Is it impossible to become an ATG heavyweight anymore?

Was reading a couple of threads and it seems that the Klits aren't taken seriously not so much because of obvious flaws they have, but because their division is so weak that there is nobody to fight. So that begs the question - is it no longer possible to campaign as a heavyweight and build any kind of ATG credentials? If Ali came up now, or Foreman or Joe Louis (people we all recognize as ATG fighters), would they ever be recognized for their greatness in this era? If so, how? What would the blueprint be for achieving all time greatness in this era's heavyweight division?

Discuss

 

Have exactly Wlad's resume but be born an American citizen with a foul mouth, a disrespect for one's opponents and act like a thug both in and especially outside the ring. That's your ticket to ring immortality these days.

 

If someone came along and beath the Klitschko's, Valuev, Peter, Chagaev, Povetkin and any other top-10 heavyweight in dominant fashion, unified the titles, and racked up a shitload of defenses while remaining consistently dominant, they would sit up there amongst the greats.

 

Some old time historians or serious fans think certain people MUST be on ATG lists. IMO, this is flawed, modern fighters can get on there too. The trouble is an old timer must move off to make room for him.

 

To achieve ATG status in this weak heavyweight era, I think you need to do it through longevity. Rack up a ton of defenses, perhaps break a record for number of defnses or something.

 

Wlad still has a chance to become an ATG HW.

Vitali is extremely unlikely because of his age and weak resume.

 

Wlad will be an all time great ATG.

Vitali maybe, although unlikely.

If they were American they would be heralded as the saviours of boxing.

 

unify the belts for starters!

 

Heavyweights in todays extremely weak division are at a disadvantage that fighters in other divisions are not. Guys in other divisions can acheive ATG or hall of fame status by moving up and holding world titles at multiple weights. Heavyweights have no place to go. They are also up against it because thie guys who fought from Ali through Lewis are still the gold standard.

 

Exactly what do those other belts mean anymore? The Champion makes the belt, the belt doesn't make the Champion. It used to be a lot easier to unify the titles than it is now. The orgs simply do not want it to happen, because they want all of the sanctioning fees and revenue for the title fight for themselves.

 

I'd say, Wladimir is a definate top 5 ish guy of all time already.

Wladimir has a great, great, jab, and he is very diciplined, I think he'd beat Ali if I am honest and Lewis at the moment; the reason he don't get recognition is simple, the guy is not american!

 

Seriously, leave this board immediatly and never ****ing watch boxing ever again, Wlad top 5 ATG

****ing ******s.

Prime Lewis would ice Prime Wlad inside 3 rounds.

 

Lennox Lewis is a modern Heavyweight who is regarded very highly all-time. The door is always open for fighters to gain this status, they just need to fight and defeat the best of their era. That's all.

 

Lennox Lewis, the paradigm of a modern ATG heavyweight, ranked #3 in my book, defeated 17 contenders/champions in his career. Wlad has defeated 14 and will probably beat more, but in a much much weaker era.

 

Is that the same Lewis who got ko'd by Rahman?

Or, is it the lazy **** that Oliver mCcal knocked out?

I'm curious, I will tell you why, how can the guy who lost to them bums beat a legand like Wladimir, you must be on drugs mate, Wladimir is a legand!