What Russians would last without getting their ass kicked against an ATG..... Here is your answer........ friggin NONE! It boggles the mind, quite frankly, that any Russian even gets any consideration.
I'm not surprised that Wlad gets consideration because he is king of the shitheap. But consideration is about all I'd give him.
Isn't this a sad indictment of how far American heavywweights have slipped. Twenty years ago I assumed that Americans - and black Americans in particular - would always dominate the heavyweight divisions. Then in the 1990s I saw a few good heavyweights from other countries coming through (Tua, Golota, Ibeaubuchi) and that seemed a good thing, but it was not apparent that the Americans were slipping. (Lennox Lewis I always considered a product of the North American gyms, he grew up boxing in Canada and USA as an amateur. All his biggest rivals were Americans.) The last few years have seen American talent dry up almost completely. I dont want to take anything away from the fighters from Russian, Ukraine, Belarus, who dominate now, BUT the lack of quality American heavyweights is shocking.
The X-Soviet heavyweights are a relatively new power in heavyweight boxing. Before 1990, there were none that I can recall. By 1995 there were a few. In the 2000's it seems like most of the ranked contenders are X-Soviet's. Its too early to say how good Chagaev, or Ibragimov is or isn't, but Wlad and Vitlai would be in the money vs ANY ATG, and could be champion in other era. I think the X-Soviet's vs USA record in recent heavyweight titles fight is something like 15-2 in favor of the X-Soviets. I have my own theories as to what happened to USA boxing ( and its not football taking away the talent ). Currently there are no USA heavies in the amateurs good enough to win world titles, but there are a few X-Soviets in the upcoming Olympics that seem good enough to win world titles if/when they turn professional.
That's a fair shout. The Yanks dominated the ranks forever it seems but are now very slim on the ground. The conveyor belt has slipped off. Credit to the Soviets for taking a massive leap forward tho as you say.
If the X-soviets turned pro say in the 1940 with American trainers, who knows what the history of heavyweight boxing would look like.
America's to heavyweights are in the NFL. Boxing is no where near the top sport in the U.S. The NFL, NBA, NASCAR, and golf seem to be larger. It's only natural that some of these sports are attracting the better athletes.
Thank God for Eastern Europeans, or the top10 would probably look like this: 1. Chambers 2. Thompson 3. Ruiz (old) 4. Byrd (old) 5. Brock 6. Brewster (old) 7. Rahman (old) 8. Gomez 9. Arreola 10.Gomez The Russians have only been around for roughly 10 years, maybe a bit more. We've had Wlad (whose stock is still rising), Vitali and now a very promising prospect in Povetkin. While they are no Louisses or Ali's, give it some time. More will come along. I'd already pick them to beat guys like Patterson, Baer, Braddock, Carnera, Tunney, Sharkey, Bowe, perhaps Walcott and Charles, etc. Then there are excellent second-raters like Chagaev, S. Ibragimov, Valuev, etc.
I am interested in Povetkin. I have a hunch he has some old school warrior in him. The intangibles of Marciano to over come. Time will tell. I don't think the NFL takes much from boxing at all. Heavyweight boxing had plenty of talent in the 70's, 80's, and 90's when NFL football was popular. My best guess is the lack of American talent at heavyweight is cultural. The American kids have been babied. Boxing is a tough sport. A sample of the fatsos representing the USA at the Olympics says it all. Guys like Cley-Bey, and Estrda entering the ring at least 15 pounds over weight. As far as I can tell, most of the X-Soviet fighters are all in reasonably good shape. American prima donna heavyweights in many cases are not. They enter the ring 10-15 pounds over weight and dont seem a mentally tough as they used to be thanks to a softer upbringing.
