I see what are trying to do, imply he will be knocked out whenever he exchanges. Not true. He wasn't exchanging on the inside in those fights. Especially, Brewster where he was clinching and controlling the range until he gassed out after going for the knock out after dropping Brewster. Jefferson is a fight that comes to mind that fits that description, with Wlad letting his hands go at close quarters. I also thought the Pulev fight had solid inside exchanges just recently.
I mostly agree with these picks. Wlad should be viewed as a favorite in every match except for Liston, with Foreman and Dempsey being close to even. I would not, however, expect him to win all 16 matches. I'm not sure if anyone could. My guess would be 13-3 to 12-4, which is excellent.
I'm not implying anything, I don't have an answer so I'm asking for opinions. This is a legitimate unknown in terms of the career of Wlad and something worth investigating. We know his strategy is jab and clinch, we know it works against almost everyone. We also know some referees have been strict on clinching and this has changed the results of some fights. What we don't know is how Wlad react is clinching is taken away from him. You can imply any and everything you want, I just want to discuss fights that never happened.
Wladimir vs Norton Norton was a "good champion". Wait. He was "good". He never really was champion. He did hold a piece of the title. He's the bridge between the overlap of Ali's exit and Holmes' entrance. He was at his best against Ali in 76. He folded against nearly every big puncher he ever faced. He was past his prime against ****ey but Foreman and Shavers, possibly history's two hardest punchers, crushed him easily. Against Klitschko, who doesn't quite have Foreman or Shaver's power, Norton would be facing a boxer, not a clubber, with power the near equal of those who crushed him before. Wladimir might not have Foreman's power but he certainly has enough to get the job done. The one small problem is that Klitschko lacks the killer instinct that the others had. This is the only reason Norton would be around for a while. Wladimir would land a few solid shots, examine his handy work. He would then return to the corner, get cursed out by Manny Steward, who would see what Wladimir SHOULD, then go out in the next round and take care of business. Klitschko by KO in 5
The myth of Klitschko lives on in contrast to the reality where he was comprehensively outboxed by a B level heavyweight called Tyson Fury.
Perhaps the warning signs were already there that he was slipping. When Bryant Jennings did better than expected, we assumed that it was because he was a bit better than we thought. Given Jennings recent loss, we might be inclined to attribute his relative success, to slippage on Wlads part.
I think his lose is more to do with him not being able to control range. An opponent who was bigger, quicker and enough stamina to move for 12 rounds.
Foreman Win KO1 Klitschko Old Foreman Win KO2 Klitschko Liston Win KO2 Klitschko or Liston outboxed him easy for an UD Frazier Win UD or late TKO Klitschko Ken Norton Win UD Tim Witherspoon Win UD Jimmy Young , very awkward style , that Young of Ali / Foreman Fight Win by SD or UD Max Baer , Ron Lyle both would Win in a Fire Fight - way tougher men and can take a Punch , Wlad not. But because the lack of skills Wlad by maybe UD or late TKO. Other Fights can go either way. What i know is even in 100 Fights Klitschko would never beat Foreman
Wlad won plenty of fights without clinching, usually against larger or similar sized men like Pulev\Thompson and smaller men who ran like Chambers\Byrd. The question would be could he beat a smaller aggressive fighter without clinching and I think many tall heavies would struggle with this. Even Lewis with his uppercut, had to clinch to either set the punch up or immediately after throwing it to prevent a follow up. Bowe didn't clinch against Holyfield but took severe sustained punishment that left him declining at a young age. Foreman didn't clinch in his prime but was allowed to push, something more frowned upon now. In his youth, Wlad at least had quick hands and feet, and when Brock was anticipating his clinches and countering with hard fights to the ribs, he could adapt and use his speed to elude and beat him to the punch. But against Jennings I'm his late 30s, he was penalized for holding and struggled more.
Yes he clinched when he wasn't fully able to keep his opponent at the end of the jab. So in reality Dempsey might slip Wlad's jab but will then get clinched and drained and tired out. Not everyone required him to clinch because he is an exceptional out fighter due to his physical attributes and hand speed and, much later in his career, discipline and fitness. Hence the thread, there are men who for many different reason can find their way I'm to range against someone who is limited up close, I just wanna see how people see these going if thethe cinch is taken off Wlad (after a certain number of clinches)
Not being able to clinch is one half of his greatness wiped out. If we also takeaway the modern advances in sports science it wipes out enough for him not to win a single fight among the real champions here. Modern advances get so much more physically out of a standard talent than it ever was under traditional diet and training. It takes a lot of fights for a "standard talent" to be found out now. How special does a "special talent" have to be if he gets there off the back of guys who were only ever a standard talent anyway? Regardless, Wlad still beats weaver and young though.
Nope he's allowed ever modern advance ever invented, everything stopping him being the next Ernie Terrell still goes. Just no clinching.
No , you're lying again. You can't make a Wlad post without fabrication of the truth. The clinch counts were off the charts in those 4 fights. Why do you think Chambers picked Wlad up? Because he was laying all over his back. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/06/30/article-2010040-0CCE213000000578-927_634x422.jpg The clinching got Manny angry , same as he was in the Peters rematch. So you want to reinvent the entire construct of boxing to suit your agenda? Height is no longer an advantage simply cos Wlad struggles with guys smaller than him? atsch But isn't Wlad much better and more aggressive against tall guys? Because Bowe could out box Holyfield on the inside and wasn't a coward who held on out of fear against a guy he held an advantage over. Wlads only method of 'adapting' was waiting till little Brock was totally knackered from having a gigantor maul , grope , stiff arm and bear hug him to pieces. Wlad spent the entirety of the 3rd round throwing nothing but clinches cos he was so incapable of knowing what to do. It was only when Brock was visibly slowing down that Wlad simply was able to line up his right hand and win. Against Brock- an absoulte nobody with average skills and movement.