German (European) perspective on AA and Valuev

[Trenaman]

Too many of the threads on super 6 and haye are based on personality and having seen 2 or 3 fights on You Tube. I have seen a lot of Froch, Haye and Kessler to an extent but not much of AA and Valuev.

What is the European (non UK) view on these guys, in particular in relation to the super six and against Haye respectively?

Can someone who has seen these fighters through most of their fights give a real overview of their chances.

In UK Haye is the 4/7 favourite, is Haye also the favourite in the German markets?

Cheers :good

[Rick G]

Very easy: Universum, Sauerland, and K2 have contracts with big TV stations and bring high level championship fights live on free TV almost every Saturday! Of course they bring their fights with their boxers, and don't show fights from US / UK / world. So the TV coverage even for boxers like Pacman, DLH, Froch, Pavlik, etc. is very limited.

Froch and Haye have never been shown live on TV. Haye is only known for challenging the Klitschkos who are German heroes. They never broadcasted a fight at CW.
Froch is completely unknown to the casual fan in Germany.

Kessler of course has a good reputation here b/c he defeated WBA title challenger Danilo Häussler and WBC champion Markus Beyer.

AA is the blueprint for the "German dream": An immigrant from Armenia works hard and finally becomes the middleweight champion (the average fan never has watched Pavlik on TV!). He is ultra-marketable b/c of his KO-style! He has an excellent defense and definitely can take a punch. Very durable and has "a heart so big there is no place for the lung" (refers to both - his excellent fitness level and his unbreakable will to win). Find good quality vids on the Sauerland homepage, e.g. the brutal stoppage wins vs. top-MW Gevor, or vs. Ayala, Demers, Miranda!
For his last fights AA had major troubles to make the weight. He looked half starved at weigh-in. At SM he will be much stronger. His camp reported that he has solid heavyweight-level punching power. As soon as he connects with a power shot it's game over for his opponent. They better have a stretcher ready, and don't forget to book a bed in hospital in advance...

The Germans have adopted Valuev as well b/c besides being a fair and successful sportsman, he is a humble, intelligent, a family man, and overall a very likeable human being. All fights since 2004 have been shown live on free TV, so he is a household name in Germany!
Valuev pro: Very good defense, best chin in HW today, moves well for his size, excellent stamina, world-class jab, many years of experience;
Con: Zero killer instinct, only average punching power, lacks accurateness with his shots

[PaddyD1983]

Nice analysis Rick G and interesting to read a perspective from non-UK based fans.

Couple of things;

Valuev - do you really rate his jab as world class? I'm not sure given an over the hill Holyfield managed to slip inside a few times. I think his jab is more 'active' if you like as in he tends to use it more than most heavies but I'm not sure it's up there with either of the Klit's at the moment.

Abraham - I like watching AA, slow starter but always comes to fight. My question is, even if his power travels up the weights how do you think he will cope with the bigger punchers at SMW. Miranda is probably the hardest puncher he's faced so far, but at SMW Miranda doesnt have much pop. Do you think AA's game will be changed at all by bigger punchers (specifically Froch and Kessler, not Taylor)?

[Rick G]

My prediction:
... As soon as he connects with a power shot it's game over for his opponent. They better have a stretcher ready, and don't forget to book a bed in hospital in advance...
The actual result:
Taylor KOed flat down & went to hospital after. A cerebral hemorrhage must not be taken lightly.

Next fight is vs. Dirrell. I have my concerns whether it is a good idea to feed that young man to AA. AA is a KO artist. He knows exactly how to accurately concentrate speed and mass to a small target (usually the chin). Because of his size he has a physical advantage regarding punching power over larger opponents (at same weight of course)!
Better replace Dirrell with a more durable, experienced veteran, e.g. Allan Green, or Librado Andrade.

[Farmboxer]

Abraham will knock Dirrell out. Falling on canvas, holding, running and complain will not help Dirrell.

Read that Valoeuv is angry, if he is he will knock Haye out, no problem.

[Rick G]

Well, it is not so easy to make Valuev angry... but if Haye really touched him that's definitely good news. Haye deserves a beating for his classless behaviour.

[Odo]

Nice analysis Rick G and interesting to read a perspective from non-UK based fans.

Couple of things;

Valuev - do you really rate his jab as world class? I'm not sure given an over the hill Holyfield managed to slip inside a few times. I think his jab is more 'active' if you like as in he tends to use it more than most heavies but I'm not sure it's up there with either of the Klit's at the moment.

Abraham - I like watching AA, slow starter but always comes to fight. My question is, even if his power travels up the weights how do you think he will cope with the bigger punchers at SMW. Miranda is probably the hardest puncher he's faced so far, but at SMW Miranda doesnt have much pop. Do you think AA's game will be changed at all by bigger punchers (specifically Froch and Kessler, not Taylor)?

Good questions,paddy! It is still a question mark how AA fares against bigger boys who can bang and take a good punch! I for one think that he will successfully pass the test,but the jury is still out on him,so to speak.

Valuev's jab is good.No doubt about that! But I also doubt that it plays in Wlad's league!