Ingemar Johansson, who got in for 1 win over a HOFer despite getting brutally KO'd the next 2 times. Doesn't mean that we should lower expectations and let anyone with a decent career in.
I agree 100 percent on all points. Wilder’s reign was horrible. He also never deserved to fight for the wbc belt in the first place. He fought nobody to Warrant his eliminator bout. Which shows holding a belt is a diminished credential in today’s sport. At nearly 36 years old his career is on the other side.
You're joking right ? Wilder is nothing compared to past US champions like Holmes, Tyson, Foreman, etc. Just because he's tall and explosive doesn't mean he stacks against the top 10 american champs of the past. He's a second rate fighter in a second rate era. He's a powerful heavyweight, perhaps the most powerful heavyweight of all time but i question ones credibility when their only good win is dinosaur Ortiz, and he struggled heavily in that fight, it wasn't a blow out. There's nothing suggesting he's any more than the next Ruddock, hell Ruddock actually has more credibility.
I disagree to the extent that - Ingo beat the champ Patterson and Eddie Machen (whom was number 1 contender at the time by first round knockout). However it is certainly debatable. I would probably argue Walcott or Norton. But ingo is a good shout
Joe Walcott was the oldest heavyweight champion until Foreman, has wins over faded Charles, Maxim, Bivins (all LHWs though), probably just enough merits to get in. Ken Norton, for all his faults, has wins over Ali, Young and Quarry, ironically he seemed to get in for his losing effort against Larry Holmes. These two got in purely for old time's sake, really.
Walcott fought a badly faded Joe Louis and lost a debatable decision. Got a rematch and got knocked out. He then fought a great fight against Marciano but got knocked out in 13 rounds. Received a rematch and again got Ko’d in one round. Add in that it took him 3 tries to beat Charles for the title and I think you could make a case for Povetkin being far more consistent. Losses do matter and Walcott accumulated 18 of them in his career. He was not highly regarded in his time. As for Norton - He got bombed out often. 3 times against punchers he didn’t make it out of the second round. Also he defeated an extremely faded Quarry and many ppl felt he lost to Young. His reputation for Hall of Fame is strictly on his ability to bedevil Ali.
Yeah. Johansson actually really had brutally KOed Patterson and then they had 2 fights, in these fights Patterson had KOed Johansson and Patterson in the end was 2-1 vs Johansson. Povetkin at least did not had been finished in distance when he was in prime. Also all these talks about weak era looks like just excuses if we see that modern notable boxers fought vs the same " weak era " boxers. Last mandatory for A.J was who? Yeah, Pulev, years ago finished in distance by then 38 y.o Wlad. What is similar between A.J and Povetkin? A.J fought vs the same Takam, already years ago finished in distance by the same Povetkin. Now we might go till Chisora. 40 y.o over the hill Vitali outboxes Chisora despite he yeah, had serious health problems even long years before this fight. Chisora fought almost 1 handed 40 y.o Vitali. Okey, casual argument how bad was competition in Klits era. Let's go further with the same Chisora. After fight vs Vitali he had fight vs Haye in the same year. Then 2 nd fight vs Fury, LOL, and then 2 fights vs Whyte, then he had been given for Parker and Usyk to fight with. What there really had changed? Now era is better because Klits had retired? Yeah, if boxer is not from EE, then era is good and everything is cool. Now we looks that will not have even Hunter vs Hrgovic fight this year. What we had from last big HW fights? A.J vs This content is protected , the same boxer from Klits era. Congratulations. Whyte vs This content is protected I and This content is protected II. Again dejavu from Klits era. Bravo. Usyk vs This content is protected . Again memories from Klits era. Parker vs This content is protected . Again memories from Klits era. Ohh, I had forget Ruiz vs Arreola. Really good era and very competitive fights. I specially marked with green color boxers from the same " weak Klits era ". Yeah, please make division really competitive, not cry how bad Klits era was and use boxers from the same era. Beated by the same Klits in " weak era ".
What could help Povetkin is that since Lewis retired in 2003 and wrapped up the 90s greats. Only 2 fighters have made the Hall of fame in that division since then, Wlad and his brother Vitali. That’s 18 years with only 2 entrees. And none right now active can be called hof level, although Joshua and Fury have a chance if their career continue going well. That’s a big gap for the glamour division not to have a HOFer. He might squeeze in as a bridge to get to the next guys. And as I said in past posts - it’s a global sport and having a Russian participant in the division would be good- and Povetkin WAS an exciting fighter.
Povetkin like Vitali were boxers " never boring to watch their fights ". Btw me liked a lot to watch prime Danny Williams versions fights, sadly he continued when he was long over the hill.
Funny, if muricans think that to be HOF you need to bea HOF boxer, then Fury already is HOF cos he won via decision vs old Wlad and now if Wilder will KO Fury, then by this logic Wilder too will be HOF boxer.
Quality of oppositions is an important criterion when evaluating HOF potential, but there are many other factors, or else many lucky chumps who caught an ATG in the end of their careers will get in. Consistency and overall domination are more important.
During that time period there's only 1 guy I could sorta entertain HOF material: Chris Byrd. He was consistently a top contender, won 2 belts, has serious skills, ready to face everyone, hight quality of oppositions: a badly faded Holyfield, lucky TKO over Vitaly, David Tua, McCline, plenty of fringe contenders in the 90s. If he managed just 1 legit win over Wlad he could made a case of HOF induction.
I agree. Byrd and Povetkin imo are the two likeliest candidates of the last 20 years in the division to gain entry.
Byrd has an advantage though, he is American (lol), won legit version of WBO and IBF belt, is generally regarded as very talented, if he was bigger he would be dominating. Povetkin is, well he is good and exciting, but lack the extra flavors to make people notice. If he managed to beat Vitaly (I think he has a chance), then it is case closed.
