Rank Wladimir Klitschko's Top 5 Wins

Alexander Povetkin
David Haye
Ruslan Chagaev
Chris Byrd
Sultan Ibragimov

 

haye
pulev
sam peter #2
chaguev
byrd #2

 

I actually rated Povetkin #1.

Despite it being a terrible fight, Povetkin is the best opponent Wladimir has faced in my opinion.

I agree that the Peter fight was important, but Peter as a boxer isn't as good as those 5 guys, arguably even more. I judged the quality of opponents.

Pulev could also be included in the top 5.

 

Peter I was probably the most important victory to Wladimir, because he went through the storm and came out victorious. He hasn't been knocked down ever since.

Techically I believe that Chagaev and Ibragimov were better opponents than Peter, that's why I included them. Also I rate Pulev above Peter as well.

Peter was also one of Vitali's most important wins, where Vitali came back after 4 years of absence and took on a champion right away without any tune-up, winning the fight in a dominant fashion.

 

oh man that is a hall of fame caliber list right there!!!

 

I think Byrd 1 gets dramatically undersold, primarily because of how long ago it was. That was peak Byrd, who was a very good pure boxer. Wlad dominated that fight and showed serious skill in the process.

It's worth remembering how long Wlad's been operating at a high level. His first world class win was almost 16 years ago against Schulz, and Byrd was in 2000. Dude was 44-3 going in to Peter I. He rebuilt his dominant career after two bad losses, but he'd already been putting up good wins for years prior to the setbacks.

As a result of the lengthy title reign, the wins from the first third of his world-caliber career tend to get overlooked a bit.

 

Peter 1
Haye
Povetkin
Bryd
Chagaev

Haye was probably the best overall boxer on this list. Power, Speed, most athletic. Peter in 05 was alot of hype, based off his knockout of the year over Jeremy Williams where he nearly decapitated him with hook from hell. It was a cross roads fight. Peter was looked at as the future, Wlad was fighting his way back up to the top. Til this day, it was Wlad's greatest win and the last fight that was tough for him to win.

 

True, Byrd I was a bit of a preemptive strike - although shortly after he showed his mettle in dominating a Tua fight nobody expected him to win, and the Holyfield fight (though the decline had set in, Vander was still coming off a win over Rahman). Doesn't quite make the top 5 for me but a great depth builder.

I think there's a compelling argument to putting Peter I on the list due to its significance and the shift it represented even if one doesn't think Peter was one of the 5 best opponents Wlad beat. I gave him a slot here.

here's my top 5:
Povetkin: ugly performance, but Povetkin is an accomplished heavyweight who's got a resume and the skills to be champion in other eras, and Wlad shut him out in Russia and remains the only man to floor him. Too much clinching or not, that's something.

Haye- Unification against a fighter who, stylistically and athletically, had the tools to spring an upset as an explosive counterpuncher whose power carried to heavyweight (even staggered Valuev ).

Ibragimov- a guy who left too soon once he got the Wlad payday, and left some good potential wins on the table as a result. Iggy didn't bring the exact blend of tools as Sanders did when Corrie took Wlad apart, but he was a southpaw counterpuncher who had knockout power, could put punches together, and the skill to outbox bigger men. It was a conservative performance, but conservative was the right way to play it. It showed growth from the Sanders setback.

Fun fact: there's been 5 southpaw heavyweight champs in history, and Wlad's fought 4 of them (going 4-1)

Peter I. For the reasons you and others have hinted at. That win came at a time when critics believed Wlad not only lacked a chin, but lacked heart. This fight showed his resolve in salvaging not just a win, but his career. I don't think he's one of the 5 best all around fighters Wlad beat, but the significance of the win lands him a spot.

I'll need to marinate on who I pick for the final slot. Chagaev and Pulev are worthy, but I may go with a dark horse candidate just to change things up a bit...