He was so extremely safety first that it made it annoying that he had ko power and could ko a guy after 4 rounds but you know it was going to be a late ko at best cause of this. Steward even got mad at him for it. He definitly was stronger than vitali though, just had less dogg in him.
I had a friend who met Klitschko - described his fists as being like bricks. The guy is a physical specimen. What made his power that much more devastating is that he had genuine KO power in both hands. Those left hooks were extremely dangerous and absolutely demolished Pulev. I know some people found it frustrating that he started using a more safety first approach, but I still found it exciting knowing he could end the fight at any moment with a single shot. By the time he got to Fury and even AJ, he was not quite the same guy anymore especially without the great Steward in his corner.
I still think he more dog in him than people give him credit. He gave it his all against AJ at 41 and got up from a beating in the 5th to nearly end it in the next round. When he fought Peter the first time in what was one his career defining performances, he got up of the canvas 3 times to win. He just didn’t have as good a chin as his brother.
X2 The frustration level was very high for me. A heavyweight champion of the world, a huge colossal man that looked like he was carved out of a Mountainside, with excellent skills and excellent physical attributes along with Bone crushing power..... but he often fought like a second grader having his first fight in the schoolyard.
He did when troubled but he was very risk averse when it came to fighting from a dominating perspective. Always looking for the 1-2 clinch and reset vs blown up cruisers and the weak heavies of the era. Fury is a ***** but he read wlad perfectly and called him out for that. Also why Wlad couldnt get his jab going cause of his movement. But in plenty of his fights the left hook or uppercut was right there to be thrown and he refused to throw it. I remember watching him fight Chambers and ge could have knocked out Eddie way before he actually did, it was so frustrating at times.
I think of the super sized heavies (6’ 6” and above) Wlad was not only the hardest puncher, but the most skilled fighter. This content is protected More devastating power than Lewis, Joshua, Vitali, and Wilder
One sparring partner said that Wlad threw a left hook that barely missed his mouth. The force of the punch pulled all the air out of his lungs. Incredible.
Wladimir did a lot remaking himself to survive after being exposed but greatest punch of all time ? Not even close. He was always dedicated, came out in shape and again despite his weaknesses did a lot. But he was an average athletic puncher who held way too much.
Was never a fan of the boring style he adopted however it’s understandable given his vulnerable chin, against a hard hitter like Lewis, Tyson or Foreman I see them landing and when they do I can’t see Wlad standing up to the pressure Also for someone with brutal power he couldn’t even hurt a cruiserweight in David Haye who fought with a broken toe Not saying he didn’t hit hard but overall his career was great for stats longest champion in history for cumulative days, 20+ title defences but lacking that legacy defining win and refusing to avenge he earlier losses isn’t a good look
Prime David Haye had incredible speed and reflexes and was never hit cleanly in that fight. Wlad not knocking out Haye is far more understandable than Lennox Lewis failing to hurt Levi Billups in 10 rounds who didn't even have either chin or defense.