Russian Champions

Gottlander · 03-12-2007, 11:29 AM

Alright, first off, I don't follow boxing. Though something caught my interest recently, and that is that the champions seem to be all Russian. The last time I really looked all the champions were American, and they were almost always black. Did something occur in Russia for this massive shift to take place?

sushijin · 03-12-2007, 12:18 PM

No.... Rather, something happened in America.... We don't have the talented pool of fighters we once had. None of the Russians are very good, IMO. Maskaev is tough, but he's rather limited... Wlad is great offensively, but has glaring issues that will surface again soon enough. Valuev should have lost to John Ruiz and Larry Donald. Need I say more? The only guy who would be even top 10 in a good HW division would be Wlad....

ssx · 03-12-2007, 04:24 PM

I wouldn't rate Wlad that bad. He has everything going for him except an average chin and some stamina issues on occasion, he is an Olympic gold medalist and a very, very good fighter. I think he is actually a level above all the other heavies actually. He also has a very impressive streak going with wins over Sam Peter and KO's of Byrd and Brock (I don't consider the Austin fight impressive, but that isn't Wlad's fault). Wlad was beating the horseshit out of Brewster, but ran out of gas, and don't kid yourself, I don't know if any other heavy including Peter and Toney could have taken the beating Brewster did and then come back. Getting KO'ed by Corrie Sanders who has lead in his fists by pulling straight back and getting hit flush on the chin multiple times does not mean you have a glass chin. He has glaring weaknesses for sure, but in all reality which heavies would you favor over Wlad in a fight? IMO none. I'd give Brewster (Brewster is my favorite heavy) and Peter a chance because of their chins and punch, and Briggs a small chance to land a bomb but other than that Wlad would dominate.

Kyryllo · 03-12-2007, 04:37 PM

Well you should look again, because there is only ONE russian world champion in entire professional boxing.

screaminleeman · 03-12-2007, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gottlander

Alright, first off, I don't follow boxing. Though something caught my interest recently, and that is that the champions seem to be all Russian. The last time I really looked all the champions were American, and they were almost always black. Did something occur in Russia for this massive shift to take place?

There were no professional sports in the Soviet Union. When the Soviet republics broke away, the freedom allowed for Professional sports in each new country including Russia. IMO if the Soviet Union would have had Pro's in Boxing then you would have seen this domination much earlier.

Ancient Warrior · 03-12-2007, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by screaminleeman

There were no professional sports in the Soviet Union. When the Soviet republics broke away, the freedom allowed for Professional sports in each new country including Russia. IMO if the Soviet Union would have had Pro's in Boxing then you would have seen this domination much earlier.

Interesting point.

Kid McCoy · 03-12-2007, 07:50 PM

Simple:

http://www.americanheritage.com/even...m-russia.shtml

Sharkey · 03-12-2007, 07:55 PM

Out of my own curiousity...

Besides the likes of Kid Kaplan (the first Russian born champ, I believe), Benny Bass, and Newsboy Brown, was there any other prominant Russian-born fighters in the pro game before the Iron Curtain went up?

*scratches head*

ATTILA the HUN · 03-13-2007, 11:47 AM

I believe there are more Ukrainian's out there than Russians.

glebster_inc · 03-13-2007, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATTILA the HUN

I believe there are more Ukrainian's out there than Russians.

Ukraine is 90% Russians.