What is the point of Byrd and Brock being in an eliminator?

[BoxingGuru]

Can someone tell me the super retarded reason the IBF is recycling Byrd and Brock? DO THEY REALLY expect Byrd or Brock to get into the ring again with Wlad? What are they trying to do end both of those guys careers again?

[lefthook31]

There is no credible heavyweight fighters out there. Thats why Riddick Bowe, Oliver Mcall and Evander Holyfield are still fighting. Im waiting for the Tyson and Lewis comeback, we keep hearing about Lewis and Vitali

[brooklyn1550]

I have wondered this myself...nobody wants to see Byrd-Klitschko 3 or Brock-Klitschko 2. I respect both, but I really hope Alexander Povetkin wins this tourney. Eddie Chambers is a breath of fresh air, but I can't see him having any chance vs. Wlad.

[Motor City Sam]

Can someone tell me the super retarded reason the IBF is recycling Byrd and Brock? DO THEY REALLY expect Byrd or Brock to get into the ring again with Wlad? What are they trying to do end both of those guys careers again?

Must be something in it for the IBF. That's the only reason the ABC's ever do anything.

[emanuel_augustus]

Can someone tell me the super retarded reason the IBF is recycling Byrd and Brock? DO THEY REALLY expect Byrd or Brock to get into the ring again with Wlad? What are they trying to do end both of those guys careers again?

I couldn't care less about seeing them fight Wlad again. BUT, I do like the idea of the IBF holding this tournament and basically making good fighters fight each other.

Byrd/Povetkin and Brock/Chambers are both really intriguing matchups and better than 90% of the heavyweight fights that we're subjected to as title defenses.

I like what the IBF is doing in terms of elimination bouts, it's just that when you have Wlad the super champion, your own contenders can't matchup with him.

This tournament should be interesting by itself though, assuming it comes off.

[Suge Green]

This is a joke...Byrd and Brock should fight, but not for a shot at the title...in my opinion neither of these fighters have done anything to warrant a mandatory title shot...and a victory over either one of these guys at this point in their careers, should not warrant another fighter a title shot.

Typical of the International Bum Federation to send their favorite son another sacrifice.

[H .]

There's no point, just bullshit. They should go fight for those International titles or something.

[curmudgeon]

Typical of the International Bum Federation to send their favorite son another sacrifice.

ANd who is a sacrifice here? Povetkin?

[madpup]

This is a joke...Byrd and Brock should fight, but not for a shot at the title...in my opinion neither of these fighters have done anything to warrant a mandatory title shot...and a victory over either one of these guys at this point in their careers, should not warrant another fighter a title shot.

Typical of the International Bum Federation to send their favorite son another sacrifice.

Whoever wins this tournament will have 2 pretty good wins under their belt, that is more than just about any other heavyweight boxer out there has so far achieved.

[DamonD]

Hey, they've gotta do something...

But Wladimir-Byrd III in particular would seem spectacularly pointless, and I don't think Wlad-Brock II will shift many tickets.

[achillesthegreat]

That isn't how boxing works. Wlad could lose his next fight and Byrd and Brock won't end up fighting him. Plus Brock was giving Wlad trouble, technically and skillfully Brock gave Wlad his toughest fight.

Byrd and Brock are top operators who deserve a chance to fight for titles.

I like the idea of two experienced guys facing off against two relatively unproven prospects.

I'd like to see Povetkin beat Byrd and Brock beat Chambers. If Eddie is that fat guy then I can't see him beating Brock.

Povetkin v Brock would be great. I'll put my money on Povetkin.

[Zakman]

Who the heck else are they gonna find. It's not like most of these other guys are any better.

[Loufatski]

Can someone tell me the super retarded reason the IBF is recycling Byrd and Brock? DO THEY REALLY expect Byrd or Brock to get into the ring again with Wlad? What are they trying to do end both of those guys careers again?

There's the NFL and then there's Canadian Football. These guys are clearly not in the bigger league.

