I think Wlad may be the worst nightmare for Ali from a stylistic point of view, by the way. I'd favor Ali against all of the listed top10 except for maybe Lewis, but I'm not sure about Klitschko. He barely lost a round in ten years of fighting top opposition, including skillful boxers like Byrd and Chambers. Ali, on the other hand, struggled with good boxers like Norton, Jones, and Young. Moreover, Ali doesn't have a big punch nor is a pressure fighter, so he can't capitalize on Wlad's weaknesses.
Until he finally met someone half decent and his own size, then he barely won a round in two fights. And... "top opposition"? You must have been having a good giggle to yourself when you typed those words out. I certainly was!
I think it would be better to make a single thread for each fight. Would give better and more in depth responses in the end. Overall, I think Wlad compares favourably in there. I think favourites over him would be Lewis and Tyson. Close fights either way would be Ali, Louis, Holmes and Bowe. And the ones where I'd make Wlad the fav would be Foreman, Holyfield, Frazier and Liston - who obviously all have their chances in there. So, he could get out there with a 8-2 record or a 4-6. That's quite solid against this kind of competition.
wlad had trouble holding onto the "international" (11-20 ranked) belt and a minor belt. u have imagination for sure. There is not one good boxer in his unified run until he lost, it is a list of no-hoper non-boxers. that is how he walked that tight rope, by reducing it to a sub-eurobelt.
Prime Ali in the ring with Wlad? It would appear as if the European fighter were in slow motion. It would be a one sided beating with Wlad having no way to stay away from the cutting punches coming his way. Ali by TKO within ten rounds. Scoring 8-1, 7-2 at the time of the stoppage. Remember Ali jab was measured as being much quicker than SRR jab. And that was JUST his jab.
I could see him beating Bowe or Holyfield on their off nights. At their best they wreck Wlad. Can you imagine the hook that Frazier hit Ali with in round 11 in 1971 hitting Wlad? The crack of broken china would be heard a mile away.
Interesting you say that. Another European by the name of Mildenberger pretty much went even with peak Ali for 12 rounds until he was TKO'd. Wlad has much more skill, speed, power and size than Karl, so I'd strongly doubt the accuracy of your analysis.
I would suggest watching Ali's bout with Mildenburger again. Bout was not close. Ali at his best obliterates the lowly Wlad. Speed kills especially robotic European hwts.
Wlad can win ANY of these fights, so instead of picking win's and losses, I'll give a percentage of how I think he would do with 100% = a sure victory and 0% being a clear loss. It is doubtful that ANY man listed here would win more than 7, and this is a top level list of opponents. If we are talking 12 rounds up Wlad's chances a bit, but my comments are reserved for 15 rounds 1 Louis - 60%. Louis slow feet, low guard, and defense are the reasons why. Wlad in many ways is Schmeling 3.0 2 Ali - 35%, Considering how much trouble Ali had with jabs, and fighters on Kenny Norton's level, this seems fair. I do think Ali would take control in the later rounds 3 Holmes - 25%. Holmes jab, skills, stamina, speed and punch variety, which was superior to Ali are the reasons why I like Holmes in the later rounds. 4 Lewis - 40%. I like Lewis as he's a faster starter and bit more confident in the early rounds, but this one comes down to who lands a big shot first. 5 Foreman - 50% Big George would look really small and slow next to Wlad. If Ali could floor Foreman for a ten count, and Lyle nearly finish him, Foreman's not taking Wlad's best for long. Hard to call. I like Foreman early, and Wlad late. 6 Holyfield - 60%. Holy is but 1-4 vs. Bowe and Lewis on fair score cards here. 7 Frazier - 70%. The size, reach and weight difference here is of mismatch proportions. Frazier to me did not have a good enough chin and was often a slow starter. Wlad has a good defense and clinching ability, and seldom is tagged by left hooks. 8 Tyson - 40%. Tyson's speed, aggression, power and study chin I think would be too much early on, but if Wlad gets his jab going, he takes it. 9 Liston - 50% I can't make up my mind on Liston. His resume outside of Ali is a bit thin, and he wasn't fast. Cleveland Williams busted him up early and likely did not hit ass hard as Wlad. Skilled and powerful for sure. Mentally tough, cut/swelling resistant were question marks. Not sure how good his chin was either. 10 Bowe - 55%. Some will say Bowe at his best which is less than 2 years time. But Bowe wasn't much on defense, and was managed carefully I think to avoid punchers. I think Wlad might take this one on points or a later round TKO. Fair or not, Golota pounded on an in shape Bowe with something to prove. Tally. I have Wlad at 4 wins, 4 losses and two that are even.
I've seen it. Ali was in the lead, but Mildenburger, a smallish non punching merely lower level top ten type in the 1960's won a few rounds. He made Ali switch from countering and waiting to becoming the aggressor. If Norton is 2-1 on Ali vs fair cards, and Doug Jones won 4 of 10 rounds, some say draw. Many felt Jimmy Young beat Ali. Wlad with his ability and size could do just as well or better.
Size is meaningless. Typically Ali beat up the taller (Terrell) strong and big (Foreman) type fighters. It was the smaller fighters who could better match his speed that did better. Ali at his best destroys the robotic European with the robotic cautious European style. It would be no contest Wlad would look as if he were in slow motion being hit so often he would be afraid to throw a punch.
And BTW Holmes was a poor mans Ali. Ali in his prime did everything better than Larry. Quicker, much more mobile, much more athletic, better jab, better combo puncher, better defense.
Sure, size, weight, and reach are meaningless. Few would agree with that at heavyweight. Terrell was a string bean type and fought with a damaged eye. Rope a Dope would not work with Wlad, and if you score fights guys like Mildenberger and Blin took rounds from Ali. They would win none vs Wlad. You might want to admit the small European fighters Ali fought one of who in Henry Cooper under 200 pounds nearly KO'd him just are quite as good as Wlad Klitschko.
??? So your saying Ali had a better uppercut, and could go to the body better? Sure, sure, sure. Holmes to me had the better jab. Quick fact Ali kicked Holmes out of his camp in the early 1970's because he was " too fast " for him
You really have huge issues. I assume you are young and obviously inexperienced. The Ali post exile is not prime Ali. Prime Ali destroys the very robotic European Wlad. It's no contest as so many punches would hit Wlad he would be Afraid to throw a punch. He was generally afraid to throw punches in general. Norton who fought Ali and Holmes said Ali hit harder. Ali's jab was superior to Holmes. Holmes was perhaps harder but Ali's was much quicker (quicker than SRR jab) and he threw it while moving with exact precision. Holmes threw his jab more in static form and dropped it every time he threw it. He was always wide open for right hand counters.