The WBA hwt tournament is not that bad!

[Feiti]

In response to the article on the front page, I´ll have to say the WBA tournament is not at all bad, except for the inclusion of Taras Bidenko and, to a much lesser extent, the reserve of Davarryl Williamson

Valuev, Ruiz and Liakhovich are all former heavyweight champions. Yes they all lost their last fight, but should a boxer be judged such that he is only as good as his last fight? Remember also that both Valuev and Ruiz had pretty even fights with Chagaev and Liakhovich was winning his fight against Briggs before getting KOed.

If you look at who is available, these three are actually a good pick. After all, Samuel Peter, Calvin Brock, Chris Byrd, Alexander Povetkin, Eddie Chambers, Oliver McCall, Evander Holyfield, Vitali Klitschko and Tony Thompson are already booked for other eliminators or title shots.

This leaves Hashim Rahman (shouldn´t he get in shape?), Vladimir Virchis, Alexander Dimitrenko, Juan Carlos Gomez (good but hasn´t done anything lately), Matt Skelton, Lamon Brewster (is he healthy?), Chris Arreola (green), Shannon Briggs (also wonder if he´s healthy), Ray Austin (really now), Tye Fields (or not), Brian Minto (longshot), Kali Meehan (don´t worry I´m just joking), Donell Holmes (still joking), Mike Mollo (got to stop here or this will become a comedy thread)

Having listed who is left, it isn´t hard to see they should have replaced Bidenko with Virchis or maybe even Dimitrenko. Rahman of course has the name and resume, but he´s been out of shape and not doing anything lately. Same with Gomez. Skelton would have been passable, but he´s not ranked by the WBA.

However, I can´t see why fighter in this list would necessarily be any better for the tournament than Valuev, Ruiz or Liakhovich.

So there you go. I think I´ve taken it apart pretty much to the point and shown that this is actually a pretty damn good tournament. You can cry about Bidenko, but what it all boils down to, is that in the corrupt world of boxing, 3 out of 4 ain´t bad!

:hi:

[Richel Hersisia]

In response to the article on the front page, I´ll have to say the WBA tournament is not at all bad, except for the inclusion of Taras Bidenko and, to a much lesser extent, the reserve of Davarryl Williamson

Valuev, Ruiz and Liakhovich are all former heavyweight champions. Yes they all lost their last fight, but should a boxer be judged such that he is only as good as his last fight? Remember also that both Valuev and Ruiz had pretty even fights with Chagaev and Liakhovich was winning his fight against Briggs before getting KOed.

If you look at who is available, these three are actually a good pick. After all, Samuel Peter, Calvin Brock, Chris Byrd, Alexander Povetkin, Eddie Chambers, Oliver McCall, Evander Holyfield, Vitali Klitschko and Tony Thompson are already booked for other eliminators or title shots.

This leaves Hashim Rahman (shouldn´t he get in shape?), Vladimir Virchis, Alexander Dimitrenko, Juan Carlos Gomez (good but hasn´t done anything lately), Matt Skelton, Lamon Brewster (is he healthy?), Chris Arreola (green), Shannon Briggs (also wonder if he´s healthy), Ray Austin (really now), Tye Fields (or not), Brian Minto (longshot), Kali Meehan (don´t worry I´m just joking), Donell Holmes (still joking), Mike Mollo (got to stop here or this will become a comedy thread)

Having listed who is left, it isn´t hard to see they should have replaced Bidenko with Virchis or maybe even Dimitrenko. Rahman of course has the name and resume, but he´s been out of shape and not doing anything lately. Same with Gomez. Skelton would have been passable, but he´s not ranked by the WBA.

However, I can´t see why fighter in this list would necessarily be any better for the tournament than Valuev, Ruiz or Liakhovich.

So there you go. I think I´ve taken it apart pretty much to the point and shown that this is actually a pretty damn good tournament. You can cry about Bidenko, but what it all boils down to, is that in the corrupt world of boxing, 3 out of 4 ain´t bad!

:hi:


you are totally right. But in boxing the media rather see everything from the negative side.

This is one of the best years ever for boxing, if you look at all the big fights that are being made:

Floyd Oscar
Floyd Hatton
Calzaghe Kessler
Taylor pavlik
Barrera Marquez
Pacquiao Barrera
Vazquez Marquez two times
Mormeck Bell
almost a heavyweight unification
and hopefully cotto mosley and soto guzman

we also had some very good brawls out there.

But fans and media rather complain.

It's good to be a boxing fan at this moment.

[Feiti]

you are totally right. But in boxing the media rather see everything from the negative side.