[Heavyrighthand]

After both Byrd and Brock were both thoroughly destroyed, the fact that not one, but BOTH of them are in the four man eliminator is a bit laughable.

But, when you have four different orgs, and they all avoid each other's champoins and each other's mandatories, they have to start scrapping the bottom of the barrel, and also recycle beaten contenders, as there are only so many fighters out there, and four seperate orgs to keep active.

[box03]

my only question is why give brock and bryd another me as a boxing fan would rather see someone like oliver Mccall in the tournament who has an amazing chin and a decent chance of taking vlads bombs to throw his own

[Suge Green]

my only question is why give brock and bryd another me as a boxing fan would rather see someone like oliver Mccall in the tournament who has an amazing chin and a decent chance of taking vlads bombs to throw his own

Which is why McCall wasn't invited...

[BoxingGuru]

Plus Brock was giving Wlad trouble, technically and skillfully Brock gave Wlad his toughest fight.
.

What exactly is your definition of "giving Wlad trouble"? Does that mean taking a few rounds to get KTFO, because I didn't see anything in that fight that suggested Wlad was doing anything unusual besides ad******g, and he did it in 4 rounds.

[Suge Green]

What exactly is your definition of "giving Wlad trouble"? Does that mean taking a few rounds to get KTFO, because I didn't see anything in that fight that suggested Wlad was doing anything unusual besides ad******g, and he did it in 4 rounds.

Although Brock was successfully reaching the body, I never felt he was about to take the fight over. "Not a Shot" Brock didn't get shutout, but the rounds he won were not very impressive or dominating. I'll agree that he didn't give Wlad much trouble...:smoke

[BigEars]

Which is why McCall wasn't invited...

Really ? , I thought it was because he won a fucking WBC eliminator making him the WBC mandatory anytime in the next 10 years(when the whole Maskaev/Peter/Vitali thing is cleared up) .

Brock and Byrd are the 2 highest rated challengers by the IBF(#3 and #4) should the IBF bypass them and put someone else in there who is more stylistically suited to beating Wlad . Should the IBF's aim be to find an opponent to beat Wlad ?

Because to me it seems what they've done is put their 2 highest contenders , one a former WBO and IBF champ(and the last IBF champ before Wlad beat him) and another was a former mandatory contender who gave Wlad his toughest fight since Peter . The other two competitors in the competitiors are young prospects who have impressed and one of them is seen as the saviour of the heavyweight division .


For Byrd to fight Wlad again he will have to have beaten Alexander Povetkin and Calvin Brock/Eddie Chambers , compared to what most mandatories have to do to get in that position , is that not deserving ?

For Brock to fight Wlad he has to beat Eddie Chambers and Bryd/Povetkin, compared to what most mandatories have to do to get in that position, is that not deserving ?

For Chambers to fight Wlad he has to beat Brock and Byrd/Povetkin, compared to what most mandatories have to do to get in that position, is that not deserving ?

For Povetkin to fight Wlad he has to beat Byrd and Brock/Chambers, compared to what most mandatories have to do to get in that position, is that not deserving ?

If they were to just put Povetkin against Chambers(and bypass fighters that are ranked ahead of them..........which the IBF have actually done anyway to put them in this tournament) it would leave either fighter without a very good learning fight against another top contender . If Povetkin or Chambers don't win this thing they weren't good enough anyway and Brock/Byrd were .

Byrd matches up terribly against Wlad , but if he wins this tournament why shouldn't he be allowed to fight Wlad again ? , he would have proven himself as the best available contender even if the other contenders might have suited up better .


Imo it won't be an issue , I think Povetkin will win this and the Byrd fight will be a very good learning fight for him .

[lefthook31]

That isn't how boxing works. Wlad could lose his next fight and Byrd and Brock won't end up fighting him. Plus Brock was giving Wlad trouble, technically and skillfully Brock gave Wlad his toughest fight.

Byrd and Brock are top operators who deserve a chance to fight for titles.

