I've read all the Wlad vs. ATG's threads, but how about this?

Wlad looks huge in the ring against guys who are in their 230s and 250s of pounds. He's 6'7 and he's a very well built 6'7.

Wepner was a skinny 6'5. He weighed the same as Ali in their fight, Ali was 6'2 1/2th.

If you're talking Wlad of 6-10 years ago, I think if you overwhelm him and manage to get him on the backfoot, he wasn't great at recovering and almost made the punches hurt more because he didn't brace for them.

He wasn't used to getting pushed back and really didn't have a defence for it.

Wlad of today is a much better fighter, using head movement if he gets pushed to the backfoot as well as lateral movement. The way he uses his reach with his jab is near perfection and I can only really think of Lennox Lewis as being "better' with the jab - difference is, Lenox still gives up 2 inches of height to Wlad.

In a fight against Wepner? I see Wlad keeping the guy filled with a face of leather and in all likeyhood, being stopped late - probably in and around the 7th to 10th round.

 

Chuvalo, Wepner, Quarry, and Bonavena would all hold titles at some point if they were around today. I can see Quarry as a top cruiser now days, but he was absolute hell on big men.

 

Quarry would've cleaned up the WBA title mess. He's one of those guys who walks the line between superbly underrated and massively overrated depending on who you talk to.

 

Don't be upset or anything. It's time consuming and honestly extremely hard to do at times. There's tons of great fighters I don't much about...it's just something that eats up a lot of time and money.

Then when ya think ya know a thing or to, somebody from the forums who knows more than you decides to smack you around

 

Klit fans have very little to base comparisons on. The HW division has been very weak for quite awhile. Guys like Wepner, Chuvalo, Bonavena, and Quarry were second tier fighters in their day. However, "their day" was one of the strongest periods in HW history. We see essentially the same thing at 147. It is a strong division compared to some other divisions right now. However, if Cotto, Margo, Clottey, Mosely, and Mayweather had to compete in the welterweight division of the late 70's early 80's, they would all be second tier fighters. In boxing everything is relative.

PS
Check out Frazier/Bonavena if you get a chance. Ringo was a baaaad man!

 

Like most ATGs, when unmotivated against a tough opponent...you could get some interesting stuff from Ali.

 

Bonavena went 25 rounds with Smokin' Joe. Lost a 10 round SD, and a competetive 15 round UD. Not many people fought Frazier and finished on their feet. Ringo did it twice.

 

223 vs 225 lbs.