Some of the heavies Vitali Klitschko missed. Evander Holyfield Ike Ibeabuchi Mike Tyson Jameel McCline John Ruiz Andrew Golota Lamon Brewster Sultan Ibragimov Oleg Maskaev HasimRahman Alex Dimitrenko Alex Povetkin David Tua Nicolai Valuev David Haye Michael Grant Derrick Jefferson Fres Oquendo Monte Barrett :think:think:think Some Wlad never got around to Mike Tyson Evander Holyfield Michael Grant David Tua Fres Oquendo John Ruiz Chris Arreola Siarhei Liakovich Nicolai Valuev Denis Boytsov Robert Helenius Tomas Adamek :think:think:think
Perhaps we take the greatness of the greats for granted a bit. At the time it is a big deal if they fight a #1 contender, but in hindsight they are judged if they miss one.
That's bang on. I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to see these guys take on their #1 or the top two to meet.
Vitali was especially atrocious at it. I think his record for top meeting one of the top two men that weren't him is 1-2. Three times, and a losing record.
Lots of these fights time frames don't particularly make sense and some of these guys aren't even that good I do think Vitali stole Wlads chance to have Adamek Chisora Solis Peter for unification and Arreola Imagine those wins with Wach Pianeta Mormeck and Leapai out
All rated contenders during their years as established top fighters. Check the Ring ratings Evander was no 3 when VK was no7 No 6 when Wk was no1 No 4 when WK was no 1. Fres was no 9 when WK was no 8 & Vk no 1 No 7 when VK was Champ. Monte Barrett was no 6 when Wk was no 8. David Tua. no5 WK no6 no10 WK no 1 no 3 WK no1 VK no 7 no6 V K no 1 WK no 8 Michael Grant no3 WK no7 no8 WK no6 John Ruiz was rated in the top ten for 5 consecutive years 2001-2006. There are plenty more, and there was plenty of time to take these guys on if they wanted to , but you get the idea.
Plenty were beaten by someone else before getting a fight Vitali got the big chance vs Lewis and then retired for 3-4 yrs. he might have fought some one like Holyfield or Tyson or Grant if he didn't have a Lewis fight land in his lap For Wlad I think Vitali took some fighters that would have looked better in his resume than some he wound up fighting