Why doesn't Wlad have a spot on most people's Top 10 ATG HW lists?

I will answer directly:

1. Early losses to subpar competition
2. Hard to find his impressive wins
3. Negative style
4. Divided an era with his brother

Definitely a top 15 guy for me, but not quite top ten.

 

First off he wasn't KTFO by journeymen. He beat the snot out of Ross, but Sdunek is a sh** trainer and I have no idea why he wasn't taught how to clinch. Ya, Sanders nailed him. Sanders didn't want the rematch. Brewster lost the rematch.

 

Why didn't he fight him? He was #1 contender for 2 years. I rarely see fighters as #1 contender for that long.

 

Good answer. In retrospect, I should’ve brought up Klitschko to #5 for Macc’s survey for top 10 heavyweights.

 

Sanders fought both brothers back to back. He is on record saying it was Wlad who didn't want it.

Wlad vs Brewster 1 was prime vs prime and Wlad was demolished. Bewester was finished in the rematch. Means nothing.
Where Brewster was in that rematch is where Sam Peter was against Hughie Fury.
Its where Ruslan Chagev was against Lucas Browne.

Oh so what Povetkin beat Whyte because he lost the rematch right?

 

So, only 1 time more than Lewis, who is a consensus Top 4 HW.

 

Using that logic, Lewis never avenged the loss to McCall

 

You mean McCall?

 

Of course. Brain cramp occured.

 

I agree that's the main reason I think Holmes is ahead as well.

 

In 2001 it couldn't have happened for obvious reasons and in 2002 Lewis wanted his long awaited fight with Tyson. 2003 was the most likely window but Wlad lost to Sanders and the Vitali fight happened.

If Lewis didn't retire like he said he wouldn't definitely could have happened in 2005/2006.

 

I feel like Vitali's body would have let him own he was very injury prone. But with a victory of Wlad it would raise his standing for sure.

 

He fought once in 2002 (in June). So did Wlad. They both could have fought at the end of 2002 or the beginning of 2003.

 

Maybe but realistically it's understandable why it didn't happen. It's not that easy when you consider them circumstances. Lewis wanted to fight Tyson again also but it fell through.

 

HW itself is hard to define because many of the so-called HWs of the past were basically CWs & LHWs.. so its pretty damn hard to crack a top 10 list that spans those weight ranges & 100+ years of gloved boxing.. its no stain on many top HWs that they aren't in it.. ultimately it's subjective anyway and everybody's opinion is different, but there are a few standards on most people's lists.. and Vlad generally isn't on most, he's just outside but I've seen a few have him crack the top 10 also.. dunno where I'd put him i can't settle on a list.. men like Walcott aren't on most peoples but he was a great great fighter..