Wlad vs Stiverne, 2015

2014 isn't 2015. Wlad didn't stop anyone in 2015. He was finished.

Unifying all the belts against the #2 Ring rated fighter Stiverne in 2015 would've been the crowning achievement of Wlad's career. Period.

That was the sole reason he kept fighting. He wanted to be the unified champion.

Beating Povetkin and Pulev earlier wouldn't have been bigger than beating Stiverne for all the titles.

In fact, the Povetkin fight was one of the worst fights of Wlad's career. It's nearly unwatchable with all the holding.

And Wlad retiring as the unified world champion ... and not going on to lose two fights in a row to Fury and Joshua ... MOST CERTAINLY would've raised his status.

Don't kid yourself. Retiring as unified champ is better than retiring with back to back losses.

 

Wlad destroys Stiverne. Stiverne even as an amateur was a powerful counter puncher that could hurt you if you led aggressively, and carelessly. Like Arreola. Wlad did neither and stayed comfortably behind his jab at all times. It's why Wilder fought the fight out of character the way he did, and actually won a fight boxing. Stiverne would be absolutely pulverized by Wlad's jab, with his lead feet. Make no mistake the WBC did not want that match to materialize.

 

Klitschko batters him to either a late stoppage or points decision.

Stiverne walked forward with no head movement, Klitschko would land the one two at will, he’d tee off on him, he’d land lead hooks to set up the right down the middle, he’d jab at him and would find the gaps with ease.

39 year old Klitschko is still far too much for peak Stiverne, even 41 year old Klitschko from the Joshua fight would dominate Stiverne.