Friðfinnur: Ég get tekið undir margt sem þú kemur inná en þó ekki allt, ef þú hefur verið að skoða undanfarnar fréttir varðandi Wlad þá værir þú á öðru máli.

Sjáðu þetta og segðu mér þitt álit!!! þetta er áhugaverð grein sem allir boxáhugamenn ættu að lesa.

20.09 - Well, he’s done it. Chris Byrd is now the mandatory #1 challenger to the IBF heavyweight title. In a brilliant performance against the “Throwin’ Samoan” Byrd showed fans why size and power is not always the way to win fights in the heavyweight division. David Tua, owner of probably the most powerful punch in the
heavyweight division just kept missing and missing and little Chris Byrd flew to a unanimous victory. Good job! What a great victory. We’re all proud of you. Now for the bad news…

Chris Byrd should have never been in the elimination tournament in the first place. Byrd is an honest, gifted fighter who only lacks size and a punch and I don’t have any problems with him fighting for the title. In fact, I like seeing skill in a heavyweight fight as much as I like the power. However, here’s the deal: You should only fight for the title when you earn it. Chris Byrd did not.

Vladimir Klitschko was taken out of the IBF ratings only a few short months ago and now Byrd is the IBF #1 challenger. Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is the same Chris Byrd who won the WBO title in a fight he was losing BADLY to Vitali Klitschko when Vitali could not continue because of a torn rotary cuff. Then, six months later, he losses the WBO title in 12 one-sided rounds to Vladimir Klitschko. Okay Byrd, time to build up your reputation and resume again and re-earn your status as a contender.

Not so, says the IBF.

After Vladimir’s victory the IBF decides that he is no longer worthy of a rating in their organization (probably because of the WBO belt he owns), but the man he beat handily, Byrd, gets a fight against Maurice Harris (how did he get there?) for the USBA heavyweight title. In addition to his victory over Harris, Byrd also ‘earns’ the right to fight David Tua for the IBF #1 mandatory position. Something is rotten in Denmark, and it’s not just the proposed Mike Tyson vs. Brian Nielsen fight.

We’re all proud of you Chris. You did great. But you still don’t deserve a shot at the heavyweight title yet. Beat another name fighter or two and after Vladimir Klitschko gets his turn then, if you’re still winning, you will have earned a shot at the
heavyweight title.

Now Chris Byrd says what he really wants is a rematch with Vladimir Klitschko because he wants the WBO belt back. Quick, someone call an ambulance, I guess Byrd was hit harder in his fight with Tua then we thought. Let me tell you something Chris, it’s much easier to fight a short, robotic, power punching heavyweight then it is to fight a tall, fluid, power punching heavyweight. If you doubt what I’m saying then watch a replay of your fight against Vlad and your fight against Tua. That will keep your mouth shut.

Of course, after what has happened over the last few months in the heavyweight division the above situation is almost below notice. For instance, lets look at Mike Tyson who always provides plenty of news. What a whirlwind he has been through. First he is scheduled to fight David Izon and talks are progressing toward the ultimate showdown between him and Lennox Lewis for early 2002. Then Hasim Rahman, who just didn’t know his place, came out and knocked the crown off of Lewis’ head.

Okay, so Tyson scraps the Izon fight and goes for Rahman. Smart move? No, before this is all over everyone is suing and everyone is in court. After the dust settles Rahman must fight Lewis and Tyson is on the outside looking in. But wait; maybe Hasim will decide not to fight at all. He’s with King now, and you never know what will happen when Don King is at the helm. So Rahman says he won’t fight unless he gets the money he wants and thus begin the rumors of Tyson vs. Lewis in a non-title bout clash. But in steps Rahman, again spoiling everyone’s plans. Rahman and Lewis signed for a return engagement November 17th.

Again, Mike has no one to play with and so he decides to fight Danish sensation “Super” Brian Nielsen. Okay, no one outside of Denmark thinks that Brian is super. Maybe “Mediocre” Brian Nielsen would be a better description. But Nielsen did beat on ancient Larry Holmes, knocked out Tim Whitherspoon and he also got by former cruiserweight champ Orlin Norris (fresh off his one round destruction at the hands of Vitali Klitschko). The only real knock against Nielsen is that there has been controversy surrounding some of his wins (i.e. heavyweight pretender Jeremy Williams) and then there is that whole Dicky Ryan incident.

