Is Wlad top 5 heavyweight of all time

Some debate on Liston's actual age but he would have been around 31-35 years old when he lost to Ali. So had Wlad faced Holyfield or Lewis in 2000-2001 they would have been as old if not older than the Liston that faced a 4 year pro Ali.

Lewis was WBC champion after 4 years as a pro and looking to fight Holyfield and Bowe. Tyson was undisputed champion after 4 years as a pro. Joe Louis was champion after 3 years as a pro. Frazier was a title holder after 3 years as a pro and unified champion soon after 4 years as a pro. Foreman was champion after 3 years being a pro. Bowe was undisputed Champion in his 4th year as a pro.

Wlad could have easily fought Holyfield or Lewis in his 4th, 5th or even 6th year as a pro before losing to Sanders. But his handlers did the smart thing and progressed him slowly. He was not ready to face Holyfield or Lewis back then.

Wlad's legacy will improve after he retires. Unless he dominates for years to come and surpasses Louis' title defences or length of reign I can't see how he breaks into the top 5. He'll struggle to break the top 10, the early losses, lack of a significant win and weak opposition will always hinder his ATG standing.

 

Not for me.

Vitaly is yes. Vitaly clearly showed he was better than Lewis on the night. I don't think it was the best Lewis ever. But also not the best Vitaly ever (but probably closer). All in all Wlad has never had a showing which so clearly showed where he would stand ATG.

Furthermore he lost to mediocre people... and Vitaly would never do this.

Vitaly top 5 ATM yes.

Wlad .... about no. 15 or so.

 

Stupid Pool i dont vote this ****

and No Wlad is never in a Top 10 ATG

Wlad and Vitali TOP 20 ATG YES

 

Well you certainly put more stock in Wlad's comp than I do and the Willard victory maybe the greatest beat down of a former champ that ever took place. Johnson drew the color line after he won, but he fought them all on the way up. Both Johnson and Dempsey fought most of their best comp getting to the title, rather than securring it. But I agree these are the best title holders you're gong to find, I just don't think much of the comp that Wlad's been in the ring with. he's done what he's had to do recently but those losses to Brewster, Sanders and Puritty hurt him career-wise.

 

I was talking about champions you moron. Jesus Christ, I'm not expecting to be having discussions with rocket scientists but this is ridiculous.

 

That's my take on it too. I'm not shitting on Wlad, I think he's a great boxer and H2H he could be in the top 5-7, but career wise he needs to face better comp. Personally I don't see how he cracks the top 5 unless he beats a fighter who shakes up the divisions and appears to be his heir.

 

I think that with a couple more years at the top, it's not going to be difficult to make the case for Wlad over Holmes based on the strength of their reigns. People currently rate Holmes extremely high (sometime as high as #3). If longevity holds that much weight (as it does for the people who rate Holmes so highly), then it'll be tough to justify ranking Wlad a tier lower when he'll have the more accomplished title reign between the two.

 

I disagree somewhat. Holmes gets a lot of credit for his jab, probably the best in the business. Wlad's maybe close to his too, but you still have those losses on Wlad's record to deal with and he seems to lack some kind of fighting spirit, that Holmes, Frazier, Foreman, Lewis, Holyfield Ali, Dempsay had.

That warrior mentality.

 

atsch GEORGE emploded after losing to ALI ? LL could"t recover from a knockdown ? HOLMES couldn't deal with the lightheavweight champ and needed gifts fighting 12 fight novices ? DEMSEY was cold cocked by GUNBOAT SMITH ? Ali lost his title to an 8 fight tomato can ? HOLY strggled with grandfathers and also lost his title to a lightheavyweight ?

 

The fighters you mention were in fact avoiding VLAD . :deal

 

My top (h2h) would be (in random order): Frazier, Foreman, Lewis, Tyson, Ali, Marciano, Louis, Vitaly.

Holmes right after these.

Notice that Holyfield is not in there. Holyfield is imo. the best Cruiserweight ever. He would be the favorite against ANY fighter of his size... including Tyson and Frazier. But against bigger men... Tyson and Frazier had the tools to cope far better.

Wlad is further down the list. Physically he has the same tools a Lewis or Holmes had, but mentally he is lacking. His big brther paved the way for him and made his choices easy. A bit like Emilianenko brother in MMA.. the bi brother is much better... but eventhough Vitaly is far superior to Wlad (mentally in toughness and fighting spirit etc.) Wlad is still very good. This says a lot about Vitaly.

 

:smoke I don't completely agree here but its certainly a well thought out way to make an opinion :good

 

This content is protected

:deal

 

If he wins out the rest of his career, and maybe even ads the WBC title to his collection, he might crack top 10.. But I can't ever see his name in the top 5. He has three very bad losses - two of which during his prime and two of which were never avenged. As another poster mentioned, he has some good wins, but nothing that qualifies as a great win. What wlad has going for him his longevity at the top of his divison, but lacks in other key areas to be a top 5 all time great. Furthermore, the presents of his brother has hurt his legacy in some ways.. When historians and fans reflect on the Klitschos, years from now, they will note that the two of them worked as a team to avenge each other's losses and eliminate threats that were unpalatable to the other. This sounds like kind of an interesting concept and certainly a good display of brotherly love, but doesn't do much for claiming sole greatness in a sport dictated by individual acheivement.

 

no