Wladimir Klitschko Retires - Where Does He Rank ?

I think he's #10 for me.

 

Probably at nr 4, after Holmes, for me. Johnson might have a shout for that place as well, but I'm unsure whether to even include fighters from that period seeing how relatively unregulated boxing was back then.

Lewis also has a shout for that place. It's all far from straight forward, but Wlad has that long period of dominance, longer than anyone bar Louis.

 

I get how he wasn't visually pleasing, or had an unimpressive style.
But don't you think a KO loss to Purrity is excusable next to his accomplishments?
Because Dempsey lost in the first round to Flynn. Admittedly I've never seen it, and can't say what transpired, so I am looking at the results on the surface level.
What is your thinking, or reconciling with the Flynn loss against the Purrity loss?

 

How would he have fared against Brennan, Firpo, Carpentier and Gibbons?

It's a popularity contest or an estimation of boxing prowess?

How popular was Larry Holmes? How popular was Jack Johnson?

Today must be like swatting logic mosquitoes with your dumb stick. Sooner or later you may just want to jump into a lake.

 

You reason as well as you spell.

 

I rank him just outside my top ten. I put his brother, Liston and Marciano higher then him. Him and Bowe are close Its clear he had a better career then Bowe overall but at their peaks I feel Bowe was better. With that being said always was a big fan of Wlad really a great fighter who carried himself as a gentlemen throughout his career and dominated the heavyweight division for longer then pretty much anybody.

 

It is fairly accepted that the first Flynn bout was fixed. Dempsey in a rematch koed Flynn in a single round.

Wlad was koed by three nobodies in comical fashion. Four KO losses. A very fragile hwt and thus his safety first style.

 

A the end of the day boxing is a spectator sport designed for our entertainment , Joushua is popular like Tyson was because he is immensely entertaining to watch.

Wlad was never popular because he was awful to watch despite being match against opposition that would make any great look even greater than they already are.

Dominated this , dominated that... Who did he beat ?? Who?

I value the importance of footwork in boxing. Your legs are everything in this sport. The C levelers in Wlads era had no legs. None of them. They moved flat footed in and out / forward and back.
And Wlads method of victory was hold , grapple , hug , back hump , right hand . . rince and repeat. Tell me whats so great about him that deserves a place in the top 5 of all time.
What could he do that Felix Sturm couldn't? A jab? Did you ever see Sturms jab? He knocked a guy out with just his jab.
Wlad was out jabbed by Fury. I understand it must be a tough time for you right now , but don't get mad , im just calling it as it is.

 

Top 10

 

How does a top 5 of all time only know how to box a very one dimensional way and crumbles under pressure?

Jab , hold , right hand immediately hold again. Thats not the complete skill-set of a genuine ATG.

Joshua in just 17 fights displayed a far greater arsenal and execution of punches along with an ability to fight at long and close range.

 

I'd like to see you make it good sir.

 

This is about how I see it exactly

 

Excuse me but didn't Jack Jackson fight that way?

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Accepted by whom? Dempsey himself said it was on the level.

 

Insiders have known for many decades that bout was probably fixed. The thought is that Dempsey never fessed up to it due to the negative implications of being involved in a fix.