Classic Poll : Wlad v.s. Louis ...

Definitely, but clearly many of Wlad's opponents, even mandatories, feel overmatched after a few rounds. This is not by accident or coincidence. He is just the kind that seems a lot easier to beat when you are outside the ring than when you are inside.

 

Maybe, but Steward was at times overconfident in Lewis's abilities.
Steward made a big mistake with Lewis, allowing him to slack off and get KO'd by Rahman.
As it stands, Wlad is 7 years unbeaten, and 14 fights, the same as Lewis was when he fought Rahman. In time, people will start to give Wlad similar credit.

 

Definetly agree with that, his best years were 1918-1919 IMO (which is why I hope someone fights the Fulton fight). I agree he used that edge mostly to win in fights too. His attitude of fighting was great though: "kill him or he will kill me". And I read he had his own variation of the Fitz shift.

 

The same 1918, in which Dempsey lost a decision to bloated ex-flyweight "Fat" Willie Meehan, just 10 months prior to facing Willard?

 

Sure. I didnt say he was unbeatable or that he was SRR during his peak years. He just seemed to be at his best during that time IMO. He was faster on his feet against Willard (1919) than any other filmed fight he was in.

But, losing to Meehan is an embarrassing loss for sure. What period would you say he was at his best?

 

I forgot about that. Good point.

Nah, you forced clarification. I remember attacking Jones' technique (before Tarver II) and his fans would throw rocks. Later, when the debate sprang up out here someone said that what I saw as his technical deficiencies were just his reliance on an easier road; namely speed and reflexes. The suggestion was that he was Picasso -he knows technique but he advanced out of them. It was a good point. I think it's been discredited, but it was a good point. One shouldn't be so conclusive about what a fighter knows or doesn't know because other variables are interfering. I remember my first fight in front of a large crowd --my jab, it just abandoned me. My legs turned to lead and I had no jab. I got cracked good and some heckler in the first row stood up and yelled "HOLY TOLEDO" and I died a thousand deaths.

Yeah, I'm not sure. I think it is too wide though and it is detracting from his best defense -his height. Wlad need do nothing but swing one of those logs to hurt anyone. If he learned to punch like Pacquiao there'd be death in his ring.

 

Right.

I agree, but, you know your stuff and I'm pretty damn confident that you could pick out all kinds of vulnerabilities with his style. I bet you could just as easily examine the footage of his defenses and pick out the glaring problems with his challengers.

This doesn't dismiss his dominance, but it does go somewhere in explaining it.

 

So, you believe that Wlad will be considered "Great"...? Perhaps eventually, but remember, great fighters almost always need Great Opponents to earn greatness.

Thus far, who is Wlad's defining opponent---?

[...soundman, queue the crickets]

 

typical double standard BS by the dinosaur apologists.
what great did Holmes beat? parkinson Ali? ...Wlad should call out brain damaged Holyfield so that he could earn his title as a "great"
how about Tyson?..he beat the "great" Larry Holmes who had no business in the ring after coming out from retirement

The "great" Joe Louis got his brains scrambled by a past his prime german who nobody gave a chance before the fight,and then went life and death for 12 rounds against a light heavy.

How about the "great" Jack Johnson who's best wins come up against a 6 yrs old retired former champion and a 5ft.5 150lbs vicious beast?

Wlad has done up until this moment enough to deserve respect and he certainly deserves more recognition as a HW ATG then many of the old school fighters that some of you gents like to nuthug so much.:hi:

 

Apart from size...there's absolutely no similarity btw. Carnera and the brothers...they're literally worlds apart

 

If you actually think that you should **** off this forum and watch some fights.

Offense intended

 

But they are not.

Stylisticaly they are verry similar.

I will admit that Carnera had abetter inside game.

 

Yes, I believe Wlad will soon be considered "Great" in the same sense Lewis is. Neither of them rate particularly high with me, but they have very similar achievements.
Strangely, many here rate Lewis very high but dismiss Wlad altogether.

Several of the great heavyweight champions didn't actually beat great opponents.

 

Holmes beat Norton in a life-or-death struggle, overcame serious adversity against Shavers. He humilated Mercer when Mercer was undefeated and Holmes was 42.

He's got some great performances against far better opposition than 2/3 of your threesome fantasy.

No one said there wasn't a price to greatness, little man. I'm just not so sure Wlad's sportsman attitude is the best ingredient to get it.

I'm not so sure Tyson is great.

Tell us that Wlad is greater than Joe. I dare you.

Someone needs to learn boxing history. "I won't tell!"

I should have read your post from the bottom up because now I feel silly even responding to you. You are just "in exile" from the general forum.

 

Can you guess how many heavyweights I have in my p4p top 10 all time?