If Wlad ads another notch to his belt against Chambers, will it help his legacy?

Damn right he did -Lewis-Tyson. And he was absolutely right in doing so, both times.

Wlad had no reason to fight like he did last night. He could have ended that bout with minimal risk 6 rounds earlier.

I'd actually come closer to agreeing with you if Wlad was 6'2 and less physically imposing. He simply doesn't need to fight like that and I think that the reason why he does is because he has a mental block.

Ruddock? Norton? Tucker? McCall? Holyfield?

Chambers behaved like a sportsman. Sportsman should go into survival mode when hurt. Most boxing fans expect boxers to behave like fighters, not sportsman. And that goes for both Wlad and Eddie.

 

Watching Tyson and Tua, for example, the left foot is often off the floor at impact. The drive comes a moment before. And there's no way I'm buying that those two weren't lowe-body untilizers.

 

This is my thoughts on it.

Chambers had the chance to become Heavyweight Champion of the world, instead he went to survive. If I was giving that chance I would put every ounce of energy I had into winning that title. I would rather say 'I gave my all to be champ but fell short' rather than knowing I could have done better.

 

He just packed out a 50,000 seater arena and gave the crowd the KO they wanted, (and it wasn't the worst fight I've seen by heavyweight standards by any means.)
That's not what I call "hurting the sport".

Last night's fight was similar to Lennox Lewis's ordinary fare. Except Larry Merchant wasn't there to ride Wlad's dick.

 

I don't think it's hurting the sport either. As far as I know, the fight wasn't broadcasted in the US, unlike Klitschko-Ibragimov which may have "hurt" the sport somewhat, and the Germans obviously appreciated it.

Imagine watching the likes of Henry Maske and Sven Ottke for years, atleast watching Abraham and the Klitschko brothers the fans know they'll usually get to see a decisive knockout win at the end of the fight.

 

Do you know what happens when you push down and through both legs in an explosive manner? You jump. The fighters mentioned earlier in this thread are all guilty of doing this with one leg at some time or another.

 

Ok.
I'm looking at what they do, rather than what they say. Most of the best left hooks I see the foot leaves the canvas, the left side leaps. Probably because of the sheer dynamics of the punch ; they drive and shift. BANG ! (as Jim Lampley would say)

 

For my money this is Wlads best win to date.

It has all the characteristics of a legacy enhancing win in terms of the opponents ranking and impact on the division.

Slap this on Joe Louis's record and it is a good win.

 

For me Chris Byrd I remains his best win. Chambers doesn't have much of a resume and I don't think he'll ever be the same after this.

 

Look at the front angle on the replay. You can clearly see the twist of his hips. It is very natural and smooth, as though he has practices this punch for years, which he has. Why doesn't he use it more? I bet Manny would like to know this, too.

 

Sugar Ray Leonard demonstrated repeatedly to me and a whole group of teenagers how to throw the hook as a transfer of weight from lead to rear leg, torque the hips almost simultaneously, fist following from shoulder. It was the best punch I ever had and I still throw a pretty mean one.

Sorry, but Wlad got nice torque on that punch. Maybe it's less obvious in degrees because his levers are so freaking long. But the proof is in the pudding, as they say.

 

I thought he might use the left hook this fight because of Chambers' tendency to lean away from punches. But it took a long time coming, despite Steward imploring him to use it several rounds earlier. Better late than never.