Where is Wladimir in the ATG's now?

I have him between #8-13.

Why?

Because he has already dominated for a significant amount of time (more than some ATGs like Marciano, Liston, Frazier, Foreman, Holyfield, Tyson, etc) and has beaten a lot of contenders of his own era. In fact, the number of contenders he has beat is comparable with any other ATG in history, except Ali and Louis.

Wlad's only problem is the quality of opposition. That's why I don't rank him higher. But, in terms of dominance and number of contenders beat, he's competitive with most Top10 or Top15 ATGs.

The head-to-head basis also needs to be considered. I think Wlad would be beat by some ATGs, but would beat other ones. So he's competitive.

I rank Wlad around other great heavyweight like: Marciano, Tyson, Frazier, Foreman, Holyfield.

IMO, he's already clearly higher than Liston, Charles, Walcott, etc.

And he ranks below Holmes, Johnson, Dempsey, etc.

 

I also think that, if you look at heavyweight history, Wlad has to be remembered just because of his dominance.

1892-1897: Corbett
1899-1905: Jeffries
1908-1915: Johnson
1915-1919: Willard
1919-1926: Dempsey
1937-1949: Louis
1952-1956: Marciano
1956-1962: Patterson (Johansson's reign in between)
1964-1979: Ali (Frazier's, Foreman's and Spinks' reign in between)
1979-1985: Holmes
1986-1990: Tyson
1998-2004: Lewis (Rahman's reign in between)
2006-2012: Klitschko

 

A very fair and objective analysis.

 

well who are DEFINITELY in the top 10? most of us know who those are, so no, he isn't a top tenner imo.

 

I would like to add that when Jeffries came out of retirement to fight Johnson, as the "Great White Hope", Jeffries said: "I am going into this fight for the sole purpose of winning the title for whites." So I don't think you give him too many brownie points for his social consciousness.

 

Wlad hasn't put a foot wrong in the last 6 years or so, but I can still think of too many past boxing greats who would beat him and be ranked ahead of him to make the Top 10. Brother Vitali is right up there in my book though.

 

Top 20, probably top 16

 

i really don't have a list but he wouldn't be in my top 10. he's the man in the division right now and is headed for the hall of fame. he'll be held in a higher regard long after he's retired, just like most other fighters.

if vitali beats adamek, i wouldn't mind seeing both brothers share fighter of the year honors for cleaning out the best contenders for their titles.

 

Top 15 seems okay.

I need to see him in a real war, a real test of his ability to give him top 10 rec, i'm just not sold on him in a firefight.

God the bros should fight each other.

 

It's very much about how much you make of his losses. If you have them down as learning experiences that have improved him (which seems to be a pretty fair point) he certainly looks good for top 10. Perhaps even top 5.

 

I can think of atleast a dozen skilled heavyweights of the past who could get past Wlad's superb jab, take some of his straight rights, rough him up and eventually knock him out. Vitali however is a different animal altogether. Knocking him out seems next to impossible and factors like his height, reach & technique would mean that winning against him would require a superhuman effort.

 

I think Wlad's now about the same as Lennox Lewis.
I don't really have an actual list of the all-time heavyweights, but I don't rate Lewis's achievements as high as many here do ... those who have him in the top 5 etc.

I don't think Wlad's opposition is really as bad as made out. I mean, look at some of the past heavyweight greats .... Holmes, Louis, Dempsey, Foreman .... they certainly weren't fighting ATGs every fight, and fought several obscure fighters.

Wlad suffers from being the first dominant champion of the post-American heavyweight era.

 

I think i have him around top15 or just outside... But i cant see anyone making a case for top 10.

 

No ****ing way he's top 10 ATG. He would get my vote for the most boring fighter of all time . He is too cautious .He could have beheaded Haye in that fight but he found it more fitting to fight ultra conservativly against a true joke to the sport.That only tells me one thing and that is Wlad was scared of Haye . He could have walked right through that mime show that Haye was putting on and ended Haye's career in the 5th or 6th round but instead showed the world how boring he is.