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It's time to finally appreciate Wlad's class as the champion

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by MaccaveliMacc, Feb 28, 2026.

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catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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MaccaveliMacc said: ↑

Yes, I was there at the time. Briggs been washed up since he lost 12-0 to Ibragimov. Never came close to world level after that.
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This is about JCG record.

catchwtboxing, Mar 4, 2026

#76

Cojimar 1946 Boxing Addict Full Member

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Dubblechin said: ↑

The problem most of us had with the Klitschkos during that period was they were clearly the two best heavyweights. And they co-owned their promotional company, so it didn't matter to them who fought who. They both got paid as promoters through the promotional company, regardless of whose title was on the line.

So, you had two guys basically tag teaming the heavyweight title. They'd never fight each other. And, if one guy lost, the other just went over to cover for the brother who lost, and picked that belt back up for the promotional company.

Which meant neither really concerned themselves with winning rematches, especially if someone was a bad style matchup or whatever.

Both had their own strengths. So, if Wlad lost in two to Sanders, Vitali just beat Corrie next time. And after Corrie lost, Wlad didn't have to worry about it. Same with Byrd. Vitali loses to Byrd, Wlad just beats Byrd twice. Vitali doesn't have to worry about avenging anything. Again, good for them. Not so much for fans.

And if one brother avenged the loss, that was good enough for the German fans. So they both benefited from the partnership, whereas other greats would be picked at for not trying to avenge their own losses.

It would've been like if Ali and Frazier just decided to have their own promotional company and never fight each other. It sucked for fans, but it was great for the Klitschkos.

I mean, most fans today still hold it against Joshua and Wilder that they didn't fight when they were both on top. If they had been brothers, like Wlad and Vitali, and owned their own promotional company together, and nobody expected them to ever fight each other, fans would just look at their "combined" wins - like they do the Klits - and that whole part of their story (that people hold against them) wouldn't exist.

So, the Klitschkos greatly benefitted from ruling side-by-side, owning their promotional company, and having one another's backs if one faltered.

Back to the topic, though. Because Vitali ended up fighting Chisora, most fans are oblivious now that Wladimir Klitschko was scheduled to fight the unbeaten Derek Chisora twice. And Wlad pulled out of both fights.

The first time was in December 2010, and Wlad cancelled just days before the bout due to a rib injury. It was rescheduled for April 30, 2011. Wlad pulled out again, saying he hadn’t completely healed yet.

Wlad never got back to Chisora. Instead, Chisora chose to fight Tyson Fury (which resulted in Chisora’s first loss). Which is why Chisora spit water in Wlad’s face when the Klitschko brothers entered the ring for Chisora’s challenge of Vitali.

Chisora said later: “I trained for six months. Wasted so much money. Never got my money back. And they just pulled the fight when I got to Germany.”

But Chisora likely would've posed more problems for Wlad than he did for Vitali. Just like Arreola would've probably posed more problems for Wlad than he did for the iron-chinned Vitali. Arreola and Wlad sparred together, and Arreola always felt he could beat Wlad.

The Klitschkos may have believed that, too. So Vitali fought Chisora and Arreola. And nobody asks why Wlad didn't fight them, because his brother did and won.

Frankly, no matter how good Wlad and Vitali were, that was 10 years of madness for fans that I hope never happens again.

It hurts the sport when clearly the two best never fight and instead "share" the belts ... getting credit "subconsciously" for wins the other had, and receiving real paydays through their promotional company ... no matter who fought whom.
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Arreola and Chisora were not very good. Wlad beat lots of guys better than both. I can't imagine anyone caring if Wlad didn't fight them.

