What If Wlad Klitschko Had Fought Lennox, Instead Of Vitali?

Not true. Nothing to defend.

Also, not true.

Since Wlad fell to Sanders and, not that long afterwards, fell to Brewster, your view here is not sustainable, neither as a theory nor an opinion.

I've been through all of this before in previous threads, and you either don't want to take it on board, or are incapable of doing so.

Vitali, as the WBC #1 contender, had been an original target of the Lewis camp, but the talks collapsed in April of 2003. This led to the Johnson fight being announced. However, when Johnson pulled out, the circumstances forced the hand of both Lewis and Vitali, so it all came good in the end.

Stating as a fact that, post-1999, Lewis "didn't fight the best available opponents" is just nonsense.


– Grant was a voluntary defense and Ring Rated #3.
– Botha was a voluntary defense and unrated.
– Tua was the IBF mandatory challenger and Ring Rated #2. (Just behind Lewis)
– Rahman was Ring Rated #8 and a voluntary defense that went wrong for Lewis. But this state of affairs made Rahman the Lineal Champ for the rematch.
– Tyson was the WBC mandatory challenger and Ring Rated #2
– Vitali was the WBC mandatory challenger and Ring Rated #10

So, in seven fights, six were against Ring Rated opponents, four of which were Top-3.
Moreover, his last four wins included a lineal champion and three mandatory defenses.

Meanwhile, the bubble of Wlad's over-inflated status would burst in spectacular fashion, leaving him to rebuild his career. This would take him three years (2003 to 2006), after his loss to Sanders, during which time he'd also be leveled by Brewster.


Whatever Lewis thought of Wlad (he had a healthy regard for him by all accounts) and, despite your theories and opinions, history tells the actual story.

 

That version of Wlad would get destroyed after a cagey couple of rounds where both may get hurt

 

Hold on a minute—which boxer better than the Wlad of 2000–2002 did Lewis fight during that period? Which boxer better than the Byrd of 2000–2003 did he face? Honestly, you could make a case for Ruiz, but even he turned out to be better than Rahman and Holyfield—and certainly better than Grant. You could rank Tua above Ruiz because he destroyed him, but David had declined since '96, whereas John had improved significantly and was a much more awkward stylistic matchup.

 

Old lummox was better than both of the overrated bros.
He would have cat slapped both of them back to the boondocks

 

He had the chance to fight them, but didn't. He could have fought Vitali for $50mm for the rematch - which he said he was going to. Your boy was knocked out by 1 punch from McCall and Rahman. Wlad hits massively harder than either of them.

 

I'm aware of the context. This was also before Steward came along and updated Wlad's style. I'm aware of all this, but LL was knocked out by Rahman 2 years earlier. Now you and his other fans usually just brush it off and say "he didn't take Rahman seriously blah blah blah". Well the fact is this is the 2nd time this has happened to him in a relatively short career (# of fights). Whether this is a pre-Steward Wlad who just got knocked out by a golfer (a southpaw - something LL never faced in his career) and eventually a bum Brewster - I still like Wlad in the fight. I think he matches up very well with LL. Lennox had decent defense, but he has shown that he can be hit in his fights. Wladimir Klitschko is one of the last people in boxing history that you want to be hit by. Wlad will hit him and I don't think LL will take it well.

 

So basically if Wladimir skipped the Corrie Sanders fight because they would’ve known lennox was a done deal and signed, and fought lewis of the Vitali fight?? Same weight and everything?? lol Wladimir’s 1-2’s would’ve found a home quick and lewis would’ve been on his face or back in that 2nd round. I have no doubt and always have said this.

Number one… Wladimir would’ve came into that fight the best shape of his career. Or at least on par with the 1st Byrd fight. Wladimir was in awesome shape in that one. He underestimated Corrie. Vitali even said this. He would NOT do that with lewis.

Wladimir’s combination of hand speed, technical excellence, reach, and power would’ve been better than anyone lewis fought. And his lead left hook (Especially off the jab) would’ve most likely been the shot to KO lewis or hurt him badly to set up the right hand bomb.

And remember Wladimir hits WAY harder and sharper than Vitali. If Hasim Rahman could One Hit & That’s It Lewis… Wladimir damn sure could