Well, I think ideally a great hw should beat everyone they fought. Only two did though - Marciano and Lewis. So, I would not hold this too much against Wlad. Regarding those two fights: Purrity - I don't think a rematch was necessary. Everybody knew/knows that Wlad is the by far superior fighter. He did not lose because Purrity was better but because of the conditions of the fight, eg. never having been in a fight past 6 rounds and thus not knowing how to pace himself over 12 and getting thrown in there with an experienced journeyman who was known as very durable. He ran out of gas and lost. This fight was lost by Wlad's management/trainer more than him. A few month to a year later he would have beaten Purrity easily. Don't think that loss has an impact at all to be honest. The loss to Sanders hurt. He should have tried to get a rematch soon. Did not happen and then it was too late. I think this is a black spot on Wlad's resume more so than the (avenged) loss to Brewster or the late career losses to Fury and AJ. Regarding Thompson: He was a late starter if I remember right, started boxing only in this late twenties? So, while being older when fighting Wlad I think his age isn't that much of an issue there cause he had leass wear and tear. He was big, a southpaw, solid fundamentals, whiskers and punch. IMO a solid contender probably in line with most contenders from the 80s, 90s and 00s, better than most of the 2010s.
Wlad was having his 25th fight, he wasn't green and he had gone 8 rds with Everett Martin a few months earlier Thompson is a solid contender because he beat who?
he was too old already! but wlad didnt possess the skills to deal with even a retired, middling, old southpaw.
Fair point. You are right, Wlad did go 8 rounds before. However, never 12. Despite having already a fair number of fights he did not have the experience and training to go 12. It cost him in this fight. You think Purrity would have beaten him again? Thomspon, see below. Thompson was his mandatory the first time. He was ranked by the ring and the governing bodies the first and second time Wlad fought them. He beat (fringe) contenders in Krasniqui, T. Ibragimov and Price, Solis (after his second loss to Wlad showing he was old but still decent). That's not spectacular but solid, especially for that era. You guys are free to disagree, however, just means you are wrong
I think you will find Thompson was ranked no9 in2007 unranked in2008 ,[when he fought Wlad,] no10 in2009 and never ranked again,he subsequently fought Wlad in 2012
I'd add that one could argue that Thompson has a superior win-record to Vitali but I guess that would mean Mendoza shows up.
He wanted to fight Purrity again but Purrity didn't accept the rematch offer so he had to move on with his career.
Not ranked where? Ring or any of the governing bodies? And yearly rankings or the monthly ones? Did he drop out because he lost to Wlad?
its not solid. a near 40 year old man is not solid, especially one who didnt distinguish himself when prime. But you can feel free to disagree with the entire human universe if you choose to. Oh you already did, what a flop.
He wasnt in the Rings yearly rankings can you show he was ranked when he fought Thompson on either occasion?