Did the 2015 Wladimir have a decline in speed, reflexes since the 2007-2011 version?

Wlad looked horrible against Janitor Jennings, dont even have to bring up Fury.

 

Wlad has definitely declined. I've been saying for ages that since Pianeta he hasn't looked the same. His looked less coordinated to me in that fight, almost awkward at times.

Since then his jab has become non existent and I think with Manny passing it can't have helped him. When he fought Povetkin and he was looking for the KO he looked clumsy and I'd never have described him as a clumsy looking fighter even pre-Steward.

 

100%.

The issue Wlad has though, in his prime he never met someone with this style. A boxer who is ranger than him with good movement.

So we don't know if it was the age or the style that beat Wlad.

He certainly looked unable to abandon his game plan first time round and seemed to have no plan B despite being a champion for so much time.

To beat Fury I think he has to go seek and destroy like early Wlad, and just hope Fury doesn't hit hard enough and doesn't have enough durability to pull off a Purrity or Brewster.

 

Good point, with Fury is isn't just down to a physical decline in Wlad's ability it's also facing an opponent who doesn't allow him to fight in his usual jab and grab style.

A jab and grab fighter needs to get off first to be effective. They jab, then clinch against any counter, it's why Ruiz looked so bad against Jones Jr. With Fury, Wlad can't get off first, Fury's reach and movement prevents him from doing this making his usual style useless.

Wlad does need to abandon his old style. He needs to tighten his guard, step into his jab, needs to use head movement and press the action but I can't see him doing this, he's never fought this way and he's always lacked head and upper body movement even in his prime years. If Wlad does adapt and win, I would be shocked but even more so impressed.

 

The guy is over 40 of course

 

I think its reasonable to assume there has been some decline, its just hard to figure out how much :think

 

He's declined.
But probably was still good enough to beat everyone out there except Fury.

 

maybe, although he looked suspect in the Jennings fight before that so maybe not :think

 

His release isn't as quick, that's clear. Nor is his react time, people were calling it in the Jennings fight, the Fury fight solidified the belief.

 

fury is just looser and faster, always would have been

 

He may have slipped a little, but that's not why he lost to Fury.

Fury psyched him out as he was fighting a bigger man who he had no physical advantages over.

Wlad's now saying he's embarrassed by his performance and he's going to let his hands go. Why couldn't he let his hands go last year? Again, because it was psychological.

There's no reason to think that Fury couldn't have beaten the version of Wlad who was cautious against Haye.

 

I agree with this. Wlad has been on the decline and it's not just a recent thing either.

I remember thinking Pulev might just beat Wlad because he was getting a Wlad who was on the decline and that was a year before the Fury fight.

Even in the Povetkin fight where Wlad dominated he, at times, looked like there were some age catching up with him and that could be expected since he was 37 for that fight.

 

Wlad is 3-years older than Lewis was when he retired. Other past champs at Wlad's age, if they were even still fighting, were nothing but shells of their former self.

Wlad has probably declined some, there's just no beating father time, but he's done a lot better at keeping in shape and slowing that decline, than previous fighters.
Tactically, Wlad came make up for some or perhaps even all of the physical decline, if he goes in and executes the proper game plan.

 

Yes, a little. The speed, stamina, and sharpness have declined. It happens when you are in your late 30's to early 40's to everyone.

I hear Wlad is going back to being more of a destroyer type.

I can't wait to see him KO Fury.

 

Fury hit Wlad with some decent shots, but Wlad did not try to attack until late and won when he did.

I highly doubt Fury can take a flush right hand or hook from Wlad without 1 ) Being hurt, or 2 ) Staying aggressive.

My guess is Fury will be KO'd, floored, or play it very safe once he feels Wlad's power, just like the majority of his opponents in the past.

Wlad only needs to trust his skills and power. Few can take his shots, even at age 40. That much I'm sure of.