Jack Johnson, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali... Wladimir Klitschko

In context, really no names. Mercer was 75 years old. Lamon was frankly, never very talented. He got easily beat by Clifford Etienne, lost to Charles Shufford, and defeated by Sergey Lyakhovich (before Klitschko got his revenge on his own turf over the then eye impaired, non-active, money starved LB). Chris was a great fighter and successful for a period of time in a division he barely was big enough for but it is hardly the stuff of greatness or legend when a 6'6 1/2" super heavyweight defeats a 6'0" light heavyweight/cruiser without enough weight in his back pocket to trouble anyone.

It certainly isn't a meaningful resume when Chris Byrd is the only decent fighter a giant can claim to have defeated.

Maybe Wladimir's name belongs alongside Clifford Etienne and below Corrie Sanders and Ike Ibeabuchi (who destroyed Chris in five a full year and a half before Wlad dumped Chris twice in a twelve round decision).

I'm with ya regarding the "no where near a legend". That is fact.

 

I agree, Wlad is a good fighter but this nuthuggery is getting out of line.

 

He's no legend, but I think he's horrendously underrated.

When he defeated Chris Byrd, Byrd was ranked the #1 heavyweight in the World. Since that lopsided thrashing, noone has looked like threatening Wladimirs dominance.

He has since struggled to find top quality opposition(much like Joe Louis), but he has dismantled the best fighters available to him, like Ruslan Chagaev, with ease.

You can't accuse him of ducking anyone - At least I wouldn't. He is completely, totally and utterly dominating his era. He suffered a couple of hiccups but he has improved immeasurably since.

I'm expecting to rank Wlad ahead of Lennox Lewis by the time his career comes to an end, i.e., in the top20 heavyweights of all time. You can say what you like about his style, his heart, and his durability, but objectively he is crushing everyone available to him, and that has to be worth something.

At the moment I think he should crack everyones top40 list - But his career is far from over.

 

Yes, Wlad's legendary panic attacks are the stuff of legends. Wether it was against Sanders, TOS, Brewster, or Peter. The man can have an attack at a moments notice, especially when he sees a big punch coming his way. He also loves to fall to the canvas, so much so he makes a point of it to fall several times when he's fighting anyone with power. Wlad is truly a glass chinned legend.

 

Exactly.

In another generation when great big men have finally decided to pursue boxing again their limitations as athletes will come into clearer focus. Right now some can't see the forest for the trees. Lennox was the last great big man. Wlad is just a far, far less talented version in the aggregate.