Physically, its hard to argue he wasnt.. I dont think technically he has improved really..Still doesnt really possess infighting skills and his kit of punches seems to be the same ones he relies on heavily now. But he has shifted his tactics a bit to be far more conservative..which has made him very hard to beat. He just has average whiskers on an above average package.
Every person who thinks Klitschko was in his prime vs. Sanders is a complete idiot who should stop posting here.
He was close enough. Think Joe Louis when he lost to Schmeling, except with a bit less experience. Physically, he was. Strategy and technique wise, he still had a little bit to work on. It should still be held against him considerably.
Wlad was 40-1-0 and 27 when he faced Sanders, with a long amateur career. Louis was 24-0, and a 21yo. Wlad was certainly very experienced, much more so than Louis Wlad may be tactically better and less gun ho now but he also hasnt fought anyone with any type of speed, skill or stamina to give him a good fight
He was a prime athlete and mentally far below his current level. Klitschko at that time didn't prepare right, he even forgot he was fighting a southpaw. He had no clue on what to do with an unexpected situation, made in mistake after the other once Sanders' first good punch connected. The current version of Wlad would survive the first three rounds againsr Sanders behind his jab and with good footwork and clinching and then break him down. Just like the fully developed Lennox Lewis wouldn't get KO'd by McCall, even though he was in his physical prime when it happened.
he was too cocky and he needed that loss to bring him down to reality, much like the loss to McCall helped Lewis in the long run, Vlad losses made him a better winning fighter.
Heavyweight boxers, and athletes in general, age more slowly these days. That, and Joe Louis was incredibly good even at 21 years old. Near-flawless puncher. It's actually a similar situation to Lennox Lewis before he adopted his more cautious, negative approach to boxing.
I disagree with this and I think Emanuel Steward would too. Wlad is just not a physical fighter. His losses have come from his inability to handle pressure or be in a rough physical fight. Hes really shown little improvement in my opinion once hes in a rough fight. The Peter fight showed he had a little more heart, but little more ability to be a physical inside fighter. It will happen again once he comes accross a fighter who can stand up to his power and keep coming forward. Lennox always had a mean streak in him and the ability to be a little more rough in the clinches. Wlad is simply too big and clumbsy when hes not operating from a safe distance. Mark my words it will happen again, and its not going to take a world beater to do it.
He was 26 years old, almost 27, and was probably the number 1 contender to Lewis's title. He'd been boxing professionally for 6 years and had 41 professional fights under his belt. He had wins over Chris Byrd, Jameel McCline, Ray Mercer, Botha, Schulz, Derrick Jefferson and Monte Barrett. This guy was in his prime, no question. He might still be in his prime, but at 33, I wonder maybe he might be starting to slip. He's in great shape and with his style he might retain his peak through his mid-30s. We shall see. But there should be no doubt that he was in his prime when he faced Sanders.
This thread brings up an interesting issue: how do we classify the 'prime' of a fighter who spent part of his career using a sub-optimal approach and then switched during his physical prime? As I mentioned, this also touches on Lennox Lewis's career.
By classifying it as physical prime and fighting prime. I believe Wlad was in his physical prime but now he is at his fighting prime which is the best he can be both physically and technically.