There is no one who is equal in size, skill and power with Wladimir. Wlad is in a class of his own. How can anyone ever become an ATG in Heavyweight division anymore if you need to fight and hold your own against an ATG?
Wlad's only claim to ATG status is his long run beating pond life, nothing else. Vitali is tough enough to tangle with the best of them h2h and gave another ATG such a hard fight it retired him. Wlad would of been beaten badly if he was fighting Lewis instead of VItali. I consider Vitali a better HW. If Vitali isn't, then the same arguements apply to why Wlad isn't either.
I'm just talking overall in general. For example, America will still win the gold in basketball, but the games are a lot closer now than they were years ago. There are a heck of a lot more foreign players in the NBA today, than there were years ago...same with other sports too. The world is catching up, and in some cases (individual talent) has surpassed what the US can produce.
Wlad clearly is.. Vitali is a sure HOF, but probably not an ATG.. He is a better and more complete fighter though. While I do think Wlad is underrated in H2H match-ups, Vitali is more of a threat in that department IMO..
The Klitschkos have the same problem as the Spanish Football team, when Spain won their first big Tournament, everybody was fascinated by their Dominant Ball control, but after their second big tournament win people started getting tired of their game, because it was always the same old ****. Staying safe in their strategic shell. But unlike the Klitschkos, Spain actually beat strong opponsition like Germany, Holland, Italy and Portugal. If you don't have the opponents you wount get universal recognition.
The K Brothers have marked the heavyweight division forever. Two brothers holding belts was an interesting tale. Two brothers holding belts at the same time was amazing. Two brothers holding ALL the belts (plus The Ring Belt) at the same time is incredible and great. These men have marked the heavyweight division so much...They represent the massive wave of eastern europeans that now DOMINATE the division. Things have changed a lot in 10 years. I can't think of many men who represent so much change: Jim Corbett, Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali. Of course, their historical meaning has not much to do with their ATG ranking. But ****!...They also rank very high. Head-to-head, not many heavyweights would beat them. Both are hall of famers. That can't be disputed. And if we rank them in ATG Heavyweight lists, Wladimir must be in the Top10 and Vitali in the Top15 or Top20, among guys like Patterson, Schmeling, Bowe, etc.