So Vitali Klitschko has retired. First thoughts on his historical ranking and legacy?

#7 in my book.

MR.BILL

 

Depends how you define ATG.

I would say yes, based on ranking him inside the top 20.

 

He did not "run" from Byrd. He had shoulder surgery. Since Byrd was voluntary defense for Vitali, Universum had an option on Byrd which was going to expire unless the fight was made. Given the uncertainty in Vitali's condition Byrd-Wlad was made instead. Once Byrd was free from his obligations he signed with DK and that killed the possibility of the rematch.

 

There was soething in German media recently where he said he wants to retire 2016.

 

Partly because they were hometown judges? Byrd won more than 2 rounds on any sensible scorecard, he arguably won 4-5 rounds

 

Vitali fought Hoffman 1 month after Wlad-Byrd, I think he could have fought Byrd but wanted an easier comeback fight

 

Well you said Jack Johnson makes your **** boil, so I guess this means in time you'll defend Vitali

 

To quote comming to Amercia, Joe Louis was 75 years old!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAXxyBUL-KE[/ame]

 

Fighting with one good arm, and taking the match on less than 2 weeks notice, Vitlai was in the lead. Other greats at heavyweight, ( you can pick them ) lost more rounds to far lesser competition in every case I can think of.


Vitali's size, skills, keen judge of distance, defensive reflexes, power, and punch out put made him extremely difficult to out point, and that would not change much. Even Lewis, who never lost a decision was down 4-2 on all cards.

 

To come out of the Soviet boxing system, then fight out of a foreign country was incredible. And then the guy works in his off time to get an advanced degree from the University of Kiev, while developing as a pro. Gets the degree and wins the WBO title in the other guy's backyard and makes a few defenses. gets to 28-0 w/ 28 ko's.

If the story ended there, it would have been incredible. From kickboxing champion at 18 to Soviet army duty to tackling the sport of boxing. Nobody's footsteps to follow and he's one of those rare guys that makes history & doesn't follow it.

What a journey.

 

Good luck to him. I see him as the best heavy in the post Lennox Lewis era. Even more so than Wladimir. I'd rate him somewhere in the bottom part of a top 30 list ATG.

 

Byrd was taking the fight on 2weeks notice, Vitali had a fight with Rudduck in place. Ofcourse you knew that and chose to spin facts, just like pretending Vitali was way in the lead when Byrd had been walking him down from the 5th onwards

 

Get a new book.

 

top 25 probably but the charr fight and the fight with haye not happening hurt him a bit his opponents were of a low calibre (not all his fault) he lost to the only top heavyweight calibre fighter he faced (Lewis). Now he has retired leaving a challenger he spent years telling us he would knock-out but in the end never fought i hope his fans will stop crying about the fact Lewis did not rematch him

 

No I won't, and I only put the record straight when" someone :hey " tells palpable lies about Johnson.

Johnson is boring to watch, and so are the Klits. I like entertaining, exciting heavyweights,such as Dempsey, Louis, Marciano,,Ali, Holmes, Tyson, Holyfield.
Not robotic, safety- first, Willard clones.

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