This is one of the best years ever for boxing, if you look at all the big fights that are being made:

Floyd Oscar
Floyd Hatton
Calzaghe Kessler
Taylor pavlik
Barrera Marquez
Pacquiao Barrera
Vazquez Marquez two times
Mormeck Bell
almost a heavyweight unification
and hopefully cotto mosley and soto guzman

we also had some very good brawls out there.

But fans and media rather complain.

It's good to be a boxing fan at this moment.

You´re right. And not to mention Cotto-Judah and at least in terms of top fighters facing off (if not excitement) Wright-Hopkins.

[JustinD]

Well, since after it Ruiz will once again be WBA champ it can´t be bad.

Please tell me you're joking, the last thing boxing needs is John Ruiz to be a heavyweight titleholder again.

[Feiti]

I´d like to see Ruiz KOed brutally again, in all other scenarios he is worthless to watch.

[JustinD]

Agreed *goes to watch Tua vs Ruiz again*

[Feiti]

Wonder who lobbied Bidenko up to the #4 position

[K0NPHL1C7]

Well unfortunately for you, the Tua KO was more of a "Fluke shot" that has yet to be duplicated, and likely never to happen again. The guy has one of the best chins in the Heavyweight division, as proven by the years of being hit by guys like Thunder, Golota, Valuev, and Holyfield.

I know it’s a tough pill for most of you to swallow, because you all like to jump on the “hate Ruiz” train, but he is a legitimate contender and as worthy a participant in this tourney as anyone else, and in fact stands a fairly good chance of winning. If you watched his last 3 fights he has fought better than most other heavies lately.

[Feiti]

The problem with Ruiz is his constant grabbing. Wlad holds a lot but it´s different, because he ties up opponent when they get close. Ruiz on the other hand, launches himself in and grabs. Yes he usually throws one punch in the process of launching himself in, but it´s still totally stupid he should get away with it so much.

[K0NPHL1C7]

The problem with Ruiz is his constant grabbing. Wlad holds a lot but it´s different, because he ties up opponent when they get close. Ruiz on the other hand, launches himself in and grabs. Yes he usually throws one punch in the process of launching himself in, but it´s still totally stupid he should get away with it so much.

He hasn't used that tactic in his last 3 fights. in fact his last 2 were pretty good, Valuev initiated more clinching than Ruiz did.

[Lampley]

I think Ruiz decided to change his style a bit just before the Toney fight, because he had been confused why the public disliked him so much.

He's far from my favorite -- mostly, because I'd like to get rid of all these recycled guys -- but at least with Ruiz you know he'll show up in shape and give you a professional performance.

Still, the younger Russian fighters would excite me much more.

[Feiti]

Yeah, I didn´t see his fights vs Valuev and Chagaev, but I did notice he wasn´t clinching much vs Toney, allowing Toney to freely whip his ass and show how inferior a boxer Ruiz really is to him.

Ruiz´s record is pretty good though. Close fights vs Valuev and Chagaev, one solid win over Holyfield, KO over Oquendo as well as the phoney DQ over Johnson and the gift decision over Golota.

[Lampley]

Yeah, I didn´t see his fights vs Valuev and Chagaev, but I did notice he wasn´t clinching much vs Toney, allowing Toney to freely whip his ass and show how inferior a boxer Ruiz really is to him.

Ruiz´s record is pretty good though. Close fights vs Valuev and Chagaev, one solid win over Holyfield, KO over Oquendo as well as the phoney DQ over Johnson and the gift decision over Golota.

Yeah, that's what was so amusing about Ruiz/Toney. At the point Ruiz becomes entertaining, he gets his ass kicked. You could practically feel the smirking from boxing fans across the world.

[Armo_Ruski]

i think the wba tournament should be valuev, virchis, liahovich, bidenko or dimitrenko.. that'd be a great tournament :happy :happy

[Feiti]

The IBF definitely went more along the lines of picking new blood and rising stars for their tournament, the WBA went more with the old warhorses.

Dimitrenko and Virchis should be getting into some kind of eliminators or title opportunities soon though, since they´ve built up pretty good records.

[Heavyrighthand]

However, I can´t see why fighter in this list would necessarily be any better for the tournament than Valuev, Ruiz or Liakhovich.



I agree, those three are all still very credible and none have really been beaten decisively in their recent losses. The Valuev and Ruiz decision losses were fairly close, and Liak was well ahead, til he was somehow found his way to get knocked out of the ring in the final moments as he was about to collect his belt and put his robe back on.

