I Told You So

Maple Leaf

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WEEKS BEFORE THE FIGHT I WROTE: (April 16 under Valuev This Saturday)

I wouldn't be nervous about that fight, actually it should be very entertaining. Ibragimov can take a punch and he is very fast and very busy. When I say he's fast, he's fast in multiple combinations and he doesn't paw. Briggs is fast but for only 2-3 punches and then he tires. Briggs also is lethargic and slow on his feet and throws very few punches per round.

Ibragimov is well coached. Expect him to step forward and to his right as Briggs throws a jab and double right hook him or to move his head to the right and simultaneously throw his straight left inside of Briggs' straight right. Either way with a guy like Briggs who throws so few punches and, mostly 1-1's or 1-2's, Ibragimov has an excellent chance to wear down Briggs by being busier. Also, Ibragimov understands the importance of distance. He knows that in order to win he must get inside and stay inside as Briggs cannot match his inside skill and work rate and Briggs is actually not very dangerous in close as he needs more distance in order to punch hard with 1 exception -the uppercut. Briggs' uppercut will have power and Ibragimov needs to keep his left hand high and tight when not in use which is something he sometimes forgets to do.

Lyakovitch out-boxed Briggs for 12 rounds in their last fight. Lyakovitch lost because he kept throwing his lead right to the body while exposing his chin. Briggs tried to counter with straight rights all night and kept missing until those fatefull last seconds when he was able to finally land one. Briggs is very easy to hit and Ibragimaov knows it and that explains why he is so confident to fight him. I love a guy who fights with confidence and believes in himself and who couldn't give a rats ass as to what others think of him.

Overall I see Ibragimov winning a unanimous decision.





TODAY I WRITE:

This was an easy fight to pick. I'm not bragging, I'm just stating the obvious. Vegas had Ibragimov a 2:1 favourite. Briggs came in at 273! How could he possibly throw and move at that weight? The best part is knowing that many of those NFL stiffs were able to watch their man die in the arena. Now that is 4 for 4 again, I like that. Where are the trolls that feel like dropping their nuts this week?Edited by: Maple Leaf
 

Hockaday

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My Mom used to say "if you don't toot your own horn, no one else will for you."

You nailed it.
 

Liverlips

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Just follow this sage advice when it comes to boxing and the combat sports: Never bet on the black guy.
 

Poacher

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Well done Maple Leaf. And well done Sultan! Yes, 4 for 4 again.

2007-06-03_101154_sultan.jpg
 

Kaptain

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I don't believe sportscenter covered this at all. Anybody know for sure?Edited by: Kaptain Poop
 

JD074

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I would turn it to ESPNews every now and then to see if they would at least mention who won on the bottom of the screen. Nothing. A Heavyweight championship fight and they can't bother to type out a few words. Unbelievable.
 

WHITE NOISE

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Yes Maple Leaf, you got it right. However, most of us also knew Sultan would win. I actually thought Sultan would knock Sham-man out after out boxing him for 6-8 rounds. But a win on points is a win and if there is a rematch, Sultan will go for the KO, as he was dissapointed in not doing more damage.
 

Solomon Kane

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I was furiously checking for references/coverage in the Sports Channels last night. I don't think I saw a mention until this morning at 9 am--and even then it was only a moving line.

But they'll have to at lest mention it on the Monday ESPN shows. Take that Stephen "Briggs brought respect back to the heavyweight division" Smith!

Too bad Sultan didn't knock him out--watch ESPN use this as an excuse to talk about the "weak" division.
 

Maple Leaf

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Thank you to ALL for the comments. It was interesting to follow the chatter on other sites prior to the fight as many, many posters from the U.S. thought Briggs would knock out Ibragimov based on Briggs' appearance and apparently better skill... I would say Briggs likes to emphasize weight training as significant part of his fight preparation whereas Ibragimov emphasizes speed, skill, conditioning, and timing. Briggs had almost a year to prepare for this fight and yet he had the gaul to suggest he was illprepared because of insufficient time to overcome pneumonia. What a crock.

I had a Russian boxing coach years ago tell me to not lift weights at all but rather to concentrate on callisthenics instead. Judging by the Russian international boxing success it would appear they know what they are talking about.

One thing Ibrabimov could work more on is landing shorter, cleaner, power shots. He did some lunging and looping in this fight and his disappointment in not knocking out Briggs is the result of not landing power combinations. He is small for a heavy so the next fight he had better learn to close the distance more and punch no higher than his own chin. But fair play to him just the same.


Edited by: Maple Leaf
 
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