Thanks for the memories, Klitschko brothers

Hahahahaha!!! Why??! They had GREAT careers! And call me crazy... I think "Old Man" Wlad still has a couple of good ones left in him.

No he's not what he was when he was in his early 30's... but man he still is top notch.

 

Heard Vitali say in an interview recently that it was a great ride for him and his brother, but its time to let the young guns get there shine. You get emotional thinking about the greats talking this way but such is life. Just thinking about the 90's and early 2000's.... it just seems like athletes aren't build the same way... in terms of skill. sigh....

 

I'm going to miss them, true examples of champions in and out of the ring!

 

There were 3 parts really. Vitali's comeback in 2003, shortly after, Wladimir joined him in beating Byrd. They reigned together. Then Vitali retired and Wladimir had his time.

Now, it's truly all over. Retire Wlad!

 

Sorry I am glad they are gone! So boring to watch particularly Wladimir. The late Manny Steward has a lot to answer for showing Wladimir how to use his physical advantages. His latter losses came against the likes of Fury and AJ when he did not enjoy physical advantages in size and athletic ability

 

The sometimes sad cycle of life continues as the new generation replaces the former. The Klitschko's not only dominated physically, but also intellectually. They brought a certain class and elegance(resented by many) to a brutal sport usually comprised of thugs and miscreants. For this alone, I say thank you. But when you factor in the brother's dominance over the sport for such a long period of time, it truly is a remarkable achievment.

 

I live in Hamburg where they started their carrer's so I was able to see their early fights in my youth in german TV too. It feel's forever they have been around. Vitali won his first belt in 1999 that was 18 years ago

 

That comeback was in 2008

 

If it is the end then yes, thanks for giving us two decades of greatness and being such gents. A credit to your nation.

 

Every boxing champion since existence has had an average size advantage over their opponents. Wlad lost because he got old, and despite this He came close to decapitating Joshua and fought a competitive match with him until old age caught up. Wlad did not have a size advantage over all his opponents. Joshua looked slow in there despite being younger, and he made Wlad look like SugarRayRobinson

 

What a rarity they were. They and their academic levels were Unprecedented in a sport like boxing. Two phds in a field full of "less than impressive background" types, yet the brothers steamrolled 95% of their opponents for so long.

in spite of being so well educated and professional, respectful and well mannered, they were destroyers in the ring

Vitali was my favorite hw of all time.

 

Very classy, very professional champs. Like Mayweather, I always thought they fought in the wrong era, unfortunately. Their competition left much to be desired, but not their fault. Up there with the greatest big men champions of all time, Lewis, Stevenson, and Bowe.

 

Not so sure. WK lost both matches because he was clearly worse boxer, not because he got clocked as in the past. I don't think anybody will argue that AJ and Fury are technically perfect boxers who should win majority rounds against WK. Watching them, I haven't seen anything what puts them at another level to those guys who WK beat losing hardly a single round in his prime.

WK got old, was already in 2015. His speed and reflexes simply were not there. His brother could compensate it through sheer grit and power, WK relied mostly on technique to dominate the opponents (and then decimate them when they were beaten down).

 

Wladimir was in the best shape I have seen him in for a long time and he ormed well so it was nothing to do with age. He just lost to the better man on the night who showed even more heart.

 

Vitali was probably my favorite boxer of all time. I could never quite summon up nearly as good feelings for Wlad, but both are top 15 ATG hws, both top 5 h2h, and both proved they had as much heart as anyone in their signature losses.