Can Wladimir become an ATG?

I think it will be hard for Klitschko to become an ATG - his skills are there, but the opponents are not.

 

I'd say he needs to beat the winner of Ibragimov-Chagaev; KO Peter; beat one of the old-timers (McCall or Holyfield preferably); and beat Povetkin, Haye, Solis, Greenberg, maybe Skelton, though not just yet for most of them, and Sanders, after he's had a couple more comeback wins. A win against Lyakhovich wouldn't be bad either.

 

Are you serious? atsch

 

It would be interesting to hear why you put him above Lewis who beat him in that career defining fight and has better accomplishments.

 

it wouldn't be interesting...it'd be utterly stupid!

although on a more serious note: up to now, that fight has been a defining one for vitali and in a good way too. it shows that he belongs in the ring with a champion, he has heart, and that he can carry his great traits against a top fighter (the question that many are still asking of wlad - how would he do against a decent fighter). before the lewis fight, a lot of people questioned vitali's opposition.

of course he clearly lost the fight and it'd be silly to rate him above lewis. the only thing that he beats lewis with is a superior chin but besides that he failed to pick up from that fight in 2003 and live up to his potential. it has been 4 years now! however, a loss is not always negative. even though frazier lost manila or against foreman or holy lost to bowe - the losses said a lot about the fighter. hanging in there with lewis - vitali showed he could bang with the best. too bad about that cut.

 

If Wlad beats Chagaev Sultan Peter again and Povetkin then i believe you have to regard him as at least top 20 perhaps top 15

people will always question his chin though and i don't think he will get many backers in head to head debates against top 10 greats such as tyson lewis foreman louis etc etc

 

atsch

ever hear of something called sarcasm?

 

If he beats chagaev to win the WBA and WBO

and then the wbc belt holder whether it is peter again or maskaev then he becomes undisputed heavyweight champion.

People forget he is a much better fighter now than he ever was.

He can then be considered in the top 20 atleast once he has retired, otherwise he cannot be.

 

:admin Based on what mate?
**** all I presume.
I've just realised you were probably joking. Oooops!

 

you guys have to look at the history and conventional wisdom. what great fighters of the past (you top 15) suffered the kinds of losses that wlad suffered and then went on to achieve enough to erase thoses losses and be top 15? none that i can think of in the 100 years of hw boxing

if norton was dismantled - it was against all time great punchers like foreman and shavers (who earned fame for other than just killing norton). he at least had the achievment of competitively going 15 rounds with ali & holmes (achievments far better than anything wlad has done and this overrides my opinion that wlad would destroy norton head to head (you also have to consider how the two would do against other opponents and wlad wouldn't have norton's success imo and this counts for something)).

if patterson loss it was to champions like ingo and liston. not guys like corey sanders, lamon brewster, and ross purrity. those guys were nothing special whereas someone like douglas against tyson was highly touted for the undeniable skills he showed independent of tyson! that douglas would have been a good fight for anyone with the undeniable handspeed ring generalship, ability to get up from a punch and win, etc. i'm not trying to give everyone except wlad the benefit of the doubt. even lewis never had AS embarassing losses as wlad or as many.

sure, the past does not reflect what wlad can do in the future. but look at history and tell me someone who has had such an AVERAGE career as wlad (his losses to those fighters show it) WELL INTO HIS CAREEER (what he won gold 11 years ago!?!) and then came back to make top 15. the answer: 0. can wlad beat history?

very unlikely. i think if wlad wants to make top 15, he needs to dominate for 3 years at least! hell, even guys like tyson who dominated for 4 years etc don't make the top 10 but are in the top 15 slot for some. just winning 3 fights ain't gonna cut it.

i don't imaging wlad being ATG (top 10) there is a VERY small chance that wlad transfrom and dominate for 5 years and beat quality fightrs (if they show up in this dying sport). can he make top 15? MAYBE but very slim chance.

 

If i were wlad i'll fight with Golota, Holyfield (even it's little sad) and other tittle holders..nice fight next would be Valuev or Ruiz..atleast you get good names on your list.

 

no way, he's beating a few duds these days...wait until he fights a stiff challenge again...he will be parked again....Wlad has been on more canvases than Rembtandt.

 

I agree with you that Wladdy is beatable by someone with power who physically challenges him, but the question is, who?

I love Chag, but is he that powerful? Wladdy has already beaten Peter and Lamon. He ain't fighting his brother.

Even Povetkin does not seem to have that one punch KO power.

 

If he can unify the belts in a watered down era, I would put him on the ATG list... near the bottom. If he can't do that, then I personally don't feel he should be mentioned as one.