Wlad Klitschko's top ten...

Not really all things considered. He had a great signature win against an undefeated Holyfield, but he was a bit of an underachiever. He missed so many of the big names of his time: Lewis, Tyson, Mercer, Foreman, Morrison, Bruno, Moorer, etc and there's really no excuse. It was quite obvious his management was strategically maneuvering him around, that they weren't too fond of him facing big punchers, that they were greedy and wanted big easy paydays, and that Bowe had serious discipline/weight issues.

So no, he was not a great fighter. A great talent? Sure. H2H threat? Again, yes. But in terms of career, absolutely not.

 

these are the facts ^

 

Fans will big up that list but there's nothing remotely outstanding in there. A very, very poor era - and putting the Povetkin travesty in there - and at the top end no less - when the fight itself was a disgrace, shows the lengths one has to go to add 'names' and give credence to a fighter who was a very big, athletic and competent - but not a great Heavyweight.

 

I think you can be a great fighter with a mediocre resume as long as you prove your h2h abilities. Mike Tyson is a great fighter and his resume is hot garbage.

Hell, I feel like most heavyweights have pretty mediocre resume's.

 

Tbf to Wlad it’s not really his fault that he competed in a relatively “weak” era. Only option to bolster his resume would have been to fight his brother atp

 

If Wlad's best win is someone who started his professional boxing career one pound above middleweight, then...no comment.
And I'm not commenting on you, but Wlad and his greatness.

 

Wlad put a man on the canvas twice who had never been there in 132 amateur fights and 26 pro fights.

Amazing performance by Dr. Steelhammer!

 

Wlad's era was far stronger than Liston's or Marciano's or Dempsey's... and probably Louis' too. Oh, we all know the names, but when they are viewed objectively they would be clowns in the 21st C.

The more a sober eye is placed on his reign, the closer to GOAT Wlad creeps...

 

Chris Arroela being ranked in the top 10 for 6 consecutive years is just one example why it the worst era known to humanity. That guy got pasted twice by post Klit era Bermane Stiverne.

Many other guys fought in weak era's and blosterd their resumes with great performances and fights that were good to watch. Some examples Roy Jones Jr , Mike Tyson , Golovkin , Marciano

Klit couldn't even do that. Instead he produced many of the worst title fights ever seen. His under matched opponents were almost always groped , grabbed and back humped relentlessly.
Harrold Ledderman says he should have been DQ'd against Sam Peter.

Calzage hasn't the greatest resume , but at least shoe shinned his version of Sam Peter in an exciting and fan friendly style.
The fact he had so many soup cans in front of him and had to produce hideous foul fests to beat them says there was nothing great about this guy.
10 years of dominance and not a Ring fight of the year of Ring fighter of the year award to his name. #NotaGreat

 

It isn't just the fact he didn't fight Vitali.

-Could've avenged his loss to Sanders or avoided losing in the first place.
-Could've avenged the Purity loss or avoided losing in the first place.
-There were a few "ok" names he missed that could've help such as Stiverne, Ortiz, Arreola, Chisora, etc. They weren't essential obviously, but if he's already going for quantity over quality then he could've fought them (I'm not implying he ducked or needed these guys).
-Could've beaten Fury or Joshua and ended his career with wins over 2 future champs of the next generation which looks great and would be similar to the way Lewis retired. Wladmir himself admits he became gunshy and didn't throw enough in those fights.

Obviously not facing Vitali is the biggest issue for both brothers' resumes, but those are all significant factors as well.

Avoiding bad losses/avenging losses go a long way in elevating a resume. It's not just about who you beat.

 

Shouldn’t have lost to Purity in the first place, but the fact he didn’t rematch him can’t be held against Wlad considering that it simply wasn’t worth rematching let’s be honest. It would have been utterly pointless. Corrie lost to Vitali and then lost interest in boxing entirely, so again what would a rematch really achieve?. Wlad did well enough to avenge his loss to Brewster and was gonna rematch against Fury as well, so it’s clear he did rematch against opponents that hadn’t basically fallen off a cliff like Purity and Sanders did.

Btw i’m not saying Wlad is the epitome of HW excellence, I just think he gets a bit too much flak.

 

I'd go Haye number 1 and boost Chagaev a spot. I would also put Pulev and Jennings 4-5 and move Bryd to 6th or 7th. Chambers probably deserves a top 10 spot.

 

Wlad also gave Peter a rematch. If Holmes had been knocked around like Wlad in the first Peter fight, there would be zero chance of a rematch.

 

Chagaev was called in on short notice and coming off inactivity and an injury. It wasn't that great of a win.

 

The harsh truth is that most Heavyweight before the 1960s would not stand a chance against contemporary HWs. Seriously, I can’t believe there’s people who think Marciano stands a chance against Lennox Lewis. Nostalgia goggles are blinding too many people