Wladimir Klitschko

2005 Major HW Fights:

Byrd/Williamson
Rahman/Barret
Rahman/Toney
Ruiz/Valuev
Ruiz/Toney
Klitschko/Peter
Brewster/Golota

Need I say more? Helenius crushing Peter has already made this year better than 2005.

 

I think Vitali is even better at controlling distance.

 

Who has he fought again?

He wasn't very good at controlling distance against Brewster or Sanders...

And this was after he won a gold medal, had 40 pro fights and was defending his title for the 7th time.

Caveman Peter also managed to knock him down...

Tell me again how Wlad wasn't in his athletic prime against Sanders?

Sure he can control distance, but against whom?

Chambers who had no idea how to move foward and was content at just lunging in with occasional right hands or when he was in retreat, backing up straight up and down squared up like Author Abraham?

What about Chagaev who fights like he's still in the amateurs? He also has no idea how to go foward and keeps himself at a range that makes it easy for a guy like Kltischko to capitalize on, which he did?

Ibriganov who had a **** fight with an ancient Holyfield and was content to survive in a fight where Wlad showed no courage?

The only opponent I give him credit for is Calvin Brock.

The rest of his opposition has been pitiful. I think we should reserve comments about this until after he at least fights Haye.

But against this crop of heavyweight fighters, he's look amazing...but we can't tell until you put him in with a live body.

 

Again, why was Chambers moving laterally in the videos I posted in general? I've asked you flat out, what directions are Chambers stepping in during round 11 but you duck it and ramble about "Chamber's can't counter." Who cares, he's moving laterally, quit being a stubborn ass.

 

That was SEVEN years ago.

Do we condemn Jack Johnson, despite his victory over Burns in 1908 and Jeffries in 1910, because of losses to Choynski in 01 and Hart in 05?

Do we condemn Dempsey, despite his destruction of Willard in 1919, for his losses just Meehan and Flynn just a couple years before?

Is there any sense of a fighter as a work in progress here? A career arc?... or are they just finished products the day they first enter a ring?

 

Nah, it´s the other way around.

 

Its gotten better since those fights? :bart

 

The difference is, those guys stepped up their level of opposition. Wlad stepped down.

 

Look at the top players than and now:

Wlad Byrd
Vitali Rahman
Haye Toney
Adamek Brewster
Helenius/Chambers Ruiz/Barrett


-Steward trained Wlad brings clarity and stability to a messy divison. This is very key, we have a Top Dog and Man to Beat now, rather people like him or not. Byrd couldn't and didn't fill this role.

-Vitali returns as a strong #2. He is a certainly a more imposing and credible beltholder than the struggling Rahman.

-I would take the fit and seemingly game Adamek and Haye over ill motivated and plump HW Toney any day.

-Brewster was the rare bright spot, but he destroyed himself as quickly as he rose.

-Barrett had no business in the top 10, Ruiz was on his way out; I prefer fresh blood in Chambers, Helenius, and if he can his act together Povetkin.

And this summer we are at least getting the best matches that can be made. It would be like 2005's version of Byrd/Toney and Rahman/Brewster.

 

I agree with your 2nd statment 100%. IMO its a no-brainer:thumbsup

 

It wouldn´t be a firefight. Itn would be a boxing match. Vitali is not fighting until he is forced to. Wlad won´t force him. He will box him. And there he has all the advantages. He´s faster, hits harder, has the better jab, better footwork, better defence. Vitali´s lean-back defence doesn´t work against a guy of the same size, see the Lewis fight for evidence. Wlad will pick him apart on the outside and stop him late. And no I don´t think Wlad´s chin would be an issue. Vitali is not a hard one punch puncher like Wlad. He soften´s you up with his workrate and heavy handed punches. This won´t work here though. Every advantage is on Wlad´s side. Yes, Wlad is not a fighter and Vitali can be. But like said Vitali only is if forced and that won´t happen here.