Wlad is not top 20 at heavy, Haye doesn't make 100.

Easily top 20.
I'm very surprised by his movement and speed he had during 12 full rounds. I have never seen him move like that.

 

Its still too speculative. If Douglas pulled out of the fight against Tyson at the last minute, or his plane crashed to Tokyo on the way to his fight, would you all say that based on his performance against Tucker, who Tyson beat, he'd easily be beaten by a prime Tyson.

Anyone suggesting that Douglas might even have a tiny chance against Iron Mike would be laughed at.

Same is true with Barkley and Hearns. If they didn't fight, who among us would seriously claim that Barkley is head to head better than Hearns. Or Duran Laing. Or Lewis McCall. And many many more.

There are many variable on an actual fight that can make or break a fighter. Who would have seriously claimed that Sanchez could draw with Pacquiao had they not actually fought, or that Paul Williams will get a TD win against Cintron after Cintron doved out of the ring? If Foreman didn't fight Moorer in 1994, do you think many would claim that Foreman, based on his performance against Morrison in 1993, could defeat Moorer in 1994? Or that Norton, who lost to somebody called Garcia, could beat Ali? Or that a nobody who lost to a bum named Rustico Torrecampo could beat the Flyweight lineal champ Sasakul? Or that the HW champion Ali would lose to someone with 8 pro fights? Or that a fighter fighting his pro debut would floor the HW champion Floyd Patterson?


So that is why H2H fantasy fight abilities should only be a small part of evaluating a fighter's legacy. You should look at his achievements, whom he beat. In this Vitali's legacy is hurt compared to Wlad. Let's see the list of their most recent opponents.

Haye>Solis
Peter>Briggs
Chambers>Sosnowski
Chagaev>Kevin Johnson
Rahman<Arreola
Thompson>Gomez
Ibragimov=Peter (both were champions)
Brewster>Williams

You could go down the list and see the pattern. While there are some VK opponents that are better than Wlad opponents, it is clear that overall, Wlad beat a higher caliber of opponents that Vitali did. Sanders was the only one who gave Vitali an edge against Wlad, while the rest either massively are in Wlad's favor (especially Byrd and Peter), or are debatable.

Add the fact of Vitali's four year retirement, Wlad's collecting 3 of the four major belts plus the Ring and lineal championships, his six year run as dominant champion (2005-2011) against one for Vitali (2004), Wlad being top 10 pound for pound currently while Vitali doesn't make the cut, makes Vitali's case for ranking above Wlad weak.

 

top13

 

Haye isn't even in the top 1000 for christ's sake. His record is 4-1, with all wins coming against average to good fighters over 36 years old. WTF is wrong with people?

 

You seem to be bad mouthing the wrong guy. Haye is the one that deserves the critisim. Haye was the one talking all the ****.

 

The 5 people that voted "There is nothing that Wlad could do to break the top 20 at heavy"; please explain yourselves.

Additionally, please list your top 20 in order.

Can't wait to see this.

 

Under steward, wlad has beaten everyone he faced.

Vitali has not fought the same quality of opposition. He lost his two biggest fights. Wlad is considered by every sensible boxing fan as the greater of the brothers. Truth be told it's not even close.