Even so, he did defeat a very near prime Ali, a feat matched only by Frazier. And by the third fight, Norton himself was past his best. Probably not, but as I mentioned, Jimmy has a better win than any of Wlad's and his win over Lyle ranks with just about anything Wlad has done. I agree that many here, coloured by nostalgia, are somewhat delusional about a Holmes/Wlad match-up and I see this as a 50/50 proposition, if we're talking recent Wlad. And I believe that Wlad has clearly passed Norton in terms of overall greatness. I have him at or near top 10 alltime. But I think you're selling Kenny a little short in your characterization. I think current Wlad would beat prime Norton, but not as easily as you might think. It's true Norton had trouble with big punchers (understatement ?), but those were aggressive big punchers. Wlad is a safety first guy and this would very possibly go the distance. Ironically, the Pre-Sanders Wlad might have had a better chance of scoring the early KO against Ken. BTW, I believe (controversially, I know) that Wlad's jab is, all things considered, superior to Holmes' jab.
I just find it incredible that boxing thought, at least here, has gotten to a point where someone like Wlad is considered in the same league as Larry Holmes. Larry is the far greater fighter. Don't look at height or physique now since I know this impresses everyone here. Abaility, HEART, will to win, chin, boxing ability all are way on the side of Holmes. In a tough fight, and I think everyone here at the very least thinks Larry would be a tough opponent, HOLMES would be the one who shines. NOT the fighter who does not have the chin or fighting heart which Wlad has shown on at least 3 occasions.
Head-to-head matchups are not about greatness. I would envision the David Tua that fought Ibeabuchi to win against Wladimir Klitschko. Larry Holmes would make it look easy against that Tua. Some fighters have a set of skills and abilities that works against some, but not against others. Great fighters can win versus more styles. But every fighter can lose to some specialist in a given area.
Holmes is a great all time boxer...VERY smart in there and he had the agility and speed to outbox nearly anyone on his best night. I dont see any pathway that Wlad takes to win. In a tough grueling fight Holmes is going to win it. He has shown that will to win and heart all through his career...Wlad has not. Wlad is straight up with no head movement and vs Holmes he is going to look slow. Holmes catches Wlad at angles with his jab and with it wins the jab battle. Its all downhill from here because sooner or later Holmes is going to catch Wlad with his right hand and we all know what happens when Wlad get hit real good on the chin dont we? I would say after 8 rounds the scoring would be in the range of 6-2, 5-3 for Holmes. Wlad is frustrated, cut when he is hit on the chin with a right hand in the 9th and the fight...she is over.
can't see it either. wlad has one of the best heavyweight jabs ever. tua's face was in love with every jab it ever met. i see it going the same as lewis vs tua, but with even less suspense
I like that big left hook against Wlad. Then again, I like Wlad's jab against Tua's shuffling feet. Might just be another decision win for Wlad, but Peter did get some leather on him, and Tua and him touch ground a lot.
Vlad KO's Norton at his pleasure (no way Norton survive his rockets) and easily beats Tua and may be the 1st to stop him, Lennox let up after letting Tua feel his power and Tua made that silent agreement to survive...Vlad keeps the 4x4 jab in Tua's face combined with some right hands and left hooks IMO too much Wach type battering and Tua gives in or the RSC
It's so hard to say because neither fighter ever fought anyone at each other's level before. Then they are such night and day type fighters. For instance, I like Holmes' overall skill set more but I don't think Wladimir would fight him in a way that would allow Holmes to use his skills.
Sam Peter didn't face the peak version of Wlad. He did in 2010, and look what happened in that fight?
When Larry Holmes was fighting he was even more underrated than Wlad is now. If the internet existed in 1984-1985, holmes would not have been acknowleged as an ATG. I guess the saying is true, fighters are appreciated when they are gone. People can criticise wlad all they want, but really Larry Holmes has done **** all against elite fighters. He went life and death with a green weaver, arguably lost to a green witherspoon, 35 year old Norton won 6-7 rounds against him. Larry's ESB head to head abilities is the biggest myth out there.