If Vitali beats Rahman?

[srs2000]

Dont think lennox run from the diviosn at all, he took on everyone he could, n why would he wanna stick around n make more money just cus the division aint strong, im sure hes got enoough cash, and is wise enough to know he aint gettin younger, he done it proved it n has now left it for a new generation

[Marjoh]

Here we go again...white people accusing everyone else of being rascist. Give me a break. First of all, people always like fighters that are from their home countries more than people from other places. Second of all, race has nothing to with it.

Americans like American fighters. Russians like Russian fighters. It makes sense. If black Americans were basing this purely of race, why isn't everyone a huge Danny Williams fan?

Yeah, last time I check a lot of American heavy boxing greats are blacks. Do not pay any attention to DK's words. Even in this era, a lot of the favorite boxer are non-white and in some cases non-American at all (all division).

I think one of the reason V.Vlitch is not as respected here in the US is not becuase he's not as respected as people think, it's just people don't know him very well (compare to other heavies). Where was he before the Lewis fight anyway?

[Toller]

If he does what LL could not do ,and KO him in the first ever meeting,then should be no doubt left.

So we should respect Ruiz as the best because he beat Rahman first time and Lewis couldn't?

This will do nothing (or very little) to prove Klitschko is the best. Rahman has already lost to Ruiz, not by KO but that's just a question of styles. Rahman isn't a champ, hasn't beaten any champs recently and is just a good contender. But it should be a good competitive fight and a convincing win for Klitschko would definitely add to his reputation.

You can argue about who is the best all day (Klitschko poor opposition, Ruiz cheats/boring, Byrd lost to Fres & Golota?), but the only way he can PROVE he's the best is to fight the other champs, Byrd & Ruiz. Then to maintain that position he'd have to face the top contenders.

[ejk22]

What I would like to see is Ruiz fight someone with a legit referee, reffing the fight. Ruiz will lose and lose badly like he did against Jones.

[kevvy1979]

[QUOTE=thesiberianexpress]So we should respect Ruiz as the best because he beat Rahman first time and Lewis couldn't?

This will do nothing (or very little) to prove Klitschko is the best. Rahman has already lost to Ruiz, not by KO but that's just a question of styles. Rahman isn't a champ, hasn't beaten any champs recently and is just a good contender. But it should be a good competitive fight and a convincing win for Klitschko would definitely add to his reputation.

Rahman lost to Ruiz on the scorecards,not by Ko.As I was pointing out earlier,if VK knocks him out and leaves it not to the judges ,he would of done what Ruiz(IBF champ) or Lewis(formal WBC champ) could not do.Is the fasion of how the win comes about,that will start to erase the doubts.

[Mr. Ryan]

If Vitali just completely blows Byrd out the water, we're going to hear alot of bull****. Things like:
"Oh, Byrd just got old in that fight."
"Byrd was out of shape."
"Did you see those straight left hands? Byrd easily won the fight."
A hater is a hater, thats all I can say.

[Toller]

A hater is a hater, thats all I can say.

Do you think beating Rahman (in impressive fashion) proves Vitali is the best?

Rahman lost to Ruiz on the scorecards,not by Ko

Yes that is what I said. (But remember, styles make fights)

And like I said, with the division as it is, there will always be OPINIONS on who is the best. I agree, Vitali LOOKS the most impressive heavyweight out their, but until the division is unified (or things change with other fighters) that is NOT PROVEN.

[Mr. Ryan]

Do you think beating Rahman (in impressive fashion) proves Vitali is the best?

I think it will solidify his place as the best. I think what hes done the last few years already made him the best heavyweight in the world. Chris Byrd, give me a ****ing break here.

[Pno]

one thing that sorta separates VK from the other top HW champs is that VK WANTS to fight great champions like Tyson and LL. His goal was to fight these guys ever since he was into boxing. If you look at some of the other champs.. I don't imagine Byrd, Ruiz, or Brewster wanting to get in the ring with Tyson or LL...

that's obviously not a measured trait, but it does show he's not afraid and he does mean business.

[Torino]

On the issue of race, I'm convinced that it does play a part in Vitali's approval rating.

Some fans don't like him because he's white and some don't like him because he's Ukrainian. Whether it's skin color, nationality, religion or whatever, IMO he is being discriminated against. And that's ok because he's still the WBC champ no matter what people think.

As far as his boxing skills, IMO I don't see how anyone can deny his right to be called champion. He has around a 93% ko ratio. Only one man out of Vitali's wins has ended the fight on his feet. He's never been knocked down. Nor has he ever been behind on the score cards at the end of any of his fights, including his two losses.

Having said that, I would still like to see him rematch Byrd and Lewis.

IMO, If you don't like him, it's probably because he's either beaten your favorite boxer or it has nothing to do with boxing at all.