Rating Klitchsko as an ATG

Wlad post, not on film per say, but because he is cleaning out the divsion.

Still getting the ko's like pre Sanders, but not in the action pack fashion of that time frame.

Though its pretty hard seeing small heavyweights with out a big punch like Tyson or Louis out boxing Wlad.

I would add Ali into that list also.

 

I'm a K-bro. nut-grabbing psycho....... No shame over here........ NONE!

These dudes are the best out there in the 21st century as heavyweights....

Both bros. could handle themselves in any era of heavyweight boxing....

Anyone who thinks the brothers are one-dimensional and slow, ponderous and lacking skills are WAY outta line and blind as bats........

MR.BILL

 

I wouldn't rank them in a top ten list but I think they certainly rank somewhere in your top 20 for sure.

 

I think Wlad Klit fully found his way back to top form after he beat Byrd's ass again in 2006......... Since 2006, W.K. has been utterly wicked and bad-ass............

V.K. has never lost his form........ V.K. is just wicked........

V.K. made more fans & money in losing to Lennox Lewis in '03 (Cuts) than any other fighter who's ever lost a big fight in his career...... Here we are 7 yrs later and V.K. is a multi-millionaire and WBC champ......... V.K. is a real winner........

MR.BILL

 

I actually like and respect both brothers ... I always liked Vitali as the tougher and better of the two. I respect the way Wlad has carefully rebuilt his career by minizing risk to his weak chin. Based on their size and skills I feel both would do pretty good in head to head match ups with many all time greats over the course of the history of the division ... that being said, I feel either brother would have had their head handed to them by a prime Tyson, Holyfield, Bowe or Lewis.

 

I think he is more aesthetically pleasing pre Sanders, and perhaps is slightly more 'textbook' pre Sanders. Post Sanders he is definitly more effective as he maximises every advantage he has.

By 'textbook' I mean the fact he showed more of the textbook arsenal, rather than now sticking to the bare basics.

 

Again, whatever older bro Vitali may lack in athletic guile and savvy compared to young bro Wladimir, I think V.K. evens the score by being meaner, tougher and simply more vicious in the ring............

And, enough of the bollocks that the K-bros. fight paranoid or scared cuz they utilize the ring and use certain God given advantages blessed to them.... That is what is called smarts and skills.........

The K-bros. are solid dude's on top of the throne....

MR.BILL

 

But do you really think they would be as dominant in the 70s or 90s?
Yes they would still be a force but they wouldn't be killing everybody like they have been doing recently. That's the problem. They didn't face good comp. If they had these great records and if they were as dominant in the 70s or 90s, you could make a very good argument for them being in the top 10 atg heavyweights.
But they weren't.
so they're staying in my top 20 until further notice.

 

No. But the bros. size, strength and power would baffle all the greats in some form or fashion.....

I live for the 70s heavies, as most ESBers know but, aside from "Ali, Holmes & Foreman," I think the brothers would beat or draw with the likes of "Frazier, Norton, Lyle, Quarry, Ellis or Shavers."

MR.BILL

 

I think that's a fair sentiment.

their biggest problem with a higher rating is their competition won't be making the hall of fame anytime soon, except lennox lewis, maybe an outside shot for chris byrd, and btw they lost to both of them.

 

I don't like the way you don't put Frazier in with those 4 greats. I think that Frazier would beat both Klits.... And I think Norton's awkwardness and jab would give them a lot of trouble. He's a 6'4 heavyweight with an 80 inch reach and a very strong jab. Plus he had a good left hook and overhand right. I think Norton may well beat Wlad. Lyle was a good banger with strength and power. He could outslug Wlad if he landed a power shot. I just don't think Wlad would outslug him. He doesn't like getting roughed up.
Quarry has a chance to counter and K/D Wlad, but he might get cut and considering the klitschko's power, it would happen.
Ellis has a chance to outbox either of them... seriously.
Shavers might knockout Wlad but Vitali would probably knock him out late.

 

Top 20 head to head ATG for sure.

Top 15-10 can be argued in a legacy depending on how you define a legacy. One great thing about the game of baseball is players can be compared to others who played in different times from a statistical point of view. We can all see who had the best batting average, most stolen bases, most home runs, won the most titles etc...

Boxing could take a cue from baseball. Who had the most title defense, who has the highest KO%, who has the best rounds won to rounds lost ratio, who had successful come backs, longevity records as who was still at the top in their mid to late 30's ect...

In a stats comparison of records and averages, the Klitschko's tower above most ATG's.

 

I don't rank Vitali in the top 20 (or anywhere near) on accomplishments - his resume is very weak, though H2H he might be in the lower end of the list.

Wlad is inching toward a top 15 spot I'd say, though his resume isn't brilliant his dominance is very impressive, H2H there is always the question mark over his chin.

Wlad >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Vitali.