lpinoy
07-26-2010, 11:49 PM
C/C
HEAVYWEIGHTS (201 AND UP)
1. Wladimir Klitschko (54-3)
Klitschko thought he'd be defending his titles against long-overdue mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin. There had been a purse bid, news releases and a news conference. But Povetkin never showed up at the news conference because his trainer, Teddy Atlas, didn't think he was ready for the fight, and is out of the bout. So be it. Klitschko will move on to defend against new mandatory Samuel Peter, whom Klitschko defeated in a tough fight in 2005.
Next: Sept. 11 vs. Peter.
2. Vitali Klitschko (40-2)
As expected, Klitschko thoroughly dominated Albert Sosnowski (who tried hard but had no prayer) en route to a one-punch knockout in the 10th round on May 29. Now Klitschko is attempting to make a fight with former titlist Nikolai Valuev, but until Valuev's side returns to reality with regard to the purse expectations, there won't be a fight. Shannon Briggs is also a possible opponent.
Next: TBA.
3. David Haye (24-1)
Haye should take up sprinting because of how hard he's running away from facing one of the Klitschkos, whom he called out relentlessly only to turn and dive for cover when offered a legitimate deal. Instead, Haye will probably seek out a weak challenger to defend his belt against and try to make it seem like anyone other than his blindly loyal British fans should care.
Next: TBA.
4. Alexander Povetkin (19-0)
For two years, Povetkin has been one of Wladimir Klitschko's mandatory challengers. Finally, when the fight was set for Sept. 11 and Povetkin was going to get a career-high payday of more than $2 million, trainer Teddy Atlas talked him out of taking the fight. Maybe it will turn out to be a good move, but it's difficult to understand turning down a shot at the title and that kind of purse when there is no guarantee it will ever come around again.
Next: TBA.
5. Samuel Peter (34-3)
Povetkin's withdrawal from the Wladimir Klitschko fight paved the way for former titleholder Peter to get the fight since he was next in line for the mandatory challenge. When they fought in a 2005 title eliminator, Peter knocked Klitschko down three times, but lost every other round of the fight and the decision.
Next: Sept. 11 vs. W. Klitschko.
6. Tomasz Adamek (41-1)
Outweighed by 33½ pounds, the former cruiserweight champ won his third (and most significant) heavyweight fight April 24, an impressive display of speed, combination punching and chin against former title challenger Cristobal Arreola. Instead of waiting around for another major fight, Adamek will stay busy -- and get used to facing a really big guy -- when he faces faded former title challenger Michael Grant (46-3).
Next: Aug. 21 vs. Grant.
7. Nikolai Valuev (50-2)
Co-promoter Don King accepted a $2.5 million offer for Valuev to challenge Vitali Klitschko. The only problem is that offer was off the table months ago and Klitschko went ahead and fought a different opponent in May. Now the offer is $1.5 million, and King and Valuev better take it because it keeps dropping. Valuev has nowhere else to go for that much money.
Next: TBA.
8. Ruslan Chagaev (26-1-1)
Eleven months after Wladimir Klitschko punished him and made him quit on his stool, former heavyweight titlist Chagaev returned May 22 and outclassed Kali Meehan in a title eliminator that made him Haye's next mandatory challenger.
Next: TBA.
9. Eddie Chambers (35-2)
Chambers was way too small to do a thing against Wladimir Klitschko in their March 20 title bout. Although Chambers hung in there and almost made it to the final bell, he lost every round, got pounded throughout the fight and finally was knocked cold with five seconds to go. The outcome simply reaffirmed the old adage that a good big man will always beat a good little man.
Next: TBA.
10. Tony Thompson (34-2)
Thompson was scheduled to face Friday Ahunanya on June 19 on the Andre Ward-Allan Green undercard, but he injured his shoulder in training and has withdrawn from the bout.
Next: TBA.
HEAVYWEIGHTS (201 AND UP)
1. Wladimir Klitschko (54-3)
Klitschko thought he'd be defending his titles against long-overdue mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin. There had been a purse bid, news releases and a news conference. But Povetkin never showed up at the news conference because his trainer, Teddy Atlas, didn't think he was ready for the fight, and is out of the bout. So be it. Klitschko will move on to defend against new mandatory Samuel Peter, whom Klitschko defeated in a tough fight in 2005.
Next: Sept. 11 vs. Peter.
2. Vitali Klitschko (40-2)
As expected, Klitschko thoroughly dominated Albert Sosnowski (who tried hard but had no prayer) en route to a one-punch knockout in the 10th round on May 29. Now Klitschko is attempting to make a fight with former titlist Nikolai Valuev, but until Valuev's side returns to reality with regard to the purse expectations, there won't be a fight. Shannon Briggs is also a possible opponent.
Next: TBA.
3. David Haye (24-1)
Haye should take up sprinting because of how hard he's running away from facing one of the Klitschkos, whom he called out relentlessly only to turn and dive for cover when offered a legitimate deal. Instead, Haye will probably seek out a weak challenger to defend his belt against and try to make it seem like anyone other than his blindly loyal British fans should care.
Next: TBA.
4. Alexander Povetkin (19-0)
For two years, Povetkin has been one of Wladimir Klitschko's mandatory challengers. Finally, when the fight was set for Sept. 11 and Povetkin was going to get a career-high payday of more than $2 million, trainer Teddy Atlas talked him out of taking the fight. Maybe it will turn out to be a good move, but it's difficult to understand turning down a shot at the title and that kind of purse when there is no guarantee it will ever come around again.
Next: TBA.
5. Samuel Peter (34-3)
Povetkin's withdrawal from the Wladimir Klitschko fight paved the way for former titleholder Peter to get the fight since he was next in line for the mandatory challenge. When they fought in a 2005 title eliminator, Peter knocked Klitschko down three times, but lost every other round of the fight and the decision.
Next: Sept. 11 vs. W. Klitschko.
6. Tomasz Adamek (41-1)
Outweighed by 33½ pounds, the former cruiserweight champ won his third (and most significant) heavyweight fight April 24, an impressive display of speed, combination punching and chin against former title challenger Cristobal Arreola. Instead of waiting around for another major fight, Adamek will stay busy -- and get used to facing a really big guy -- when he faces faded former title challenger Michael Grant (46-3).
Next: Aug. 21 vs. Grant.
7. Nikolai Valuev (50-2)
Co-promoter Don King accepted a $2.5 million offer for Valuev to challenge Vitali Klitschko. The only problem is that offer was off the table months ago and Klitschko went ahead and fought a different opponent in May. Now the offer is $1.5 million, and King and Valuev better take it because it keeps dropping. Valuev has nowhere else to go for that much money.
Next: TBA.
8. Ruslan Chagaev (26-1-1)
Eleven months after Wladimir Klitschko punished him and made him quit on his stool, former heavyweight titlist Chagaev returned May 22 and outclassed Kali Meehan in a title eliminator that made him Haye's next mandatory challenger.
Next: TBA.
9. Eddie Chambers (35-2)
Chambers was way too small to do a thing against Wladimir Klitschko in their March 20 title bout. Although Chambers hung in there and almost made it to the final bell, he lost every round, got pounded throughout the fight and finally was knocked cold with five seconds to go. The outcome simply reaffirmed the old adage that a good big man will always beat a good little man.
Next: TBA.
10. Tony Thompson (34-2)
Thompson was scheduled to face Friday Ahunanya on June 19 on the Andre Ward-Allan Green undercard, but he injured his shoulder in training and has withdrawn from the bout.
Next: TBA.