Ibragimov-Chagaev unification!

Mr Big · 06-26-2007, 07:54 PM

Fightnews is reporting that WBO heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov is slated to face WBA titlist Ruslan Chagaev in Moscow, Russia! This will be the first heavyweight unification bout since 1999. Definitely a step in the right direction. Now, if we could get a WBC/IBF eliminator, with the winner to face the victor of the first fight, we could have our first "undisputed" heavyweight champion since the days of "Iron" Mike Tyson!

As for a prediction on the outcome, I'll have to go with Chagaev, 116-113.

What do you guys think?

Jim_Kidd · 06-26-2007, 08:31 PM

A title Heavyweight title unification in Russia... who would have thought that would ever happen. It's one thing to unify a belt or two... but then, it can be difficult to avoid getting stripped of a title if you don't fight the mandatory each of the organizations will require.

The Ring Magazine considers Wlad and Sam Peter the top 2 fighters. Being that Klitschko already beat Peter, I don't know why they don't consider him the champion.

These days, I go by the Ring's ratings more than the Alphabet titles.

For the unification fight in Russia, I'll go with Chagaev, too.

a87star · 06-26-2007, 09:48 PM

This is a very good thing that Chagaev/Ibragimov will face each other. "White Tyson" will use his hand speed and good footwork to make the stationary, come forward style of Ibragimov easy pickings for him.

My prediction: Chagaev by wide UD.

mh2365 · 06-26-2007, 10:32 PM

Yeah I say Chagaev by an easy UD also

Mr Big · 06-27-2007, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim_Kidd

The Ring Magazine considers Wlad and Sam Peter the top 2 fighters. Being that Klitschko already beat Peter, I don't know why they don't consider him the champion.

These days, I go by the Ring's ratings more than the Alphabet titles.

I agree completely. In fact, it would be fine with me if they just did away with all of the ABC belts and had just the "Ring Magazine World Heavyweight Champion." Based on Ring's sterling reputation for ranking fighters, the best man would most likely hold the title. Would definitely bring some clarity to the sport's most prominent division. For that matter, the same thing could be done in the lower weight classes. That would eliminate all of those jokers with WBE and GBU belts parading around as "world" champions.

IceTea · 06-27-2007, 06:47 AM

I'll watch the fight. Right now I'll go with a draw.

MJ

Mr Big · 06-27-2007, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IceTea

I'll watch the fight. Right now I'll go with a draw.

MJ

Sadly enough, a draw is a definite possibility. Then we're back to square one...

a87star · 06-27-2007, 02:30 PM

I can't see this fight being a draw. Ibragimov offers an easy target because he has no head movement and always stays in front of his opponent. All Chagaev has to do is use his jab and put punches together in combinations and keep moving laterally and he should coast to victory.

Sultan was a good amateur fighter with all the accolades but he has major flaws for a fighter who was supposed to be one of the guys to rejuvinate the HW division. Even if he is required to face the winner of the Thompson/Krasniqui fight first, either one will give him a real boxing lesson.

Dave1877 · 06-27-2007, 08:06 PM

Tough one to call, but i never sit on the fence and say draw, so i'll stick my neck out and say Ibragimov nicks it on points for me. It would be great to see a unification fight, but i really doubt we will be seeing an IBF/WBC unification in the next few years, i mean you have seen all the crap going on with Sam Peter and Vitali Klitschko over who should be Maskaev's mandatory.

It's pretty obvious what is going to happen, Peter beats Oleg for the WBC in September, then Vitali takes the title from Peter, then if Wlad is still IBF champ and Vitali holds the WBC there will be no unification for obvious reasons and they can both live out their 'dream' of holding world titles at the same time.

06-27-2007, 11:51 PM

Chagaev looks too quick and strong for Ibragimov. Chagaev by stoppage.

IceTea · 06-28-2007, 06:40 PM

If I had to pick a winner, I would take Ruslan but real close. All of his fights with name opponents are close, I can't see why this one will be any different. Iggy can punch and has good hand speed. He doesn't move his head much but does have lean out of the way of punches with his upper body. I don't think he fights boxers well, which is a strategy Ruslan can employ.

MJ

a87star · 06-28-2007, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IceTea

If I had to pick a winner, I would take Ruslan but real close. All of his fights with name opponents are close, I can't see why this one will be any different. Iggy can punch and has good hand speed. He doesn't move his head much but does have lean out of the way of punches with his upper body. I don't think he fights boxers well, which is a strategy Ruslan can employ.