I like the idea of two experienced guys facing off against two relatively unproven prospects.

I'd like to see Povetkin beat Byrd and Brock beat Chambers. If Eddie is that fat guy then I can't see him beating Brock.

Povetkin v Brock would be great. I'll put my money on Povetkin.
Brock gave Wlad his toughest fight? I must of missed that.

[Heavyrighthand]

Great post, bigears. You are exactly right, and made me change my stance on this.

Even though Byrd and Brock were both dismantled like an old car, if they can get past these two upcoming fights, they would certianly be deserving.

[dave82]

So we can add some kind of excitement to a already mundane division

[Heavyrighthand]

I think they are assuming that Povetkin will win this tournament, and make him a credible opponent in the process.

I think Byrd may thwart their little plan.

[magnificentdave]

because mccall would lose a 12 round decision to all four the fighters in the tourney

[Suge Green]

Really ? , I thought it was because he won a fucking WBC eliminator making him the WBC mandatory anytime in the next 10 years(when the whole Maskaev/Peter/Vitali thing is cleared up) .

Brock and Byrd are the 2 highest rated challengers by the IBF(#3 and #4) should the IBF bypass them and put someone else in there who is more stylistically suited to beating Wlad . Should the IBF's aim be to find an opponent to beat Wlad ?

Because to me it seems what they've done is put their 2 highest contenders , one a former WBO and IBF champ(and the last IBF champ before Wlad beat him) and another was a former mandatory contender who gave Wlad his toughest fight since Peter . The other two competitors in the competitiors are young prospects who have impressed and one of them is seen as the saviour of the heavyweight division .


For Byrd to fight Wlad again he will have to have beaten Alexander Povetkin and Calvin Brock/Eddie Chambers , compared to what most mandatories have to do to get in that position , is that not deserving ?

For Brock to fight Wlad he has to beat Eddie Chambers and Bryd/Povetkin, compared to what most mandatories have to do to get in that position, is that not deserving ?

For Chambers to fight Wlad he has to beat Brock and Byrd/Povetkin, compared to what most mandatories have to do to get in that position, is that not deserving ?

For Povetkin to fight Wlad he has to beat Byrd and Brock/Chambers, compared to what most mandatories have to do to get in that position, is that not deserving ?

If they were to just put Povetkin against Chambers(and bypass fighters that are ranked ahead of them..........which the IBF have actually done anyway to put them in this tournament) it would leave either fighter without a very good learning fight against another top contender . If Povetkin or Chambers don't win this thing they weren't good enough anyway and Brock/Byrd were .

Byrd matches up terribly against Wlad , but if he wins this tournament why shouldn't he be allowed to fight Wlad again ? , he would have proven himself as the best available contender even if the other contenders might have suited up better .


Imo it won't be an issue , I think Povetkin will win this and the Byrd fight will be a very good learning fight for him .

When two guys that you've recently beat, haven't done anything but beat someone else you already beat, and get a victory over someone who doesn't suck that bad...should that really make that person in line for the next title shot...???

That's why it's the International Bum Federation...they should be ashamed of themselves. Their attempt at an appearance of legitimacy by calling this a "tournament," seems to be getting the best of some here. This is a farce.

[box03]

I just wish someone would give oliver a chance best chin in the division never been down in sparring or his 22 year career what former champ could say that as most people know he was a sparring partner with tyson in the late 80s and if he would of beat buster in 1989 he would fought tyson in japan

[BigEars]

When two guys that you've recently beat, haven't done anything but beat someone else you already beat, and get a victory over someone who doesn't suck that bad...should that really make that person in line for the next title shot...???

That's why it's the International Bum Federation...they should be ashamed of themselves. Their attempt at an appearance of legitimacy by calling this a "tournament," seems to be getting the best of some here. This is a farce.

So if you were to make this 'tournament' as you call it , what fighters would you have in it .

The fighters can not be other belt holders or involved in eliminators/is mandatory for another belt .

