Wlad Klitschko has the worst style for Ali

Don't be a d**kh**d. I forgot that he lost a bunch of weight for Wlad. It was more than 10 years ago.

 

He didn't reign on the HW division longer than anyone. Vitali was the one who had the WBC belt for most of Wlad's reign, and many argue he is better than him, so how did he reign on the division longer than anyone in history?

 

Let me get this straight, you are trying to align Wlad - Fury and Ali - Spinks? LOL

Ali was labelled as over the hill 2 or more years prior. He looked TERRIBLE the fight before against Shavers. Even his speaking was different. The only reason Ali was such a big favorite was because Spinks was considered so lowly.

Wlad hadn't been beaten in over a decade!!! He had 20 or more defenses of his trinket titles going and was on a 20+ fight winning streak. He'd won his recent fights comfortably and without difficulty.

It's chalk and cheese.

 

A simple 1 minute check would have put paid to that. It's not hard. Fury's never been considered a puncher, as a matter of fact he was always considered a bit soft on power given his size. He throws too many arm punches.

He was all this and still a 7-2 underdog? Right.

Wlad met someone who was mostly immune to his negative safety first mentality. He didn't have the stones to go harder earlier because that's something he just didn't do. Much safer to have a crack in the last round than lay it on the line earlier and enhance the risk. That's his problem in dream fights against ATG's. He's missing a couple of critical intangibles.

 

One of these has an ATG chin and beat some of the greatest and heaviest hitters ever. He showed great heart and adversity at multiple stages of his career.

The other had to totally redefine his style and build it around safety first so as to protect his weak chin. He had to fight tall and cautiously from long range whilst running backwards or tying the opponent up again and again and again when under stress so as to not get clocked too hard or too often and get coldc0cked. It was an automatic default setting. He got away with loads of illegal clinching and undoubtably would have had a lot more trouble without it. He would have had some impressive KO's added to his resume but he probably would have spent some time on the mat too and in all likelihood picked up an L or more.

Now and again his ATG power in either hand registered an early night for him. It made him immensely hard to beat for average to good fighters (negative style, big man, huge power threat if he threw) but when push come to shove against elite fighters he'd have to come up with a whole lot more. Fighters like Ali, Holmes, Lewis and co had elite winning intangibles and could find their way home in dogfights, on tough evenings. Wlad didn't have that chip.

The best way to beat him? Hit him hard on the chin, multiple times if need be. The guys he faced post style change couldn't so enough of that and hence the long reign. True elites like those mentioned are going to test that chin and fortitude where as others didn't.

This is why Ali, Holmes, Lewis and co are such popular picks over Wlad. It's really that simple, for most.

 

No that would be Mike Tyson. Klitschko as big, technical and fleet footed as he is likes a slower pace and is stiff in comparison, so outside of Klitschkos sheer size he'd be easier to read than Norton. Ironically Wlad doesn't like to throw any body shots similar to Ali, that would help him immensely here, but he doesn't do it

The Williamson fight is proof a bunch of movement from a smaller guy will offset Klitschko and Ali would feint more and was a more accurate counter puncher/jabber. If he gets Klitschko out of position and lands a good counter after slipping a shot he will follow up with combinations and Klitschko wouldn't exchange, he'd be too cautious and could potentially drop those rounds. The combination punching and constant movement will be the difference maker in a close fight. Klitschko would be one of his biggest threats but I have to lean towards Ali here.

 

Again, Wlad was 39. All these other fighters either hung them up or were getting beat by fighters much lesser than Fury at this age or younger. And a 40 year old Wlad was still trying to rematch a much younger Fury, but Fury decided he didn't want to. Wlad was doing what other ATG (Ali, Holmes) were doing - trying to get a rematch. This intangible stuff is garbage. If he didn't have intangibles he would've never been champion or certainly not for 10+ years. Wlad has more fights (amateur & professional) than any modern HW champ.

 

He had the title(s) - that's all that matters.

 

Wlad wouldn't be easier to read than Norton. His punch versatility is amazing (even if he rarely goes to the body). All 3 of his punches (Left Hook, Jab & Right Cross) are arguably as good as anyone in the history of HW boxing. I haven't watched the Williamson fight in a long time, but I will now. I doubt that fight will be anything special. TOS got one flash knockdown.

 

Glad we cleared that one up.

 

"All 3 punches" yes thats right. He has 3 punches in his arsenal, rarely ever throw in combinations if at all. Ali would have more time and room to slip a left hook from Wlad compared to a shorter faster fighter because Wlad is fast for his size but not fast, and the punch takes a little longer longer to arrive due to reach. Ali can be more flexible with upper body movement against guys punching downwards and they are generally easier to anticipate because they are more telegraphed with higher elbows and the larger frame, this is why it is generally easier for shorter fighters to bob and weave shots from above. Wlad also doesn't like to counter punch or go to the body.

I think Wlad would have a better chance trying to keep it long in the center of the ring rather than walk Ali down behind a simple jab and a right cross, which is what he would try to do. Ali moves and feints too much for Wlad to detonate that left hook with consistency, he has better stamina and he's too robotic and too basic to take the jab away even if his own jab gives Ali problems

 

Not like he would just throw naked hooks lol. He would hook of his jab something that's hard to catch even more so for Ali who was never great at defending either punch

 

Ali had a good chin and rolled with shots. I don't think Klitschko would realistically knock him out but he could drop him hard like others have. If Klitschko stays throwing the same 3 punches Ali can adapt by blocking the left hook putting his hands up on the retreat. I honestly dont think Wlads right hand will be relevant in this fight, that is by far the easiest punch for Ali to defend against given Klitschkos length and basic 1-2. Ali will find it very difficult to counter anything Wlad throws but he is faster and Williamson did it

Ali never stands still and feints more than anyone Wlad has ever fought, this will throw off his timing and allow a little more time and space for Ali to snatch some close rounds. Wlad wouldn't take Alis jab away even when he constantly lands his, for some reason the supporters of Klitschko think Alis jab would just get shut down, Klitschko is too stiff and basic besides hooking off the jab to break his rhythm. Wlad doesn't throw body punches like Ali but this will hurt Wlad way more than it hurts Ali in this particular fight

It's not like Klitschko will attempt to trap him on the ropes and do damage like a Lennox Lewis... he never did anything like that against moving targets.

 

If he couldn't do that in 3 fights against Frazier I don't think he's magically going to start doing that if he fights Wlad.

 

The Klitscko / Williamson fight is here. Wlad had no problem at all with Williamson's movement; all Williamson did was move around on the outside eating jabs and his achievement was not getting knocked out. His moment of glory in the 4th round lasted like 10 seconds and Wlad roughed him up the rest of the round:

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I'd expect that Ali would have faster movement and faster hands, more able to contest Wlad's jab than Williamson. On the other hand I doubt that Ali would have the power to hurt Wlad or indeed even to get a flash KD like Williamson did.