Bob Fitzsimmons vs Wladimir Klitschko

Fitzsimmons via ktfo to the plexus in the 4th; wlad crawls, everyone laughs at him being beaten by a 168lb balding australian blacksmith, mendoza cries

you happy?

 

I think that even I am going to have to bow to the inevitable on this one.

Fitzsimmons is probably the smallest fighter who would pose a significant danger to Wlad.

 

Wlad murders him in the first round, with a jab.

 

Fitz knocked out pleanty of tomato cans who were the size of Wlad and Ed Dunkhorts who was at least a contender.

This would however be the first time he had bet a man of this size, who was close to this quality.

 

Yep. Pretty much his only chance would be to ice him with a huge left to the body. Otherwise, a KO around round 5 would be par for the course.

 

Ah, the Ed Dunkhorst card was inevitable on this one. It is the silliest contention that gets the most air on this board.

Ed Dunkhorst is to Wlad what a Brogham is to a Ferrari 430.

 

Nobody is suggesting that Dunkhorst is in the class of Wlad.

I think however that we have to find the nearest model among Fitzsimmons opponents. He clearly had no trouble with second or third teir opponents of that size.

I doubt that he would have much trouble disposing of Kevin McBride for example.

 

Comparing Wlad to a Ferrari's silly. More like a Ford GT or something.

 

A Ferrari 430 that you are only allowed to drive in 2nd gear because you used to use all 6 speeds but crashed a couple times.

 

Perhaps a Corvette ZR1 awkwardly equipped with huge rims and lowrider hydraulics with a bumper made out of plastic.

 

..............my car is red

 

Great description.

 

Fitz TKO2 Thigh tap-clinch combo

 

I am not going to make a prediction on this one.

But i will say this. I was thinking the other day about what it will take to beat Wlad. Wlad's skill is in keeping the fight at a distance. He has long and hard blows which are damaging and he clinches when in close.

But, I get the feeling that, like Joe Louis, he doesnt like to be crowded. And i think that when he is beaten, it will be by someone getting inside constantly and fighting on his chest, throwing plenty of hooks, uppercuts and close in shots. This would make it difficult for Wlad to land properly, as he isnt (despite many who claim the undoubted skills of modern fighters) all that skilled in throwing a short hook.

I think the fighters who give Wlad serious trouble are those who get in close and crowd him, the likes of Frazier, Dempsey, Marciano, while others like Holmes, Ali, Tunney are going to have great problems despite speed advantages in boxing at a distance. I think Wlads losses have showed that he is in the most trouble when fighters get in close and are able to do damage. I think reach is of little help to a fighter and to be honest, neither is weight, given that you will nearly always be the smaller fighter anyway.

To beat Wlad, you need to be able to get in close and land a devastating shot or combo. And once that is landed, it has been proven that Wlad can be quite shaken by a big puncher. Whether or not Fitzsimmons fits this description, you would have to look at his KO record against World Class heavyweights. Particularly those with shaky chins.

As for those so confidently picking the fight to end in the first couple of rounds, i would like to know which fighter has finished the most world class fighters in the first couple of rounds and which fighter has been knocked out the most in the first couple of rounds. I tend to think this would give the only realistic idea of how this fight could possibly finish in the first couple of rounds.