Langford v Wlad?

Mcvey,

I don't even think your post warrants a response. Povetkin is a far greater fighter than the 3 you mentioned. Povetkin is the last hurdle for Wlad to beat in order to establish himself as cleaning out the 2008-2013 heavyweight era. Povetkin, Haye, Ibragimov, Chagaev were the best fighters of that era outside of Wlad/Vitali. Wlad will have beaten all of them.


McGrain,

Valuev ducked Wladimir in 2009, which is why Wlad took on Chagaev instead. It's not Wlad's fault Valuev wouldn't fight him. Besides, Wlad destroyed the man who thoroughly beat Valuev(Chagaev.

 

Valuev was ofcourse a paper champ after being awarded Chagaev's belt who Wlad beat. He twice beat Byrd who beat Vitali, ofcourse reasonable not to fight your brother. Dimitrenko was dominated by Chambers who he beat. He beat Peter before Peter beat Maskeev. If you didn't know the highly qualified Povetkin avoided Wlad you'd consider it a big duck but ofcourse it's the opposite.

Indeed he didn't fight everyone, so he didn't clear house, but not many did by this standard, not even Marciano or Hagler for instance.

The only constant in the division is Vitali and it's more than reasonable not to want to have a fight with your brother. Although I'm sure some would hold a unification against a man's mother against him if she was the other belt holder in the division.

 

Yes Atlas had a big say if not total control in opposition for Povetkin.

 

Nobody is saying he should be obliged to fight his brother. Unfortunate for Wlad, but its a cold hard fact that he never did/never will face the long standing 2nd best heavyweight of his era.

 

Ridiculous. Not Counting Vitali, Povetkin and Haye have been the clear cut top 2 challengers of the Klitscko Era. Wlad fought BOTH of them. After those 2, Chagaev, Ibragimov have been the next best. Wlad easily beat both of them. Wlad has cleaned out his era not including Vitali(which clearly given the circumstances can be excused)


Wlad has cleaned his era as well as anyone in history, he has always at some point fought the best, most highly ranked heavyweights in the division

 

Most here agreed Wlad developed a lineal chain by unifying with Chagaev and Ibragimov. He didn't get a chance to face the reigning champion. Being linear is ofcourse part fan constructed, it isn't the be all and end all.

Avoiding a top competitor is one thing, not facing your brother while taking on all comers is another. History will give Wlad his due I feel acknowledging his dominance, resume and reign.

I'm not a particular fan of Wlad but I have to give him his due both with legacy and stating how hard to beat he really is.

 

Forget Dempsey, no one really penalizes Larry Holmes much for the several top fighters of his era he didn't face.

 

The following have achieved similar amounts:

Brewster (Beat Wlad)
Ibragimov (WBO)
Toney
Chambers

What about number 1s or number 1 contenders? From what I remember it went something like:

Lennox
Vitali (rightly or wrongly)
Byrd
Wlad followed by the number 2s/3s:

06: Maskeev/Peter
07eter/Maskeev
08: Vitali/Chagaev
09: Vitali/Povetkin
10: Vitali/Haye
11: Vitali/Povetkin
12: Vitali/Povetkin

So he will have beat all of these Vitali and Maskeev aside assuming he beats Povetkin. Maskeev didn't really achieve more than Ibragimov who's WBO title is underrated in these ratings a little in these ratings I feel.