Without a doubt, The Greatest Heavyweight Champ ever

Has anyone defended against such dross?

 

His longetivity is overrated and attributable to the fact that sport science is far more evolved. He's also roided to the gills. It helps.

Outside of that, he's a great champion.

 

He's pretty good.
If you rate highly on longevity he's up there with anyone.

 

It's attributable to a lot of things.
But while Wladimir has been a contender and champion we have seen two or three or four "waves" of contenders come and go, and be left by the wayside. But Wlad is still standing.
He's from the 1996 Olympics class.
Guys like Sam Peter, Sultan Ibragimov and David Haye turned pro 5 or 6 years later than him and they are long gone.
We can think of dozens of others.

 

I think that if some of the guys he beats go on to have great careers then you could make a case. Let's say for example, he beats Fury, and after he retires Fury becomes champion and goes unbeaten for 5-6 years. That sort of thing will burnish his image in hindsight for sure.

 

to half of the names on your list.

Obviously I'm not saying that his longetivity is not impressive. But it's ****ing re****ed when someone makes comparisons with past greats in their late 30s and Wlad in his late 30s.

Ali lost to Leon Spinks at 36, Wlad was much better at 36 than Ali was so he's better is an occuring stance among Klitschko fans. As if Ali was juiced up working with top nutritionists and conditioners, fighting 12-rounders. :-(

 

"Without a Doubt." No. Your thesis is debatable.

Great longevity. Lots of defenses. But, quality of opposition....Not the best of any heavyweight...quality of wins...not the best of any heavyweight.

 

Both Klitschkos are undoubtably the best heavies since Lennox Lewis.


Greatest ever ? No.

 

I'm not a big fan of Wlad to be honest but It's hard to knock what he's done. I wouldn't say he's a great fighter but he's very effective and he's always in good shape. He is vulnerable to big punchers but getting to him seems to be the problem. That's kudos to him by the way. I'm looking forward to the Tyson Fury fight see how he gets on against someone he hasn't got a physical advantage over. That's not to knock him by the way.

 

The fact that he came back to redeem and reinvent himself after suffering three devastating losses to Purity, Brewster and Sanders says a lot about his mental fortitude and resolve. Those losses are more often used against him, but honestly I don't think very many fighters could have pulled themselves back together and achieved what he did. I honestly thought he was finished back in 2004 after the Brewster defeat... Here he is nearly 12 years later and still running the show..

 

I agree with that. You could say that about Lennox Lewis as well.

 

Absolutely.