It’s hard to imagine Karelin losing while he was in his prime. I mean, the guy’s reign finally ended to a one time rule change over keeping his hands locked. Lopez was great. Five Olympic medals in a sport where athletes notoriously retire young is absolutely insane. He was probably more athletic all around than Karelin, but I can’t see him dealing with Karelin’s strength. But I’m not an expert on Greco-Roman wrestling, so my opinion doesn’t mean much.
Your words mean a lot to me; thanks for writing. One thing I'm sure of: - Lopez has never faced an opponent like Karelin This content is protected
Both Mijain Lopez and Karelin relied on power and technique. They were both around the same levels of athleticism, Karelin was stronger though. By the way Riza Kayaalp the Turk has surpassed Alexander Karelin in most European championships won. And Riza Kayaalp has several wins against a younger Mijain Lopez as well.
