Bad Left Hook: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: College Football Rankings - BlogPoll Top 25

Vitali Klitschko-Nikolai Valuev talks progressing

Nikolai Valuev (center) could find himself right back in the heavyweight title picture. (Photo by Donald Miralle / Getty Images)

Nikolai Valuev (center) could find himself right back in the heavyweight title picture. (Photo by Donald Miralle / Getty Images)

According to Lifesports.ru, a fight between WBC heavyweight titlist Vitali Klitschko and former WBA titlist Nikolai Valuev could happen in April or May.

This fight was rumored almost the moment after Klitschko defended his title in a hideous fight against Kevin Johnson on December 12. The Valuev side at first said there was nothing to it, but obviously there's plenty to it. With the WBC's absurd mandatory challenger Oleg Maskaev falling by the wayside with a first round TKO loss at the hands of unheralded Nagy Aguilera, it looks like the WBC might try to install either Ray Austin or Odlanier Solis as the next mandatory. That would give Vitali time to take another optional defense, and no matter how mind-bendingly awful a fight between Valuev and Vitali might sound to you or me, it's money in the bank in Germany, Russia, Ukraine, or wherever they hold it. Valuev may never have "gotten over" to any real degree in the United States, but he is a big, big star in Europe still.

The article says that Don King may be a roadblock for the fight, but I doubt it. He's worked with the Klitschkos before without much hitch in anybody's giddy-up, and this is the biggest money fight Valuev can possibly get as his semi-farcical career as a top heavyweight boxer starts winding down.

0 recs  |  Comment 25 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

I imagine HBO would stay far away from this one

No one in the US knew Kevin Johnson either (actually, Valuev might be marginally better known in the States somehow), but that fight was riding the Arreola rating and the “what if Johnson actually does something” American heavyweight upside.

by jcarr71 on Dec 28, 2009 1:05 PM EST reply actions  

This is bad news

I would rather Vitali took on nearly anyone than fought Valuev.

"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey

by Drunken cutman on Dec 28, 2009 1:14 PM EST reply actions  

You’re not even the least bit interested in seeing how Vitali deals with being the smaller man or how Valuev deals with someone actually hitting him? I don’t think Valuev deserves this at all and I’d rather see other options, but frankly a Klit versus the giant is a fascinating styles matchup to me.

by jcarr71 on Dec 28, 2009 1:20 PM EST up reply actions  

Valuev is slow and not very good

his only beneficial factors are his chin and his height. He barely uses his height to his advantage at all, even when he tries too he is too slow to do it properly. His chin just means that I will have to endure him lumbering aorund the ring while getting tagged by vitali whever he feels like it for longer.
I can see your point but and if valuev was any good then this would be very interesting for the reaons you mention. However he is frankyl rubbish and I don’t want to see him at the top of the gam ever again.

"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey

by Drunken cutman on Dec 28, 2009 1:30 PM EST up reply actions  

Consider it done... ;)

Some people are acting like Pacquiao should be expected to have just gone, "Yeah sure, let’s do something I’ve never done before because your dad made some dumbass baseless comment."
(SC, 28/12/09; http://www.badlefthook.com/2009/12/27/1221143/mayweather-pacquiao-update-bob#comments)

by Chaos100 on Dec 28, 2009 2:22 PM EST up reply actions  

I’ve also done quite a bit of premature-postulation over the Xmas period

"I'm not God - but I am something similar", Roberto Duran

by FCF on Dec 28, 2009 3:08 PM EST up reply actions  

Another

high point in HW history.

by Don From Prov on Dec 28, 2009 1:37 PM EST reply actions  

I’m in favor of this only because it might finally get rid of Valuev.

by taco pal on Dec 28, 2009 2:02 PM EST reply actions  

worst heavyweight title fight ever? its got the potential.

"Newspapermen ask dumb questions. They look up at the sun and ask if it is shining."
-Sonny Liston

@mikefareri on twitter.

by sonofapsycho on Dec 28, 2009 2:02 PM EST reply actions  

Wow!

This’ll secure your legacy Vitali, no question

"I'm not God - but I am something similar", Roberto Duran

by FCF on Dec 28, 2009 2:19 PM EST reply actions   1 recs

Oh yeah!! Let's ride that train!! lol

Some people are acting like Pacquiao should be expected to have just gone, "Yeah sure, let’s do something I’ve never done before because your dad made some dumbass baseless comment."
(SC, 28/12/09; http://www.badlefthook.com/2009/12/27/1221143/mayweather-pacquiao-update-bob#comments)

by Chaos100 on Dec 28, 2009 2:22 PM EST up reply actions  

Hehe

You two are quite the double act this evening.

"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey

by Drunken cutman on Dec 28, 2009 4:30 PM EST up reply actions  

Yes! Finally Vitali fights someone with good speed, movement, and determination.