MJ

I agree on the hand speed but Sultan is inconsistent with picking spots to punch and he tends to move his upper body towards his opponents punching hand which is due to poor footwork. He definitely can lean out of the way of punches but Iggy is content on staying in the pocket and slugging it out with whoever he is fighting which will be a huge tatical error with someone versatile as Chagaev is. Like I said before, Sultan is a very flawed fighter for someone with the lenghty amateur backround he had.

IceTea · 06-28-2007, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a87star

I agree on the hand speed but Sultan is inconsistent with picking spots to punch and he tends to move his upper body towards his opponents punching hand which is due to poor footwork. He definitely can lean out of the way of punches but Iggy is content on staying in the pocket and slugging it out with whoever he is fighting which will be a huge tatical error with someone versatile as Chagaev is. Like I said before, Sultan is a very flawed fighter for someone with the lenghty amateur backround he had.

* Good points! If Chagaev uses his jab and counterpunches, he may win. Maybe he fights up or down to the level of his competition? At least both are doing the right thing by fighting each other.

MJ

a87star · 06-28-2007, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IceTea

* Good points! If Chagaev uses his jab and counterpunches, he may win. Maybe he fights up or down to the level of his competition? At least both are doing the right thing by fighting each other.

MJ

If Chagaev fights like he did against Valuev, using his jab to create space and putting combinations together in bunches.....he should have no problem winning the fight. He doesn't have the power that his nickname "White Tyson" suggests but Ruslan has enough zip on his punches to keep opponents wary. This is a good thing for the HW division that two fighters are taking the risk to unify in the first defense of their respective alphabet titles. Now that Don King doesn't have any of the HW belts, unification is starting to look more realistic.

Mr Big · 07-05-2007, 01:55 AM

Fightnews is now reporting that the fight will be on October 13, and that Osacr De La Hoya will be traveling to Moscow to watch it firsthand. Both he and Mike Tyson have sent best wishes to Ibragimov, and "Iron" Mike even expressed some animosity towards Chagaev for his nickname of "White Tyson." Looks like some of the heavy hitters in the boxing world are standing up and taking notice of this one. This thing could get pretty big before it's all said and done.

Mr Big · 07-12-2007, 09:11 PM

Fightnews is reporting that a venue has been named for this fight: The 14,000 seat Khodynka arena in the aforementioned Moscow, Russia. Broadcast plans for the bout will be announced once they are secured.

a87star · 07-12-2007, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Big

Fightnews is reporting that a venue has been named for this fight: The 14,000 seat Khodynka arena in the aforementioned Moscow, Russia. Broadcast plans for the bout will be announced once they are secured.

Khodynka Arena is actually used for hockey and seats about 14,500 people. It's located in the northwest part of Moscow. I'm surprised they are not going to host it at the Olympiisky Sports Palace, a larger venue that can seat more people.

I'm expecting the Ibragimov/Chagaev fight to be aired in the US, no matter who gets the broadcast rights.

mh2365 · 07-12-2007, 10:36 PM

I think Showtime is showing it

a87star · 07-12-2007, 10:39 PM

I know SHO is broadcasting the Vitali/McCline fight in late September. Not sure about Iggy/Chagaev. Wouldn't be surprised if HBO ended up broadcasting it.

mh2365 · 07-12-2007, 10:51 PM

Definitely on Showtime ... three weeks out of four they are showing HW fights.

September 22 Klitschko vs. McCline
October 6 - Oleg vs. Peter
October 13th - Ibragamov vs. Chagaev

06-26-2007, 07:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mr Big All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,235	Ibragimov-Chagaev unification! Fightnews is reporting that WBO heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov is slated to face WBA titlist Ruslan Chagaev in Moscow, Russia! This will be the first heavyweight unification bout since 1999. Definitely a step in the right direction. Now, if we could get a WBC/IBF eliminator, with the winner to face the victor of the first fight, we could have our first "undisputed" heavyweight champion since the days of "Iron" Mike Tyson! As for a prediction on the outcome, I'll have to go with Chagaev, 116-113. What do you guys think? __________________ The M.O.B. Isaiah 54:17 Last edited by Mr Big : 06-26-2007 at 07:58 PM. Reason: Added prediction

06-27-2007, 06:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
IceTea Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Utica, NY Posts: 6,913	I'll watch the fight. Right now I'll go with a draw. MJ __________________ Don't worry, be happy! Women's Boxing Cyber Boxing Zone IFBA Philadelphia Boxing Understanding Title Bout Boxing Ratings Fighterlist Boxrec Ross Boxing Philly Boxing History

