I believe that Haye is a very smart fighter, he is very fast (i would say very close to Ali's speed). he has good power and good counter punching/combo ability. I don't know who would win H2H (ali has a better resume that is for sure) but it will be a close fight. Haye pisses me off because of his big mouth, but undeniably he has tallent, speed, reflexes and power. his cruiserweight resume is also top notch... and most people forget that back in the day ali was fighting mostly cruiserweights ( heavyweights by the definition of the division... but cruiserweights in weight).
Ali Louis Lewis/Foreman Marciano/Holmes Liston Tyson Frazier Wlad However, my list only goes back to Louis' days, as I believe differences in the sport's earlier days make comparisons difficult. If I were to go back another thirty years or so, Dempsey, Johnson and maybe one or two others would need consideration. That's why I have him knocking on the door of the top 10. BTW, I'm a fan of both K brothers and usually find myself answering the Klitschko haters and other assorted trolls. (see the numbers for options 3 and 4)
:smoke Take a look at the defences who they where against plus the lenth of the title stints along with the total domination of oponents ? GEORGE defended twice against JOE KING ROMAN and KENNY I get starched by every hard puncher I face NORTON thats it ? ( The second go round was more of a circus act ) Did you actually look at what JOE did outside of having great matches with ALI ? LISTON won the title of a 180 pounder and defended it once against the same guy . ALI first go round was against of over the hill cruisers ? his second go round he struggled with every live fighter he faced . And they werent great fighters . LARRY the same as ALI . Arguably should have lost the title twice to 2 15 fight novices and then did lose it to a light heavyweight . And so on and so forth . VLAD has dominated and cleaned out the top ten over the last 8 years . And was because he was that good not because the chalengers were that weak . :deal
If you say so, Boss. The reason I put a little effort into the response was that I took you for a serious poster. Have a nice day.
klitschkos are great. i think they will be much more appreciated when theyre retired...not only do they win the fights but they completely dominate their opposition o the point that people are convinced that the only reasonable explanation is that all their opponents are weak...The best fighters in the world are made to look leagues below them in every fight...i dont thin a 200 pound ali or 199 pound marciano would dominate wither klitschko or even have an easy fight with them...i think a prime vitali beats them both...id bet on either klitschko to beat all ATGS, besides tyson, lewis or louis
If you look at dominance in his era, he's 4th at worst, right? Behind Louis, Holmes, somebody someone will insist on, then Wladimr. If you look at head to head, he's 5th at worst, right? I really don't put any credence into anyone who is shorter than 6' and/or less than 220 lbs in there prime having any serious chance. I know people are in wild disagreement there, but I just cant picture any tiny heavyweight/Cruiser weight beating the guy. So yeah, either way, both ways, top 5 for me/
i consider lennox lewis the number 1 atg of all time...and everyone saw how he went life and death with vitali...for people to think either of the klitschkos would be nothing in previous eras is absurd
There's been another guy around the division at the same time, just as dominant - and his losses weren't as devastating, and were against better fighters. If you remove Byrd, then only a TKO loss to Lennox Lewis, is better than being stopped by Purrity, Sanders and Brewster. It's not even sure Wlad was the best in his family.
4-5 years is a hell of a long time though. Wlad is 35 or 36 now...I don't think he'll be dominant for another 4-5 years, personally.
I pretty much agree with that. Perspectives may change over time, especially with hindsight. I think that in 10 years, even if he retired now, there will be quite a few lists out there with him in the top 10. I still have a hard time putting him in such an elite bracket, but at the same time I have to admit that although he just does not excite me at all, he's a pretty good fighter.
Among the best five HW fighters that ever fought? Sounds a little rich for Wlad, no matter what criteria one uses for ranking fighters. If he doesn't get knocked out by another bum and retires undefeated from hereon I think he can land in the 5-15 range.
Wlad is in the 14-17 range for me, probably... Top ten is unacceptable to say. Louis, Ali, Foreman, Johnson, Dempsey, Marciano, Holmes, Jeffries, Lennox, Frazier- there is no argument that he compares with these 10, straight up.
Top 20, maybe begrudgingly top 15. Not being an Undisputed Champion, being knocked out 3 times and not avenging them and having a very weak era will keep him out of the top ten.