I'd say yes. In just 20 fights he beat Tua and Byrd.That is damn impressive. He was big,had power,great workrate for a HW,decent jab,good chin.
I think he would have been up there at the top. His record at 20 fights suggests that, along with his performances, and taking into account some improvement. I'm sure he'd be up there giving the Klitschko's a run for their money. Unfortunately boxing is not only a physical sport but a mental one. That would have probably let him down somewhere along the line regardless.
He would have been an ABC champ at some point, but Lewis would have killed him. People seem to forget that his wins against Byrd and Tua, while impressive, were struggles. Look at how those men were owned by Wlad and Lewis, respectively.
Something special. I cant think of too many Heavyweights that could of went toe to toe with a prime a Tua and survived, let alone got the better of him in most exchanges. In 99 when he knocked Bryd out cold, many believed he would be the successor to Lewis' thrown. He certainly had the power, strong chin, good combination puncher, good hand speed, and was built poweful as **** at 6'2 and a half. I do believe he would of been champion for most of the early 2000's and probably wouldn't of lost till the mid 2000's. The man had everything physically, mentally is a whole different story.
The Tua that Ike fought would murder either K brother. Ike was a step above ANY of the heavyweights out there now, a whole other level.
I repect your oppinion. Mine is that the Tua that Ike foguth would have been outboxed at a distance by Wlad the the same as Lennox Lewis. Tua and Vitaly would have been a great fight, with Vitaly's incredible size advantage making the differnence.
Ike would destroy Wlad. Look at the fighters Wlad has lost to or had the most difficulty with. There fighters that are aggressive, and our willing to bring the fight to him. Something Ike wouldn't be shy in doing, and he certainly has the chin to take Wlad's bombs and the power to shatter Wlad's weak chin. Wlad is only good when his oppenent is content on staying at the end of his jab, and practically making no attempt to get on the inside, Ike would get in on Wlad and rip him up.
I agree with everybody -- a wasted talent. A potentially great fighter. I have a list of underachievers at heavyweight, from Greg Page to Corrie Sanders, from Gerrie Coetzee to David Tua, Riddick Bowe, Gerry Cooney, Razor Ruddick, Duane Bobick, Andrew Golata. With their great talents, what could they have achieved given the warrior spirit of Joe Frazier or Evander Holyfield?
Wlas is a completely differnent fighter than when he lost. I agree that Ike would ahve destroyed the Wlad of 2004.
Another man ko'd by LENNOX LEWIS . What did ike do that was so great??? stopped byrd, so wlad did it 2xwent life and death with tua, lewis played with tua:yep... the dumb**** was stupid outside the ring too...
The Wlad of now has the same weak chin and panics when the going gets tough. Wlad had Manny in his corner for the Peter fight, and yet he still found himself in panic mode and knocked down numerous times, turning his back to his oppenent and clinching excessively as well. The difference now is the fact that the Heavyweight division is limmited when it comes to fighters who are tough and willing take bombs to win or better there chances of winning, like both Peter and Brewster were willing to do. Wlad's now more defensive than offensive now, which helps him pace himself more and also give his oppenents less chance of getting to to his achilles heel, which is his glass chin.
:huh Damn man, you really have no clue what you're talking about do you? Ike never even faced Lewis and was undeafeated when he was imprisoned. And Wlad only KOed Byrd once. The 1st fight ended in a UD for Klitschko... and Ibeabuchi managed to stop Byrd in less time than Wlad did in only 5 rounds to Klitscho's 7.