Thoughts on Vitali vs Dragon

The trouble is once the Klitschko's KO somebody, they vault down the rankings. Vitali has beaten Peter when Peter was #2. He has beaten Sanders. Sanders at that point was fresh off his upset win over Wlad was #3, though you could argue he should have been higher than that.

Since Povetkin, Peter, Haye, Arreola, Chagaev, Gomez, and Johnson are unlikely to meet each other the difference between #2 and #10 somewhat vague. I do think Povetkin is the clear #2 eased off quality wins, and being in his prime now. It really doesn't matter. Chagaev at #3 was as over matched as Arreola was at #9.

Haye is a trash talker who can't walk the walk. He has no interest in fighting either Klitschko. He will hide behind his WBA belt, which in all honesty should have been Wlad's as Wlad beat the WBA champion in Chagaev. If Wlad had the WBA belt, Haye would have to beat a live body to get ranked. Perhaps then he would opt to hop on a plane to Germany to get knocked out in exchange for say 2 million dollars. But make no mistake about it, as soon as Haye looses he too will tumble down the rankings of the top ten.

 

Given either he or Wlad was no1 and no2 most the time, its not really possible for him to beat no1 or no2

 

Are aware the one of the top sports writers of the time in Jimmy Cannon said Marciano stood out like a rose in a garbage dump?

Seriously if Don Cockell could be ranked #2, the heavyweight division back then the division was in bad shape. Cockell would not be in the top ten today

Rocky did fight the best out there, minus Valdes. My criticism was Valdes, unlike Walcott and Charles was in his prime. He was also ranked #1 with a win over Charles.

Rocky defeated an old Walcott who never won a match after meeting Rocky, a past his prime Charles who went south after Rocky beat him, and a light heavy who was also older. I think it is obvious the division was not great back then. Yeah, he fought the best out there for the most part. Its not his fault the division was in decline.

You can say the modern heavyweight in division lacks talent too, but I see a stark contrast. Vitali was neverknocked down, behind on points, or had to struggle vs his comeptition. Rocky did. And not all of Vitali's opponents were old.

 

No it wasn't. Close but clear.

 

My point was Valdes was #1 for a while, and had already beaten Charles. Why did he not get a title shot? How long was Valdes #1? Over a year, I think.

 

He did have a chance against Lewis & Byrd.

 

I only give criticism to Rocky for fighting Cockell over Valdes, but it's understandable since they wanted to see if Marciano's nose holds up after the second Charles fight. He could have been more active as a champion, but in the end he always defended his title against top class fighters.