In his defense, Nielsen was manhandling Ryan until dehydration got the best of him in the later rounds, but, come on, he was in against Dicky Ryan who is hardly a world-beater. A class heavyweight would have had Ryan out in 5 rounds if not sooner. I guess that’s what happens when you challenge a legend. Trying to compare Nielsen’s 49-0 record to the late great Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record was blasphemy and Nielsen paid the price.

So Tyson is set for his trip to Copenhagen until someone cries rape. Now Tyson’s name is all over the papers and maybe he won’t be going to Denmark after all. No, just a minute, the 50-year old woman who made the accusation is not reliable and now Tyson will be free to pursue his fight with Nielsen, that is, until something else happens next week.

Speaking of the Tyson vs. Nielsen fight, British heavyweight prospect Danny Williams will be on the undercard fighting for the vacant WBU heavyweight title. He will be matched against none other then former WBA and WBC heavyweight champion (and Brian Nielsen victim) Tim Whitherspoon. Whitherspoon, 43, has been hot and cold his entire career, but has looked hot the last few fights beating David Bostice and Elicier Castillo, as well as his close points loss to Monte Barrett. Williams has recently destroyed Kali Meehan in 32 seconds and taken out Julius Francis in four rounds of their rematch. I guess as long as there is an organization with a belt anyone can fight for a world title. Perhaps Dicky Ryan and Ross Purritty can come to terms for the UBF heavyweight championship in the near future.

Heard about Lance Whitaker? He has two impressive knockout victories against Robert Davis and Oleg Maskeav and now he has gone ‘Goofi.” That’s right, the giant heavyweight contender has left his promoter, America Presents, for the open arms of Rock Newman. The same Rock Newman who took Riddick Bowe to the heavyweight title and then let him fall apart. The same Rock Newman who attacked Andrew Golota after his first fight with Bowe starting a riot at Madison Square Garden. The same Rock Newman who said he would never manage a fighter again. So now he will be
promoting one.

Of course the story doesn’t stop there. Now America Presents and Newman are engaged in a legal battle similar to the recent clash between Don King and Cedric Kushner. Whitaker says he fulfilled his 5-year contract, but America Presents claim he still owes 28-months and is suing for breach of contract. Is it any wonder, after leaving America Presents for Rock Newman that Lance Whitaker changed from Mount to Goofi?

Don King’s Beijing heavyweight title clash fell through when John Ruiz suffered a neck injury and the show could not go on. It looked as if we would all be saved from this most resent WBA tug-o-war for the heavyweight title, but King promised us all that the show would go on. However, with a venue, but no fight and no money it looked as if Ruiz might leave Holyfield behind and sign to fight Mike Tyson instead with the winner to fight Holyfield in a rubber match on SHOWTIME. In steps HBO who antes up $5 million to air the fight from China. Now the fight has been rescheduled for November 24th with a replay of the heavyweight rematch between Rahman and Lewis to be aired on the same broadcast.

My guess here is that the winner of those two bouts will face off with the ultimate winner getting Tyson, who is the WBC #1 mandatory challenger. Then the champ
has to face WBA #1 mandatory challenger Kirk Johnson and after that the newly crowned IBF #1 mandatory challenger Chris Byrd. Maybe, just maybe, Vladimir Klitschko will get a shot at one of the real titles in late 2003 or early 2004. That is, unless Charles Shufford beats someone in the next year and a half. Then the big three (WBA, WBC, IBF) governing bodies will probably rate him #1. You know how they like rating those fighters who Vlad beats up.

Speaking of Vladimir Klitschko, after his impressive stoppage victory over Charles Shufford, what is next for the future of the division? Well, he’s looking to step back into the ring in November or December and hopefully it will be against a better quality fighter then he faced in Shufford. Looking at the WBO top ten everyone one looks taken for now. #1 Kirk Johnson will be waiting for a shot at the WBA title. #2 Vitali
Klitschko is recovering from surgery, but he wouldn’t fight his brother anyway. #3 Lennox Lewis is set to fight for the WBC/IBF/IBO titles. #4 Chris Byrd will no doubt wait for his shot at the IBF title. #5 Danny Williams will be fighting for the WBU title. #6 Lance Whitaker is in the middle of legal woes and has gone “Goofi.” #7 David Tua will not want a tough fight after his recent loss to Byrd. #8 Frez Oquendo is set to fight for the NABF title. #9 Charles Shufford… is he still around? #10 Larry Donald, who needs him after his loss to Kirk Johnson. Hey Vlad, a rematch with Ross Purritty is starting to look really good.

Oh yeah, Oliver McCall was recently released from prison and is looking to make a comeback. I haven’t seen anyone cry in the ring since his rematch with Lewis. Now that’s entertainment!