Oh wait, I thought this was the Haye-Klit announcement! My bad. Sure, Valuev deserves a shot. He only just lost to a freaking CRUISERWEIGHT who he outweighed by 110 pounds…. and that’s after losing (forget the judges scores) to a 75 yr old ex-champ in Holyfield. FOR GOD’s SAKE….John L Sullivan is spinning in his grave. Along with Dempsey, Louis, Marciano etc.

by FrankinDallas on Dec 28, 2009 4:52 PM EST reply actions  

In fairness to Vitali, both Haye and Chambers are unavailable, so in their absence one freakshow is just as good as another.

by taco pal on Dec 28, 2009 6:19 PM EST reply actions  

Honestly I don’t know who anyone thinks he’s going to fight. Ray Austin? Ruslan Chagaev?

Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport

by Scott Christ on Dec 28, 2009 6:20 PM EST up reply actions  

Boytsov or Povetkin?

Though they may both be too inexperienced….but they are the class besides the Kbros.

by waldo47 on Dec 29, 2009 1:04 AM EST up reply actions  

Boystov isn't exactly great at this point....

and Povetkin will get one of the K brothers soon enough via a mandatory coming due, and isn’t rushing it.

The only other name you could even throw out there is Solis…. but ….. as SC pointed out there really aren’t a whole lot of options….

by laksskal on Dec 29, 2009 2:01 AM EST up reply actions  

Solis is the only HW who needs a fitness trainer more than cris arreola….

by waldo47 on Dec 29, 2009 2:37 AM EST up reply actions  

Don't MAKE me hit you with a Gabe Brown pic....

(Oh no he did not!!)

(Oh, yes he did!!)

Some people are acting like Pacquiao should be expected to have just gone, "Yeah sure, let’s do something I’ve never done before because your dad made some dumbass baseless comment."
(SC, 28/12/09; http://www.badlefthook.com/2009/12/27/1221143/mayweather-pacquiao-update-bob#comments)

by Chaos100 on Dec 29, 2009 7:22 AM EST up reply actions  

Solis is the only HW Top-level HW who needs a fitness trainer more than cris arreola….

by waldo47 on Dec 29, 2009 10:32 PM EST up reply actions  

Povetkin’s waiting on Wlad. Boytsov isn’t in any rush.

Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport

by Scott Christ on Dec 29, 2009 1:03 PM EST up reply actions  

And frankly, Haye’s had his opportunity to fight Vitali before and decided to go a different route. If I were Vitali or Wladimir, I’d not be all that excited about scheduling a fight with the guy after being left high and dry like they have been.

by VirtualBalboa on Dec 29, 2009 4:55 AM EST up reply actions  

I think the fight will actually be entertaining. Seriously. Valuev will be there to hit and Vitali’s gonna hit him. That’s a far different standard than Gomez or Johnson. Better than Arreola too, he’s big enough to be able to hit back, unlike all the guys who get stuck poleaxed on Vitali’s jab. Mind you, he won’t win, but this is much more likely to be a 3 round thrashing with a big KO than a 12 round hug fest.

by VirtualBalboa on Dec 29, 2009 4:52 AM EST reply actions  

they should promote this fight as an alternative to Ambien

RABLE RABLE Nick Harper! RABLE RABLE RABLE!!! RABLE RABLE Jeff Fisher! RABLE RABLE!!!
http://crytebowcry.ytmnd.com/

by TitanFan2K on Dec 29, 2009 9:08 PM EST reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

"Boxing is a sport at its most brutal, most primitive, and most natural. Two men defending their honor and courage, in a ring surrounded by observers, whose love for the sport is essentially spiritual." -- Thomas Donelson
Start posting on Bad Left Hook »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

SBNation.com Recent Stories

Photo

Charles Woodson Reportedly Gets Two-Year Contract Extension From The Packers

NORTON MA - SEPTEMBER 06: (FILE PHOTO) Tiger Woods tees off on the second hole during the final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston on September 6 2010 in Norton Massachusetts.  It was announced that United States Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin picked Tiger Woods as part of this years team on September 7 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

2010 BMW Championship, Round 1: Leaderboard Updates And Tee Times

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 2: Kevin Durant #5 of the USA Senior Men's National Team brings the ball up court during the game against Tunisia at the 2010 World Championships of Basketball on September 2, 2010 at Abdi Ipekci Arena in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) +1 updates

Team USA Pulls Away From Russia, Advances To FIBA Championships Semifinals

More from SBNation.com >


Managers

45654_463757425922_747385922_6965275_6708624_n_small Scott Christ

Editors

Adamek1_small Brickhaus

Boxing_icon_small Matt Miller

Authors

Metux_sm_small jrok

Hatton_picture_edit2_small Chaos100