Who's the Smallest-Ever Fighter You'd Pick to Beat Current Wlad 6+ Times Outta 10?

Ali was at his best against the big fighters and hard punchers. Prime Foreman and Sonny Liston, for example. As for footwork, fast hands, skills and jab - Ali has Wlad beat on all those. And don't forget Foreman and Liston both had superb jabs, Ali had no problem slipping them. Wlad has a problem with psychology - and will be up against the all-time great of psychological warfare.

 

But if they were fighting, by definition they'd be in the same era. If the matchup happened in the 1930s, Wlad wouldn't have modern conditioning. If the fight happened now, Louis would have all the benefits of modern athleticism, nutrition etc.

For this reason, different athletic standards of each era never matter when comparing two fighters from different eras.

 

Marciano, Dempsey,Louis all have a shot ...While Marciano beat guys that were 6'4 they were not in the class of Vlad but in all fairness the best of guys over 6"2 were Willard and Carnera until Earnie Terrel and then Lewis...Louis beat some quality big men but I dont think the issue is size here it is class....Vlad could fight a perfect fight and beat them all on a good night but can he do it 10 times or 2 or 4.....I think the punchers would have the best shots over Vlad where Ali would have to cut him or wear him down...I think stylewise Vlad is a tough fight for Ali but at this junture the punchers could be a problem for Vlad...but the future may prove me wrong....Some fighter show a better side of them selves as they age....the skill brings them to another level even though they diminish in other area's......can Vlad be one of those guys

 

Maybe you consider it cheating, but every boxer has a way of bending the rules. Holyfield always snuck in a headbutt, Marciano hit low and used his elbows, Holmes thumbed, Frazier hit low, Tyson did all sort of crazy stuff, and Ali like Wlad held.

Wlad is capable of starting fast and has certainly shown that. Why should he start quick against Rahman, who is known to carry big one-punch power (unlike Frazier) and who is likely to fade after round 5 when they fought? Steward is very sharp and will not miss the fact that Frazier is more open early on.

That's a question no one can answer for sure. I do know that Frazier will be lighter than any of his opponents and is certainly not the strongest of champions.

True, but Frazier will be pushed around by a guy who has 40 lbs on him and last time that happened, he got annihilated.

Agreed.

I think Wlad does not fit in the category of "big, slow, punchers" like Foremand and Liston. Foreman had zero technique and thought he could bash Ali to death within 4 rounds. He did not use his "superb" jab at all in their fight. Liston was six inches shorter than Wlad and slower. Machen and Ali completely neutralized his jab. By contrast, no one ever got away from Wlad's jab, including the very slick and fast Byrd who lost every round. I'd pick Ali to win most of their fights based on his speed and more proven ability, but this is a very hard fight for him stylistically.

 

I think starting aggressively is a horrible strategy for Wlad against Frazier, considering what happened when other non-durable boxers started quickly against Frazier.

And when did this happen? :huh

:thumbsup

 

Both Klitschko brothers have long, slow jabs, that wouldn't do them any good against the head movement and body attack of Joe Frazier.

Chris Byrd had fast hands and good head movement, and I watched him pick off Klitschko's jabs easy. Byrd also made him miss but didn't make him pay with return shots. Frazier would make both Klitchko Brothers miss and would bring the hurt to them all night long to the body. I'd be very surprised to see either Wlad or Vitali answer the bell for round 7 against Joe Frazier. Both may have Joe on the canvas early, but they're not stopping a prime Joe Frazier.

 

Yes, but Sam would look a whole lot taller standing over Wladimir Klitschko's sleeping body.

 

If smallest means lightest, I would say Jack Dempsey. Dempsey was a fast starter with dynamic hands and feet, with some slip and ducking ability. Style wise, I think this combined with great power is Wlad's toughest match up.

I am almost to the point of thinking that Wlad would take at least 7 of 10 vs Langford and Demspey. They are small, and don't get past Wlad's arsenal.

Dempsey really wasn't that small. He stood a shade over 6'1", and had a reach of 77".

 

We are talking about Wlad at his best. The Purrity fight was a fluke. The Brewster and Sanders defeats were a bad stretch for him mentally. These performances can be pulled out for any champ. Do you honestly think the Marciano that fought Cockell would last more than a few rounds with Wlad? Really? The Tyson that fought Douglas? The Ali of Norton III? This process can be repeated ad nauseum.

 

I think your vastly overating Wladmir. He is not that good. He is fighting in a division with no real fighters now. Brewster, Sanders, actually could fight a "little". Most of the fighters of the past could fight a lot more than the guys of today. Were being overun by European boxers, and their style is to box not fight. Wlad is an excellent boxer, but a horrible fighter. Its been proven and its a big deficit for Wlad, the division is just too shallow now.
Its like watching David Tua fight in the 90's. A solid technician could easily outbox him just about the entire fight. A guy trying to fight him would lose just about everytime. Which do you prefer? There both boring to watch, just Tua was a little more exciting once the final boom was lowered.

 

You may be onto something, but, those non-durable boxers did not have Wlad's power. Foreman, who was that durable during his first career in my opinion, had no trouble with it.

Okay, more like 15lbs. But if anything, that makes the argument stronger.

When did Wlad lose to a 5'6" lightheavyweight?

I think it's definitely not out of the question, considering he fought his first 45 pro fights using that aggressive style. He definitely has the power to pull it off.



Notice the multitude of "definitely's". I've watched a few Lennox interviews.

Okay, i'm not quite decided on this one yet. I'm just saying that Frazier is looking at a huge size and reach disadvantage, is not the most durable boxer nor has a one-punch power equalizer. The pressure may well get to Wlad, but i'm not sure if he gets there and if he can be effective enough when he gets tied up and shoved around all the time.

Again, i'm not too sure about that. Refer to the above. Especially if we're talking about a 12 round fight. That jab won't be a small factor.

 

I think a young Foreman was more a lot more durable than Wladimir and I say that as a Wlad fan.

If I was Wlad's trainer against Frazier, I'd tell him to move carefully, then try and look for the big counter left-hook from the outside and the uppercut as Frazier gets close.

Foreman was 3 1/2 lbs heavier in their first fight and a 1/2 lb LIGHTER in their second fight. Clearly, weight was not an important factor at all. You'd have been better off if you were talking about height/reach.

Foreman won those fights because he was a tall, durable slugger who could go punch-for-punch and stay in the lion's den against Frazier long enough to find opening with that monster uppercut.

 

The talent exists today as it does in every era. The biggest problem is a lack of match-ups being made to showcase and develop this talent. Physically, Wlad is a specimen, a great, great talent. What he has lacked in the past is the mental fortitude to cope when things go sour. It's not like he was knocked cold by punches but he got overwhelmed and off track by bigtime, solid punchers. He feasts on smaller fighters, like a big cat bouncing them around the ring until he decides to end the affair. I see similar fates awaiting most of the fighters listed. Or am I to believe there was never another Joe Frazier or Marciano type made? They exist, they have just been run out of the sport by larger fighters.

 

No there never was another Frazier or Marciano type.

They were total aberations.

David Tua is an example of sombody who could potentialy have been of this mould but never was.

Of course you are right to say that Frazier and Marciano suffer some stylistic disadvantages here.

What in gods name makes you think that Sam Langfors suffers a greater style or even size disadvantage?