Cojimar 1946, Mar 4, 2026

#77

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Easyrhino Member Full Member

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I'll give Wlad props for having the greatest entrance in the history of boxing:
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Easyrhino, Mar 4, 2026

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Salty Dog globalize the Buc-ees revolution Full Member

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MaccaveliMacc said: ↑

Posts like that point out to the fact that the dude is still underrated.
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that is probably a good thing for you to think. good luck and God Bless

Salty Dog, Mar 4, 2026

#79

Salty Dog globalize the Buc-ees revolution Full Member

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Easyrhino said: ↑

I'll give Wlad props for having the greatest entrance in the history of boxing:
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he wasn't scary, doe. i could pick this post to pieces, but ultimately Wlad wasn't great enough to own claim to greatest ANYTHING. he only ever was known to you because his momma told Vitali to not impose his will/shade upon young Wlad. have no insight as to WHY that is...but it is

Salty Dog, Mar 4, 2026

#80
MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

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Salty Dog said: ↑

he wasn't scary, doe. i could pick this post to pieces, but ultimately Wlad wasn't great enough to own claim to greatest ANYTHING. he only ever was known to you because his momma told Vitali to not impose his will/shade upon young Wlad. have no insight as to WHY that is...but it is
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MaccaveliMacc, Mar 5, 2026

#81

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MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

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catchwtboxing said: ↑

This is about JCG record.
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He was ok. Perfect representation of the number 9 HW in the world.

MaccaveliMacc, Mar 5, 2026

#82

jeevacation My fav active fighter is Ebonie Cotton. banned Full Member

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Weak era and I didnt particulaty enjoy his style but a very good fighter no doubt.

jeevacation, Mar 5, 2026

#83
bigboxinghippo420 Member Full Member

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MaccaveliMacc said: ↑

Never dropped a belt. Fought every mandatory contender, even after an upset win. Beat every top fighter of his era who was willing to face him. Even at 39 took on Tyson Fury and planned to fight Deontay Wilder after that. At 41 he fought prime AJ trying to regain part of the HW crown.

Now compare him to Holmes dropping the WBC belt not to fight Greg Page and taking on Marvis Frazier instead. Or to Lennox Lewis dropping the IBF belt not to fight Chris Byrd chasing the rematch with Mike Tyson whom he just destroyed. Or Riddick Bowe dumping a belt in the trash avoiding Lennox Lewis, fighting Michael Dokes who was 10 years past his prime. Or, the elephant in the room, Oleksandr Usyk dropping the WBO belt not to fight Fabio Wardley and scheduling a fight with a freaking kickboxer.
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hes like andre ward for me, great boxer but sometimes he fought outside the rules of boxing in a disgraceful manner

bigboxinghippo420, Mar 5, 2026

#84
catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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MaccaveliMacc said: ↑

He was ok. Perfect representation of the number 9 HW in the world.
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It was a very good run for the time it occurred, when talent was thin.

catchwtboxing, Mar 5, 2026

#85
ForemanJab Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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I think we can appreciate the good while acknowledging some of the bad. Numerically he had the longest, most dominant reign as HW champion. The most versatile jab ever, but if we're being honest there was a lot of dull fights mixed in there. And I always felt that he never developed a full arsenal of punches, never saw him throwing uppercuts or digging to the body. Without an effective uppercut he was forced to clinch whenever opponents slipped inside of his long straight punches.

ForemanJab, Mar 6, 2026

#86

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Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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ForemanJab said: ↑

Numerically he had the longest, most dominant reign as HW champion.
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Numerically speaking, that distinction belongs to the great Joe Louis.

Rumsfeld, Mar 6, 2026

#87

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Rumsfeld said: ↑

Numerically speaking, that distinction belongs to the great Joe Louis.
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Wlad has the most days ever as champion if you include his WBO reign.

ForemanJab, Mar 6, 2026

#88
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ForemanJab said: ↑

Wlad has the most days ever as champion if you include his WBO reign.
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A. That was a different reign.
B. The WBO was not recognized as a major world title at that time.

Joe Louis had the longest and most dominant reign in heavyweight history (or from any division for that matter).

Rumsfeld, Mar 6, 2026

#89

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brb Boxing Addict Full Member

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Rumsfeld said: ↑

A. That was a different reign.
B. The WBO was not recognized as a major world title at that time.

Joe Louis had the longest and most dominant reign in heavyweight history (or from any division for that matter).
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The WBO was considered equivalent to the others by the time Wlad had it. I've never seen any boxing publication include any type of asterisk explaining the WBO was a lesser title.

brb, Mar 6, 2026

#90

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