Lou Savarese Analyzes Today’s Hwt Division

April 16th, 2008

By Scoop Malinowski

Still active former heavyweight contender Lou Savarese learned a few tricks of the trade in battling it out with some of the best of his time. Here’s what expert Lou had to say on today’s heavyweights…including why he’s very impressed with Sultan Ibragimov, Calvin Brock and former gym mate Sergei Liakhovich and why he’s not jumping on the Klitschko, Valuev or Briggs bandwagons:

Calvin Brock: “He’s making a believer out of me. I didn’t think that much of him, seeing him first hand he looked real good against Zuri Lawrence. Zuri takes a good punch. He showed a lot with McCline, going down and coming back. I’m impressed with him.”

James Toney: “So hard to hit. A blown up middleweight he’s giving a lot of guys trouble now. He’s not a big puncher but he has enough to hurt you. He has the ability to beat anybody. Now not being on steroids is gonna be a big difference. James at 213 vs. Holyfield looked better than he did at 175. That kind of defies logic. Very calm in there. I just don’t know of he’s big enough.”

Sergei Liakhovich: “He’s tough. I saw the guy train down in Houston. I actually thought he’d give Brewster a tough fight. Has ability. I don’t know if he’s big enough, but he’s tough. He may be the new wave of the heavyweight division coming in from Eastern Europe. Very quick, very tough like the other guy Ibragimov is tough too.”

Nicolay Valuev: “I think he’s almost like a Primo Carnera. Big strong guy. But I think anyone that can really fight is gonna beat him. Especially a tall guy. I thought Ruiz beat him, I watched that fight.”

Hasim Rahman: “He’s always tough and dangerous. Heavy handed guy. He’s just kind of an enigma. Sometimes he shows up, sometimes he doesn’t.”

Wladimir Klitschko: “I’m not a believer. Yeah, he can punch absolutely. But I don’t think the guy has the biggest heart in the world. He’ll beat a lot of guys, he’s tough, but he’s gotta pick the right guys. Styles make fights.”

Shannon Briggs: “I don’t know. To me he’s the same old fighter he was. He can punch, don’t get me wrong. He’s good for one or two rounds. I fought on the last card he fought – against Dickie Ryan, who shouldn’t have been fighting any more. Shannon looked like he was winded after four rounds. He says he’s different. He’s a lot bigger now. He’s huge now, 265, 270. I don’t know if he’ll be champ.”

Samuel Peter: “Tough guy. If he fights guys that come to him, he’s got a great chin on him. Looks like one of those guys you can just hit him all day, he’s not gonna get hurt. He just has to pick the right fights. Because he could be a heavyweight champion at any time. Because if he hits the guy, they’re gonna go.”

Timur Ibragimov (Mistakens Sultan for cousin Timur): “Tough. He’s real tough. I saw him against Whitaker. Didn’t look in shape but he’s tough. He can punch. He’s quick. Southpaw. Hard guy to fight. Almost reminded me of (former WBO champ Francesco) Damiani like that. Doesn’t look like a real physical Adonis but he’s a real tough guy.”

That was Sultan how about Timur Ibragimov: “You know what, I get them confused. So I don’t know which one I just told you. The one who fought Whitaker I’m impressed with. Very quick, good skills, good rhythm. I mean very, very quick fighter for a heavyweight. Quick hands, punches hard too. He can be champion style-wise. The other Ibragimov I haven’t seen him fight yet.”

Lamon Brewster: “One of the nicest guys I’ve met in the business. Tough guy. Just has to get in shape. Biggest fight of his career – he didn’t look like he was in that great of shape.”