There's none left. He's either eliminated them, or they're waiting for him to retire now. Career high payday or not, ranked fighters are passing on fighting Wlad because they don't think it's worth the beating they'll get. It's been awhile since a champ inspired that kind of fear in their challengers.
deal This, some of the people who have challanged Wlad for the HW Championship in the past 3 years have been C Level at best. Thompson, Mormeck and Chambers should never have gotten near Wlad.
He started with Bad comp and is not fighting very bad. When the divison was tougher, Wlad couldn't get past the gate keepers to get a fight with a top level HW. But now him and big brother rule in the weakest era.
Wlad's peaked, but with his ability and equally as important - the state of the rest of the division - he can reign into his 40s. I think he'll rack up 20+ title defenses.
He's proving his pedigree is for real and has matured into a real class act. I am pleased for the guy because I have been a fan from the start and stuck with him through his early reverses. He must keep this up though, there are kids out there like Fury, Price, Mitchell, Boystov, Mago and others that will be tough.
At this rate he can do a Bernard Hopkins and fight to near the age of 50. His opponents are getting worse it seems. The only thing that would deter him would be a brutal KO or him getting bored.
I think Wlad could still be HW champion in 10-15 years time. The opposition just isn't there to test him, and won't be until he's a grandad.