Is Wladimir Klitschko the archetype for the ultimate Super Heavyweight

Wlad had better footwork, a better jab, and was far better at maintaining range. His jab–left hook combination was also something Lewis didn’t use nearly as consistently. Lewis had the deeper offensive arsenal, but defensively he was tagged quite a lot and was even outjabbed in several fights. Wlad’s defense did rely a bit more on clinching in general (though Lewis clinched a lot as well) but it was also far more disciplined hence why he didn't get hit nearly as much as Lewis.

Also two of Wlad's early losses were because he gassed from being too aggressive rather than panicking under pressure. Meanwhile Lewis was actually knocked out cold twice by single punches, which never happened to Wlad despite having the weaker chin.

 

Yeah but all these guys are lacking in some way.

Lennox Lewis was plodding on his feet, had no defense beyond his size and poor jab defense.

Wladimir Klitschko had 0 inside game and couldn't throw combinations due to his chin.

Riddick Bowe had no defense and very subpar competence at long range, constantly neglected using his jab and tried to run people over head-first on the inside with his size.

When I look at all of them overall, 2015 Fury is the best I see. He could move and box with the skill and physical ability of a LHW / CW, but he also had that almost-unfair size advantage of a SHW that he also knew how to use, be it using his weight in the clinch or his huge reach to set up counters from afar and control the distance.

Defense, movement, counters, combinations, long-range, close-range, feints, this guy genuinely had it all, and his worst category wasn't even that problematic. He punched harder than most HWs, he just didn't hit as hard as you'd expect from a 6'7 265 lbs guy.

 

Over Lennox Lewis? I think Lennox laid the blueprint for Wladimir, if anything. They came in as knockout kids with Olympic pedigrees and then had to tame it back with Manny Steward after upset KO losses. Wladimir inherited the same playbook that Manny made for Lennox, except with even more spoiling tactics and less activity. I have them both high up on my list, but I think the paradigm of a straight-line attacking, physical 6'5"+ superheavyweight was perfected by Lewis, anyway. I think Wladimir is a little too inactive and eventually like with Wembanyama in the NBA, we will get someone with his size who could apply boxing fundamentals from lower weight classes. So I think someone may be better soon, but for now I think this Wlad/Lennox SHW archetype is the best H2H fighter in theory-land.

 

Lewis in his prime was best ever. He was a plus at most every quality needed to be a great fighter. His chin may have been his weakest quality but he wasn’t without durability. He had all the potential needed to be the greatest and then he went with Manny Steward which pushed him to a level above everyone else.

 

We are talking about the peak version of Wladimir Klitschko.He had no issues with his stamina
once he began training with Emanuel Steward.

As for the Fury fight that was obviously a past-prime Wlad.

 

He lost to Brewster due to stamina issues, while with Steward. They weren't working together for long tho at this stage. His stamina issues were gone around 2006 when he entered his prime.

 

Yes it was, and also a LAST Fight Wlad after 16 years Boxing, against a spoiling victory from a fighter that didn't even deserve the honour and who still doesn't.

Owned & Placed into position and protected for revenue returns, a 3rd rate fighter and a disgusting practice which has absolutely ended Boxing these last few decades or so. Very few reasons to love it anymore.

 

Could have used a little more chin and a little less holding

 

I think so. This guy was almost 6'7 and came in lean but strong each fight. He had a great amateur background that started early (I believe he was 12 when he first started boxing). He even had a PhD in sports science! When it comes to his skills he has arguably the best left hook, best jab, and best right hand in boxing. A good blend of speed and power that few in history can compete with. I read this on another website a couple days ago. I don't know if it is true, but this shows how athletic Wlad was. And to add to all this, he had a brother that is a little taller and has a similar background (started boxing early, strong amateur background, PhD sports science, etc.) who he was able to do a lot of training and sparring with.

"Wladimir hits very hard, harder than (Mike) Tyson. At one point, they ran twelve 800-meter [roughly a half mile] sprints, each under 3 minutes, with a minute rest between each one. I timed every one and every one was under 3 minutes. I never saw a heavyweight do anything even close to that. They work their asses off. To be able to do that, two 250-pound guys – whew. They're two of the best athletes I've ever trained."

—Freddie Roach, who trained both the Klitschko brothers and Mike Tyson, on the athleticism of the brothers.

 

I've been following boxing for over 50 years.The bloody awful Tyson Fury winning the world heavyweight-title
almost drove me away from the sport ( I'm eternally grateful to Oleksandr Usyk ! ).Yes I really miss the
heavyweights of yesteryear who could fight at a furious pace for 15 rounds in championship fights.

 

Yep,nobody would argue with this but Wlad was still a tremendous heavyweight-champion.

 

I think you're missing the point.

You stated if Wladimir had a better chin he'd possibly be seen as the "GOAT".

But does his career really alter with a better chin ? That's what I'm trying to say.

Because 2 of his losses to Purrity, Brewster, were stamina issues not chin issues.

And as I said he'd still lose to Fury because he was older and it was a stylistic problem not a chin issue.

So I don't think his career really changes even with a better chin except for maybe the Sanders fight.

Unless you're talking about Wladimir in his prime with a better chin in a H2H sense facing off against every Heavyweight past or present ?

Then yes I'd agree H2H he'd be very hard to beat.

 

No doubt

 

Lewis also showed that he could, if need be, embrace a dogfight and emerge out the other side. He was noticeably more complete than Wlad.

 

Lennox would demolished Wlad
Lewis is ultimate modern super HW