Where do you rank Wladimir Klitschko among the all-time great heavyweights?

#12

 

If he retired today? Probably somewhere around 8-12. If he goes on to fight a couple more guys, but then gets knocked out by some random nobody? Probably closer to 13-15.

If he retires with 4-5 more wins, maybe 1-2 more top 3 opponents and unbeaten from hereon? Probably around 5-7.

 

Based on stats he rates highly, but he falls short in other areas.

Impact, for one. Greatness is about more than numbers. You have to have made a genuine impact in your era. To have done something remarkable or special. Make people remember your name.
Wlad is dominant yet is not known outside of boxing circles. He's anonymous. The average man on the street does not even know he exists.

This is not some 126 pound belt-holder we're talking about here...this is the World Heavyweight Champion and yet he's almost invisible to the average man on the street. That's a travesty if you ask me, and he's had his chances on HBO too, but he's blown it every time.

He never beat 'the man'. Traditionally, the torch is passed from one great to another. Wlad never fought Lewis and thus never beat 'the man.'

Pitifully weak opposition. That's not his fault, but I don't think there has been a weaker heavyweight era in history.

Three stoppage/knockout losses to journeyman heavyweights during his prime or close enough to it.

His brother has helped out in cleaning out the division.

These reasons are enough to keep him outside the top 10. So...I dunno, maybe top 15-20. Top 20 is still very respectable.

He's highly effective at what he does and he does come into the ring in great shape. I'll give him credit where it's due. He has also turned a career headed for the dumps right around, although that has also partly been because there has been nobody out there to take him out of his comfort zone.

 

TOp 5

 

Top 5 in wrestling for sure. In boxing you can´t place him into the top 10, cause of his inability to compete war kind of fight.

 

No boxer who turned more people away from the sport than they brought in , will ever be a top 10 ATG.

He'll be lucky to see the hall of fame.

When Calzaghe was active , everybody used say he was a certified ATG and an automatic first ballot hall of famer. Well, this is Joe's year its its looking like he is going to be exculded and Calzaghe was 100x the fighter Wlad is.

When Wlad throwls in the towel people are going to throw a party and 5 years is a long time for him to remain revelant in retirement when he couldn't even be revelant during his reign as HW champ.

 

haha as if some people have said one.

what the **** is wrong with this forum

 

The poll is ****. There is a big gap bewteen 2-5 and there's no such thing as a beyond 50 ATG.

 

I can't think of any other 'all time great' who when beaten had a sibling avenge their losses for them

 

agreed this is the thing, a great doesn't run and hide waiting for a brother to win the fight for them.


nice family principal but poor resume wise.

 

2-5 could mean being better than Louis or Holmes. Thats a huge gap. Being a great isn't about being allotted to some number.

 

no one used to say ti did they?

I was always surprised that a coke addicted wife cheat who patiently waited 10 years in order to beat up and showboat in front of a shot2shitlegend could win the Sports Personality of the year. That was a bad year for British sport clearly.


mind you andy 'boring' murray won it last year. Maybe they should change it from Sports personality to 'bbc sports acheivement' award.

 

Loads of people were touting Joe as a great back in his day. He's definitely a top 10 great British fighter.

 

oh right, you might be right my memory is perhaps deceiving me.

Probably that stupid award that did it.