[Guru_Too_You]

Can someone tell me the super retarded reason the IBF is recycling Byrd and Brock? DO THEY REALLY expect Byrd or Brock to get into the ring again with Wlad? What are they trying to do end both of those guys careers again?

To have some one who has been on mainstream television fight the titleholder.

In two words: Name Recognition.

In a few more words. American Heavy Weights with Name Recognition.

[T.S.]

Byrd and Brock is an eliminater of boxing fans.
Let's see Wlad vs Tony Thompson or Nicolai Valuev

[Brickhaus]

Brock gave Wlad his toughest fight? I must of missed that.

Toughest fight since Peter (which is what he said) - easily. Who else has even won a round on him since then?

As for the original question, why belittle the IBF on this when they went out of their way to set up a tournament with fresh faces rather than having an eliminator between the top 2 contenders (Byrd and Brock)? It's GOOD that they're getting Chambers and Povetkin involved in this. They can't just bypass the top contenders, so they're going out of their way to find ways to avoid Byrd-Klit 3 or Brock-Klit 2. Besides, whoever wins this tournament will seriously deserve a mandatory shot. 3 of the 4 fighters are arguably top 10 HWs now, and if you can beat two top 10 guys, you probably deserve the shot, even if you know the guy's going to get killed. I mean, who exactly would be a better matchup for Wlad who isn't already tied up in something else? Ibragamov, Chagaev, Maskaev and Peter are all unavailable. Unless you want to see Klit fighting Valuev or Lyakhovich, there isn't really another worthy challenger around anyway.

[Stinky gloves]

Its better to put them in the eliminator than let them have immediate rematch with Wlad :-( :blood ...
It could happen, so be happy ;) .

[box03]

Mccall deservers a chance bryd and brock already had there chance and both were knocked and beaten badly by wlad as a fight fan i would rather see him fight a Mccall or a valuev at least theres promotional value there Mccall never been knocked down and can wlad beat a guy thats bigger and stronger than him physically

[Boxfan1]

If Brock wins, I don't expect him to show for a rematch with a man who physically dislodged his body from his skeletal frame the first time they fought. I think Brock will simply step out of the way and let no. 2 fight him.

[Suge Green]

Toughest fight since Peter (which is what he said) - easily. Who else has even won a round on him since then?

As for the original question, why belittle the IBF on this when they went out of their way to set up a tournament with fresh faces rather than having an eliminator between the top 2 contenders (Byrd and Brock)? It's GOOD that they're getting Chambers and Povetkin involved in this. They can't just bypass the top contenders, so they're going out of their way to find ways to avoid Byrd-Klit 3 or Brock-Klit 2. Besides, whoever wins this tournament will seriously deserve a mandatory shot. 3 of the 4 fighters are arguably top 10 HWs now, and if you can beat two top 10 guys, you probably deserve the shot, even if you know the guy's going to get killed. I mean, who exactly would be a better matchup for Wlad who isn't already tied up in something else? Ibragamov, Chagaev, Maskaev and Peter are all unavailable. Unless you want to see Klit fighting Valuev or Lyakhovich, there isn't really another worthy challenger around anyway.

Brock and Byrd have done nothing to cut back in line...and if one of them wins this tourney, he will have only done little.

Valuev and Lyakhovich are more appealing, but Lyakhovich should get a win under his belt first...I guess the tournament would allow him to do so, so he would be a better choice.

[box03]

100 percent agreed suge valuev and oliver McCall should fight to see who gets the winner of sultan and holyfield fight that would be interesting to see

[El Bombasto]

sounds like the purpose of this tournament is to promote a wlad-povetkin title fight

[Suge Green]

100 percent agreed suge valuev and oliver McCall should fight to see who gets the winner of sultan and holyfield fight that would be interesting to see

I'd be interested in watching McCall try to chop down Valuev...but...

