holmes had trouble and had his eyes swollen by Tim Witherspoon and Carl Williams wasn't because those guys slipped the jab and worked inside.

On the contrary, they jabbed when Holmes and Ali jabbed.

Eddie Futch told Ken Norton stick a jab right back in Ali's face every time Ali jabbed. Match him jab for jab. Guys like that are used to setting the pace and creating openings with their jabs. When their opponent jabs simultaneously, they can't.

So not only are you keeping the scores close -- because you're landing the same shots -- but the expert jabber becomes hesitant to throw his own jab, because he keeps eating one at the same time. When he stops jabbing, then it is easier to land inside.

Norton, Witherspoon and Williams were all able to do that. None of them were great, but their plan allowed them to fight on even terms with great fighters.

If this comes off, I give Valuev an excellent chance at winning ... I think he's the toughest opponent out there for both Klitschkos.

 

before someone beats me to this.::

 

Vitaly will be the first to KO Valuev...and he won't break a sweat..

 

Agreed. He's like The Swamp Thing with gloves in there.