Too much is made of Sanders being a southie imo. He fought square on for the most part and wasn't really a slick awkward southpaw in the traditional sense . But it obviously did play a factor . But i think the speed and counter hitting was a bigger factor which is why i believe Hollafeld would have blitzed him in a similar type blow out. I think its only fair you remove his cheating. Much like you would remove the British stoppage angle for one of our own in fantasy fights. Ali and Jonhson get a pass as they routinely fought in and out of the clinch and it wasn't their primary method of offence. Ali held a lot in Frazier II and it didn't go down well which is why the 3rd fight was free of any clinching and Ali still won again. There is only one way Wlad could beat Povetkin and he knew it. His assistant trainer Bashir alluded to the fact he trained to perform as a wrestler and also claimed the agenda pre fight was 'just get past this one and look better in the next' No way Wlad would ever sign up for a clinch free fair fought rematch against Povetkin. He and his team knew he wasn't good enough to win fairly.
If you can time Wlad's jab you have a small window until the clinch follows. But if you're quick enough you can exploit it. Lewis never relied on a British stoppage apart from in the Olympics to my knowledge. Bruno usually left a beaten man out cold. It was Johnson's primary offence, jab clinch and uppercut inside. The 3rd fight was amazing but it's hard to say how much Frazier has left by then. The rematch would have gone Joes was without clinching imo. Povetkin looked hapless. He froze on the big stage just like Pulev. There's a reason the only man to beat him for ten years was slightly quicker and slightly longer.
I'd give Spinks a very small chance against an aging Wlad to win a fight that resembles a mix between Wlad's fight with Fury and Spinks 1st fight with Holmes. Similar fights actually when you look at them in some sense.
One thing I'd like to touch on which I believe some have already is whether Holmes could've done the same with Wlad's opposition. I think he could because of his ability to consistently perform I'd pick him head to head over any of Wlad's opponents but it would be more difficult for Holmes then it was for Wlad due to size and styles. Holmes the smaller man may be in for tougher fights against some of the guys Wlad had an easier time with. I'd expect him to beat Byrd in a simlar fashion to how Klitschko did. I think a young Holmes disposes of Brock, Brewster and Austin a lot like how Wlad did with little trouble maybe going the distance with one of them. Ibragimov would pose a tough challenge, I think Holmes out boxes him to a decision. Thompson goes the distance, Holmes doesn't have any problems with Chagaev, Peter or Chambers likely stopping them all. I think he beats Haye a lot like how Klitschko did in a better fight. Fairly easy fights for Holmes up untill Povetkin. Povetkin I really seeing being a threat to Holmes especially at the later stages of his career. Povetkin IMO is a tough challenge for anyone. Wlad stunk out the joint and clinched the hell out of him in their fight, Holmes wouldn't do this at least not to the extent Wlad did. It would be very interesting in Holmes era to see him defend against the Russian. Overall I still gotta pick Holmes even in the late stages of his title run to beat Povetkin. I think he uses his footwork and jab to bust up Povetkin and set up the right. Like in the Cooney fight I picture him flooring Povetkin some point early in the bout with a right hand. I think Povetkin gets up, survives an on slaught till the end of the round an comes back. Povetkin keeps a good workrate but Holmes a big fight performer is redy and uses his skills to like in the Cooney fight take over late and perhaps stop Povetkin in the late rounds. After Povetkin look for Holmes to have no problem beating Leapai. Pulev might give Holmes especially an old Holmes some trouble still pick Holmes to win a possibly close decision. Jennings I look to hang tough but clearly lose to an older Holmes. Then finally Fury... I'll match him with Holmes from the Spinks fight.. At that stage in Holmes career I wouldn't rule out the possibility of Fury out working Holmes for a decision but overall I think Holmes at that stage in his career would still have a good enough jab to beat Fury over the distance perhaps even put him down with a right hand. There you have it, that's how I picture Holmes in Wlad's shoes. My overall conclusion is Holmes was the better fighter of the two. Both very skilled, but Holmes had the intangibles, no way do I see Wlad being able to comeback from the adversity Holmes faced in some of his bouts. One of the most revealing things about Wlads superior skills is how long he was able to hold his title with the lack of intangibles that I believe he has. His fight with Joshua may prove or disprove my opinion...
Wlad loses a few early bouts he shouldn't have. Maybe to Shavers or Weaver. But he probably dominates the 80s where as Holmes was slipping. Wlad defeats Spinks cleanly both times. Wlad at 38 probably does better against Tyson than Holmes, he still had enough in the tank to beat Povetkin and Pulev. Does he win? I'm not so sure. It's interesting. I think he gives Tyson a very stern test and likely loses a decision, unable to pull the trigger and clinching defensively like Tucker or Bonecrusher.
Lol .. Wlad could not deal with the zig zag lateral movement of Williamson. He wouldn't have a clue how to deal with Spinks. He succumbs to a late fatigue induced stoppage loss.
Williamson knocked Wlad off balance once, but otherwise got battered around the ring like a rag doll, at one point he was actually hanging on Wlad like a child.
Thats like saying Elvis is still alive. A blatant lie. Is that all you can do you combat me? One one guy was beaten in that fight and it wasn't Williamson. WK had the clear look of a loser painted all over his mug. He was being strategically taken into deep waters , his team saw it and pulled him out. Williamson bossed him more and more as the rounds went on. The result was a disgrace. Spinks would make Wlad look foolish. Just like Tyson Fury and TOS did
Wlad unable to deal with the zig zag lateral of Williamson? [url]http://makeagif.com/gif/wladimir-klitschko-vs-davarryl-williamson-02-10-2004-CFeNgR[/url]
Dino what is your interpretation of that sequence. Clearly Wlad was hurt by the right hand he scored on Williamson, but that dastardly villain used his most cowardly trick yet, wrapping Williamson's arm around his own head to keep himself vertical, flaying his arms about, making it appear as if Williamson is the one that is actually hurt and holding while he is innocently trying to separate himself.
Hey stupid , if you are making cherry picked 3 second gifs of a 5 round fight , it says you have something to hide.. Post the full fight dummy , whicj clearly shows Wlad was knackered as soon as the 3rd round and there was obviously no way he could have lasted the distance.
Whats your interpretation of the IBF giving Williamson the Byrd title shot despite Wlad winning the eliminator? They , like every unbiased fan saw that it was a scandalous quit job.
It's been a rough night for Dino so far. He's getting his clock cleaned on every thread he's in. On the Lewis / Wlad thread he's now waxing lyrical about the prowess of Justin Fortune and Lionel Butler
For what it's worth, Williamson was trying to hang onto Wlad like a squid, and Wlad was trying to KHTFO.
Young Wlad could be arrogant to a fault, so it wouldn't surprise me if someone like Weaver pulled an upset on him. I don't think Shavers has the chin to last to get his shot in before he gets stopped himself. He'd age better than Holmes did and not lose the Spinks fights (I have a hard time thinking any former LHW beats a seasoned Wlad), but Tyson would still be a stretch too far IMO. It'd get real interesting if Mike couldn't get him out early and the jab was still working for him, but I couldn't favor him over the Mike of that night. We'll know more about how he'd handle the comeback Holmes by how the fight with Joshua goes.