Should Wlad have retired at 38?

The thing is that today fighters are able to fight for a bit longer + Wlad had a very safe style, barely getting hit. Sure, having so many fights and training camps has an effect and he certainly wasn't in his prime but he wasn't shot like most HWs would be at his age in the past.

 

I first noticed signs of decline in the fight with Pianeta so retirement should have been an option for a while now but like most champions they don't know when to retire as shown by his recent 5 fight deal with RTL which would have likely seen him fight to the end of 2017 or likely beyond.

With hindsight the way he struggled with Jennings should have been a clear warning sign but that's the thing about hindsight everyone is wiser after the fact.

Even if he beats Fury in a rematch, which I doubt he will do, retirement should be a serious option. Maybe he could continue on against the right opponents but with the young lions like AJ and Parker on the rise it would be fool hardy to stick around, he doesn't need the money, it would be wiser to retire soon after Fury.

 

Stop talking rubbish. You gave Fury 0% chance to win the fight

 

He 'struggled' (lost 2 rounds) against Jennings because the ref wasn't in the pocket and putting up with his flagrant fouling. Wlad is used to fighting in Europe with everything his own way.

 

I explained my reasoning to you. Wlad lived a life and boxed safely enough to allow him to go on longer than most fighters.

There's no point in retiring if you're still beating your competition easily and no one is presenting you with a challenge, however, now that he's been beat, it's something to think about for sure and if I was him I'd retire after the rematch win or lose.

 

Personally I had Jennings winning 5 rounds, Wlad's jab was non existent in the fight as well. I think he struggled far more than just losing 2 rounds as one official scored it, the other 2 judges scorecards where they gave Jennings 4 rounds were a more accurate reflection of the fight.

Wlad hasn't lost that many rounds since he was dropped 3 times by Peter, which just goes to show he was clearly declining.

 

Vitali looked unbeatable and was battering guys left and right at 39 .

Wlad would have no problem impressing against the same come forward stiffs big bro was beating.

 

he's cashing out now... why would he have retired before that? :conf

 

He looked good against Pulev just a year ago. :huh Fury is just better than him.

 

He may look good, but that dosn`t mean he is not past his prime. He is past it big time, but its not shot.
And no way Fury beat 2006-2012 version of Wlad, even the early Wlad.

 

Take it you relished Lewis's decision to retire rather than to rematch Vitali and risk getting beaten up?