Where do you rate Haye in the list of Wlad's best wins

Precisely, so we don't know, and are left to make opinions based on assumption. Mine being that Haye is his 3rd toughest opponent (that he beat).

I wouldn't say that much better, but better, yes

 

Fair enough. It's a defensible position.

 

It's virtually cleaning an era (2005-2014), with the obvious exception of his brother.

It can be argued that the era was weak, but over an entire decade you'd expect that to even out to a certain extent. There also aren't many hallmarks of a particularly weak era, such as multiple relics from a previous era hanging around, beating contenders and winning titles. Briggs had some fleeting success but was bounced pretty quickly, and Toney ceased to be much of a factor after he lost to Peter. By the latter part of the 00s the top contenders were mainly new blood.

 

I wouldn't put Haye above Ibragimov H2H, or above Chagaev for that matter. Ruslan beat Valuev more convincingly than Haye did, and didn't skip around the ring minimizing exchanges to a handful of punches per round to do so. Haye was far more dynamic and could look spectacular when winning, but that doesn't necessarily translate to overall effectiveness.

Haye is a good win on Wlad's resume as much for the type of fighter he was and the attributes he had, as opposed to any great legacy he left in the ring.

 

I'd put Chagaev and Ibragimov above Haye H2H as well, with the caveat that Haye's punching power can always be the game changer. Both men were just more well schooled and consistent than Haye was, less prone to taking silly risks that would expose them or lead to their gassing out, yet focussed and aggressive enough not to let rounds slip by against cagey or tricky opponents.

They both took a shot much better as well, which gave them the confidence to fight in their opponents' wheelhouses a lot more, without the fear of getting clipped by something innocuous and getting put on wobbly legs. With Haye it was all or nothing. He was either hanging back not engaging, or throwing an all out barrage to devastate his opponent and end the night early. Against low level guys that worked. I have my doubts whether it would have been as effective at top level.

 

One of his best wins for sure

 

Adamek actually has a comparable resume at CW. Stoppage win over Bell (who KOed Mormeck to become unified champion), win over a prime Cunningham, and a brutal KO over Banks.