I'd still like to see the WBO and WBA unify (and there is still room for both McCall and Valuev) ...so if HOLYfield earns victory against IGGY, I'd like to see him fight Chagaev next.

HOLYfield-Chagaev could be something to see. After two bouts with the real Tyson, Evander faces the "White Tyson," (who was able to best John "QuietMan(Love)" Ruiz, to add another dynamic to the equation) for unification.

Which would allow us to, in a perfect world, send Oliver McCall Sam Peter's way...should he KTFO Oleg. Peter-McCall could be a "sleeper hit (as in the movies)" type of a fight.

While all of this is going on, would it be too much to ask KLIT to make time for Valuev (better not answer that)...??? :yep
KLITschko-Valuev...they should do it in Russia, it would probably be the biggest non-team sports event, in that hemisphere's history...and could still be a huge PPV in the US (save all the WLAD doesn't do PPV bs, please).

Why stop there...??? How about Briggs-Brewster 2 with the winner facing the winner of KLIT-Valuev...???

Rather than demand real exciting matchups though, the so called "expert fans" would rather pass off alphabet politics as justifiable excuses, as to why their favorite "champs" don't seek and demand great fights. Typically these same people are often card carrying KLIT-ites.:smoke

[box03]

I like your fights suge all of them would be exciting and competitive I just fans could vote on who they want to see the champs fight next it would bring more money into boxing when it needs it most its a way of giving fans what they want and leave fighters like brock,bryd,and leaving room for more exciting fights

[Flatlander]

That isn't how boxing works. Wlad could lose his next fight and Byrd and Brock won't end up fighting him. Plus Brock was giving Wlad trouble, technically and skillfully Brock gave Wlad his toughest fight.

Byrd and Brock are top operators who deserve a chance to fight for titles.

I like the idea of two experienced guys facing off against two relatively unproven prospects.

I'd like to see Povetkin beat Byrd and Brock beat Chambers. If Eddie is that fat guy then I can't see him beating Brock.

Povetkin v Brock would be great. I'll put my money on Povetkin.

:good Why not give Brock and Byrd credit for their heart and courage?

[achillesthegreat]

What exactly is your definition of "giving Wlad trouble"? Does that mean taking a few rounds to get KTFO, because I didn't see anything in that fight that suggested Wlad was doing anything unusual besides ad******g, and he did it in 4 rounds.
Wlad was having ALOT of trouble finding his range and timing. He was missing and he was getting tagged a bit. His co-ordination and balance were not on point. He admitted this after the fight. Plus I'm sure he lost a couple of rounds.

[achillesthegreat]

Brock gave Wlad his toughest fight? I must of missed that.
I said technically and skillfully. Why do you never read posts properly?

[geppy]

Yeah, there really is no point! No one would want to see Vlad vs Brock II , or god forbid , Vlad vs Byrd III. Povetkin should win the tournament though , which is the best scenario for HW boxing. It would be a battle of two Olympic Champions.

[Dorfmeister]

I guess it's pretty obvious they (IBF) are marketing newcomers Povetkin and Chambers and bringing back two other protected names in Brock and Byrd... I am not sayin that there is big money under the table or a special channel Moskow-Las Vegas direct, but why would you have Alexander Povetkin fight an eliminator with Chris Byrd? The russian beat Imamu Mayfield on the undercard of Maskaev-Okhello snore-fest in Moskow and Larry Donald ever since, and Chris just made a come-back fight after the IBF title fight in Germany and was even considering going down to Cruiser to compete with the likes of Mormeck and Bell... Same thang with Calvin Brock, two comeback fights ( includes a 8 round decision against one Alex Gonzales), after being crushed by a right hand at mid-stage of the Klitschko fight, he also doesn't bring nothing new just like former middle Olympian Chris... I say the IBF is using unfortunate policies for disregarding the other commission's titlists and forcing Wlad to fight who they want to ( Austin, Brewsta, and so on), they disallowed Wlad to cash in 20 million from Murad Muhammad to face Holy, Goddamn!