But as I said before, its all over by the formalities. Might as well give the belt to Johnny, now, cause he's got this thing in the bag, already.

[Feiti]

But as I said before, its all over by the formalities. Might as well give the belt to Johnny, now, cause he's got this thing in the bag, already.

I think you keep saying that to stir up some emotion in all the Ruiz haters. :rofl

[geppy]

Virchis should be in eliminator rather than Bidenko.

Dimitrenko could of fought in a WBO eliminator, but his team said he wasnt ready for Krasniqi. Dimitrenko was ranked higher in the WBO rankings then Thompson was. Kohl most feel like a jackass now, he could of had a guranteed World Title shot for one his HW's, but he let the WBO pass Dimitrenko , and Thompson won against Quitniqi.

[Heavyrighthand]

I think you keep saying that to stir up some emotion in all the Ruiz haters. :rofl

Well, maybe. But it's also true.

Ruiz will be back with a vengeance, and will win this tournament to reclaim his WBA title. Liak may give him a tough fight, but I can see Ruiz clubbing and lunging his way to a UD over Liak. Also, I think Ruiz will have Valuev's number, this time. He's studied his loss to Valuev and will rework his gameplan by timing Valuev's shots, then lunging in afterward to land that clubbing right hand, ending in success this time. If he is to face Valuev, he'll avenge that loss.

I'd even go as far as to make an avatar bet with the biggest Ruiz hater on the board. (Zakman, etc)

But the end result of Ruiz winning this thing will inadvertently put him squarely in Wladimir's sights for a vicious KO. Let Wlad launch at Ruiz, a shot like the one that make Brock go limp before he hit the mat.

[mykolakozak]

Ruiz doesnt belong there.

The Ukrainian Heavy Weight Bidenko will win this tournament

To those who missed it, Bidenko's fourth fight only:
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

And the other time he lost by KO was to Virchis, although he was ahead on points.

[Zakman]

Well unfortunately for you, the Tua KO was more of a "Fluke shot" that has yet to be duplicated, and likely never to happen again. The guy has one of the best chins in the Heavyweight division, as proven by the years of being hit by guys like Thunder, Golota, Valuev, and Holyfield.

Ruiz has one of the best chins in the HW division! :patsch :rofl :rofl

Yeah, sure - that's why he hit the deck twice against Golota when he actually mixed it up a bit instead of grabbing on for dear life! Didn't matter though - King bailed him out with a gift decision.

Oh, and against at least two of the guys mentioned - Thunder and Holyfield - Ruiz blatantly faked "low blows" to snatch a bogus "victory" from the jaws of defeat, something he would use again in the Kirk Johnson fight.

In most of the rest of his post-Tua fights, he simply brazenly violated the rules against excessive holding to both keep from getting starched - as he probably would have against most of the more talented fighters he had to face once King manuevered him into contention - and to prevent his opponents from using their superior skills to beat him, as they certainly would have WITHIN the rules.

Without Don King, nobody ever would've heard of this fraud after Tua annihilated him.

[K0NPHL1C7]

Ruiz has one of the best chins in the HW division! :patsch :rofl :rofl

Yeah, sure - that's why he hit the deck twice against Golota when he actually mixed it up a bit instead of grabbing on for dear life! Didn't matter though - King bailed him out with a gift decision.

Oh, and against at least two of the guys mentioned - Thunder and Holyfield - Ruiz blatantly faked "low blows" to snatch a bogus "victory" from the jaws of defeat, something he would use again in the Kirk Johnson fight.

In most of the rest of his post-Tua fights, he simply brazenly violated the rules against excessive holding to both keep from getting starched - as he probably would have against most of the more talented fighters he had to face once King manuevered him into contention - and to prevent his opponents from using their superior skills to beat him, as they certainly would have WITHIN the rules.

Without Don King, nobody ever would've heard of this fraud after Tua annihilated him.

I love when someone has so much hatred for a fighter that they refuse to admit the guy has ever won anything legitly. You make yourself sound like a child the way to try to make excuses for every one of his victories. The fact of the matter is, he won. You might choose to see it diffrently, but he won, and he did it quite a bit. Get over it, the guy is better than most of the heavyweights today.

[Feiti]

I was wondering when Zakman would sniff up a Ruiz thread to go bashing. Not that I´d ever mind. I also hate Ruiz and his former manger Stoney.

Ruiz is not without any skill or toughness, but Zak is right in that Ruiz used illegal tactics in his fights, both in excessive holding and faking low blows. Ruiz did also get a gift decision agains Golota that was a total disgrace.