For Wladimir Klitschko to rank in the top 20 heavyweights of all time

Vlad has some very strong strengths and some strong weaknesses that have showed up in the past...mainly anxiousness and panic...but he has improved...if he can keep the calmness that is one of his brothers strengths he may come out very high on the ATG charts if he can get there.....one thing about the Klitschko's that I like is there work ethic that real 6'6 + guys are able to maintain 240-250 of defined muscle and mobility. I watched the FAT Fight last night between guys that are clearly 30-50 lbs over weight....(IT would Gag a Maggott) Chrissy"Nipples" Areola and Jameel"Next Meal" McClined to do so......There are questions about Vlad but if he get through David(at least in shape) Haye and beats McCline he would surpass a few top Heavys in the last few decades

 

I concour.

 

What do you think he should do about Wlad's holding on the inside?

 

I am not sure that these two wins add all that much to his resume (although obviously time could change this). I think that Vlad needs to unify badly, even though i think he will, because this means that he then fights the no1 contenders (or at least no 2) in the world instead of the number 4 contenders. This is very important for legacy, imo, and the fact that the klitchskos cant do with 2 people what Tyson did with one does effect their legacy, in the particular circumstances that they find themself in.

I also think that Vlad badly needs to win a war, worse than any other fighter. He needs to show he can win when he is given a major fight. At the moment, he has shown that he either outclasses fighters, or he seems to lose. This, again, hurts his legacy and strangely enough a fair split decision win, with anyone, would actually do more for his standin, imo, than a KO victory. I actually wouldnt mind him fighting against guys like Tua, Holyfield, Valuev, McCall, who are guys that would definitely take his punishment and would also be sure to land plenty in return. There are probably younger hungrier and even better fighters out there but these guys are exactly what Vlad needs to improve his legacy in the longer term.

Oddly enough, Vitaly is actually the perfect opponent. And a Vlad vs Vitali match would be a legacy cementer for each of the brothers.

 

Honestly, Puritty is just as dangerous as Oliver McCall, who beat Lennox.

A nearly comparable chin, a ridiculously hard to break through, VERY high guard to back that up, and he hit deceptively hard.

I don't much hold that against Wladimir, who was fighting ridiculously often, any more then I do the McCall loss for Lennox.

 

He is close to if not already in the top 20,if he keeps wining for a few more years he will be up there for sure.I think he will get some deserved respect when he beats Haye.

 

Where will you place him if Haye kos him?

 

If I were Hayes trainer I would have him work on shortening his punches which would make it dangerous for Wlad to initiate his favoured clinching technique.

As things stand I think Hayes handspeed will make it dangerous for Wlad to get close enough to hold onto Haye.

Both men are smart ring generals and we might be somewhat surprised by the tactics they both adopt.

Expect the unexpected in this fight!!!!!!!

 

Rating Wladimir among the all-time greats is difficult because he hasn't been sufficiently challenged by top-class opposition. I think he ranks way up there h2h, but through no fault of his own I can't put him ahead of some true greats because he simply hasn't been sufficiently tested. A fight with Lennox would have revealed much, but beating up on Arreola and/or Povetkin isn't a statement so much as an expectation as far as I'm concerned.

 

Ahh I dont think so. Purrity couldnt carry Mcall's jockstrap. Purrity will go down in history for stopping Wlad thats it. Mcall is a former world champion who fought competitively against a lot of top guys. Wlad would have to start over in earlier era and win like he is winning now, and I just dont see that happening. He was inconsistent in a somewhat mediocre era, now he is doing well, but still showing some weaknesses, in probably one of the weakest eras in heavyweight boxing.

 

Realistically he wasnt ready for Lewis at that time, in fact it was Lewis who called Sanders on the phone and told him exactly what to do to Klitschko to make him fall apart and it worked perfectly. Lewis would have had a much easier time believe me.
As far as Haye being any big deal in the division, hes been knocked out at cruiser already, Wlad is a big big heavyweight, I dont think it proves much.

 

Wladimir Klitschko is certainly not in my #1-10 All-Time Heavyweight list. Lately, I have started to give some thought to #11-20. I don't think Wladimir will make that list, either, even if he beats Haye.