Vitali Klitschko files complaint against WBC
WBC heavyweight titleholder Vitali Klitschko has filed a formal complaint in the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the WBC, attempting to stop a second mandatory defense of his title should he beat Juan Carlos Gomez on March 21.
If Klitschko is successful against Gomez, the WBC is currently ordering him to defend four months later against ex-titlist Oleg Maskaev, who has done nothing to be appointed mandatory challenger.
Vitali has sort of made a habit since he officailly decided to come back in late 2007 (which was aborted until late 2008, too) of being a squeaky wheel and complaining about a lot of stuff, but frankly he's right about this one. Fighters usually get a year between mandatory challenges. Vitali wants to take a bigger money fight with David Haye or someone else later in the year if he beats Gomez. He should really have that right. He's fighting his mandatory -- no one else would be ordered to take another one right away, especially in this case where Maskaev is about as questionable a mandatory as they come.
I'm kind of rooting for Vitali in this one.
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Oleg
A lot of people forget how this all came to be. Basically, Maskaev’s mandatory ranking is a result of agreed upon arbitration following Oleg’s lawsuit against the WBC for getting underpaid for the Peter madatory(if I recall correctly, Oleg really did get screwed on that one. I think he may have even gotten a reverse split, like 30/70). So basically Oleg took them to court, and rather than drag out a case that the WBC would surely, eventually lose, he decided to pass up the money he was due for one last shot at the championship.
To tell you the truth, I actually kind of respect Oleg for that. And let’s not forget that back in the amateurs, Oleg KO’ed Vitali in the first round. There could be the end of a great boxing story in this one. I think am rooting for Oleg.
"I want to see ocean. I want to see black people. I want to see palms." - Wladimir Klitschko
by jrok on Feb 26, 2009 12:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I didn't realize that was how he became the mandatory.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on Feb 26, 2009 1:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I had actually not heard that. Then again Oleg and his management tried to duck out of the Peter mandatory forever. Though I agree Oleg deserves some respect for this, I don’t see how “punishing” Vitali is what makes up for them screwing Maskaev, though.
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by SC on Feb 26, 2009 7:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well
I know what you mean, but I just can’t cry a river of tears for the recently re-throned “champion emeritus.” The man emerges from a four year layoff, and instantly gets a title fight. Okay, I have no problem with that. But is making him do Gomez and Maskaev really that much of a crime?
I know that Oleg supposedly isn’t in Vitali’s class and all that, but the fact remains that Oleg is an active heavyweights who has shown he can literally change flip a fight upside down with one punch. And although he isn’t elite really, he is also the sort of guy who seems to just have some fighters’ number (see Hasim Rachman) and will beat them nine times. Besides, Vitali hasn’t fought him yet… unless you count in the amateurs when Oleg knocked him out in the first round. He looked horrible in the Peter fight, but I will always give Maskaev at least a puncher’s chance until the day he retires.
"I want to see ocean. I want to see black people. I want to see palms." - Wladimir Klitschko
by jrok on Feb 26, 2009 7:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
...Before someone calls me on it
when I say “active” I mean as in “not retired.” :)
"I want to see ocean. I want to see black people. I want to see palms." - Wladimir Klitschko
by jrok on Feb 26, 2009 7:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not crying any tears. I just think he’s fundamentally correct that he should be allowed to take a money fight between two mandatories that aren’t big fights. No one else is forced into two straight mandatories, why should Vitali be?
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by SC on Feb 26, 2009 9:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

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