06-28-2007, 06:40 PM	#11 (permalink)
IceTea Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Utica, NY Posts: 6,913	If I had to pick a winner, I would take Ruslan but real close. All of his fights with name opponents are close, I can't see why this one will be any different. Iggy can punch and has good hand speed. He doesn't move his head much but does have lean out of the way of punches with his upper body. I don't think he fights boxers well, which is a strategy Ruslan can employ. MJ __________________ Don't worry, be happy! Women's Boxing Cyber Boxing Zone IFBA Philadelphia Boxing Understanding Title Bout Boxing Ratings Fighterlist Boxrec Ross Boxing Philly Boxing History

07-05-2007, 01:55 AM	#15 (permalink)
Mr Big All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,235	Fightnews is now reporting that the fight will be on October 13, and that Osacr De La Hoya will be traveling to Moscow to watch it firsthand. Both he and Mike Tyson have sent best wishes to Ibragimov, and "Iron" Mike even expressed some animosity towards Chagaev for his nickname of "White Tyson." Looks like some of the heavy hitters in the boxing world are standing up and taking notice of this one. This thing could get pretty big before it's all said and done. __________________ The M.O.B. Isaiah 54:17 Last edited by Mr Big : 07-05-2007 at 01:58 AM.

07-12-2007, 09:11 PM	#16 (permalink)
Mr Big All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,235	Fightnews is reporting that a venue has been named for this fight: The 14,000 seat Khodynka arena in the aforementioned Moscow, Russia. Broadcast plans for the bout will be announced once they are secured. __________________ The M.O.B. Isaiah 54:17

06-26-2007, 08:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jim_Kidd All Star Reserve Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Florida, West Coast Posts: 578	A title Heavyweight title unification in Russia... who would have thought that would ever happen. It's one thing to unify a belt or two... but then, it can be difficult to avoid getting stripped of a title if you don't fight the mandatory each of the organizations will require. The Ring Magazine considers Wlad and Sam Peter the top 2 fighters. Being that Klitschko already beat Peter, I don't know why they don't consider him the champion. These days, I go by the Ring's ratings more than the Alphabet titles. For the unification fight in Russia, I'll go with Chagaev, too.

06-26-2007, 09:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
a87star Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 4,023	This is a very good thing that Chagaev/Ibragimov will face each other. "White Tyson" will use his hand speed and good footwork to make the stationary, come forward style of Ibragimov easy pickings for him. My prediction: Chagaev by wide UD.

06-26-2007, 10:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
mh2365 Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: louisville Posts: 14,963 Warnings: 2	Yeah I say Chagaev by an easy UD also

06-27-2007, 02:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
a87star Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 4,023	I can't see this fight being a draw. Ibragimov offers an easy target because he has no head movement and always stays in front of his opponent. All Chagaev has to do is use his jab and put punches together in combinations and keep moving laterally and he should coast to victory. Sultan was a good amateur fighter with all the accolades but he has major flaws for a fighter who was supposed to be one of the guys to rejuvinate the HW division. Even if he is required to face the winner of the Thompson/Krasniqui fight first, either one will give him a real boxing lesson.

06-27-2007, 08:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
Dave1877 Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: West Midlands, United Kingdom Posts: 488	Tough one to call, but i never sit on the fence and say draw, so i'll stick my neck out and say Ibragimov nicks it on points for me. It would be great to see a unification fight, but i really doubt we will be seeing an IBF/WBC unification in the next few years, i mean you have seen all the crap going on with Sam Peter and Vitali Klitschko over who should be Maskaev's mandatory. It's pretty obvious what is going to happen, Peter beats Oleg for the WBC in September, then Vitali takes the title from Peter, then if Wlad is still IBF champ and Vitali holds the WBC there will be no unification for obvious reasons and they can both live out their 'dream' of holding world titles at the same time.

06-27-2007, 11:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
60'sfan Posts: n/a	Chagaev looks too quick and strong for Ibragimov. Chagaev by stoppage.

07-12-2007, 10:36 PM	#18 (permalink)
mh2365 Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: louisville Posts: 14,963 Warnings: 2	I think Showtime is showing it

07-12-2007, 10:39 PM	#19 (permalink)
a87star Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 4,023	I know SHO is broadcasting the Vitali/McCline fight in late September. Not sure about Iggy/Chagaev. Wouldn't be surprised if HBO ended up broadcasting it.

07-12-2007, 10:51 PM	#20 (permalink)
mh2365 Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: louisville Posts: 14,963 Warnings: 2	Definitely on Showtime ... three weeks out of four they are showing HW fights. September 22 Klitschko vs. McCline October 6 - Oleg vs. Peter October 13th - Ibragamov vs. Chagaev

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