For Wladimir Klitschko to rank in the top 20 heavyweights of all time

atsch
Suzieq, you are kidding arent you?

In 2001, Lennox was KOd by Rahman and had to rematch him to get the title back, would you have preferred if he took a tune up against Vlad instead?

In 2002, Lennox fought Mike Tyson the biggest Money making match of the year, and that stage, a match which simply had to be made. You think he shoud have ducked iron Mike to fight Vlad?

And finally in 2003, the year that Lennox openly admitted that he would only take fights that made money (Kirk Johnson with the Canadian Angle) and he agreed in principle that he would fight Vitali (technically he did duck Vlad for this) because he was the lesser brother and it would set up a final blockbuster with Vlad, a Tyson rematch (which would have been the biggest grossing fight of all time) and Vlad who was the best thought of challenger by some (even though in reality Chris Byrd because of his wins over Tua and Holyfield or maybe even John Ruiz with the Holyfield series was the highest credentialled fighters around at the time but they were not public draws or considered serious threats to Lennox) who was to take a tune up against an aging fighter in Sanders. It is hardly Lennox's fault that Vlad got knocked out. And it certainly ridiculous to say that the old and aging Lennox waited for Vlad to get KOd. Who knows, maybe Lennox is waiting for him to be KOd again?

On the flip side, who were the great contenders that Vlad was knocking out at this time to deserve this alleged no 1 contender spot? Was it Tyson? Holyfield? McCall? Tua? or even Holmes or a Purity revenge match? Or do you think that Jefferson, Shufford, Mcline, botha or old Mercer? At the time, Vlad had just proved himself by beating some fringe top 10 contenders but had never stepped up his competition to the upper tier that demands no 1 contender in the publics eyes. By 2002-03 he was starting to really move into the spot though, due mainly to what his victim Chris Byrd had done to Holyfield combined with the promise he showed by beating solid top10-20 fighters quite easily. This is what earned him his chance at the title but he blew it by losing his tune up to Sanders. Being perfectly honest, if you cant beat Corrie Sanders (and later Lamon Brewster), you are not going to beat Lennox Lewis (at that time) so it is probably quite lucky that Vlad didnt get to fight Lennox cause i think it would have pretty much shattered his legacy.

 

If he pulled off the Haye win and another big one I'd have him just outside my top 20.

Unfortunately for him the only other top quailty fighter about has been his brother.

 

Did you miss Puritty beating the **** out of Tommy Morrison, or any of the other undefeated fighters he's upset?

The man took fights on short notice, had a lack of dedication and weight issues and he still beat Wladimir.

McCall was never quit that unpriviledged.

 

Yeah all 20 of his losses were from lack of dedication and weight issues. He was really a dynamo who just didnt take the sport seriously.. Well like I said he was journeymen gatekeeper at best. Besides the Wlad fight hes never beaten anyone of merit. Where did all those undefeated fighters he beat wind up?

Mcall fought better competition and actually won some of the bigger fights he was in and actually won the title for knocking out Lennox Lewis!
Purrity was on the level of a Garring Lane, or a Lionel Butler, a step up test guy for a prospect with 10-15 fights, nothing more. I love how so many people put him on a level be doesnt belong because he knocked out Wlad. Next your going to say Corrie Sanders would have unified the titles if it wasnt for his passionate love for the game of golf.:blood

 

Yes, McCall did fight better opposition and do better against them as well. But that's where the consistency and Purrity's lack of it comes into play, yes?

Purrity had a better chin, equal power and was far stronger then Butler, so I fail to see the comparison.

Also, how is knocking out Lennox any more of an accomplishment then stopping Wladimir?

 

No it means he wasnt as good of a fighter. If hes losing against a certain level of opponent and Mcall is beating some of them, Mcall is better. Plus Mcall was a known drug addict, who fought many of fights after being strung out of drugs and was not consistent in his training either.

As far as the last comment, I hope your kidding on that one. Lennox Lewis was a far better fighter with far better accomplishments at the time. He went on to dominate the sport and unify the titles, and face some of the bigger punchers and better fighters without losing.

Wladmir was fighting Purrity to keep his WBC standings in tact and to stay busy.

 

Lennox wasn't half the fighter he'd become when McCall beat him.

 

He was still the WBC champ with big wins over Bruno and Ruddock. Wlad had fought a big list of nobodies, and was already being criticised for taking on such soft opposition.

 

Out of interest SQ, and correct me if i'm wrong, but didn't Wlad barely make your top40 a few months ago? I doubt the Rahman fight made you change your mind, so what made you see the light?

For the record, i think your current rating of him is better.

Why would you say that? At 6'3 and 215lbs, Haye is as big as Ali, Holmes and Liston.....

 

This isnt the 70's my friend. Wlad is a big man, Haye has already been knocked out at cruiser. How is he going to react to Wlads right hand with 245 pounds behind it.

 

I think you are exaggerating things a bit. You're suggesting that Ali couldn't take Wlad's right hand either, because he was nearly knocked out by a cruiser (in Cooper)?

Let's not forget that Shavers barely scaled over 200lbs and was lighter than Haye as well. Anyone over 210lbs potentially hits like a truck.

 

No thats not what Im saying. Im saying hes been knocked out already at cruiserweight, (under 200 pounds), and been stunned by some small heavyweights, which most likely suggests he doesnt have a granite chin. Insert Wlad into the equation, who some say has one of the most powerful right hands ever when it lands, and you have a scenario which would suggest Haye could be in deep sh*t when he gets hit.

 

Oh, yeah i agree, Haye's jaw is definitely not all-that and if Wlad lands a good right hand or left hook, there's a good chance of him not being able to recover, directly or indirectly.

I just don't buy that Haye is too small to beat Wlad. He has great power as well as excellent speed. And Wlad seems to take his time these days and starts rather slow. I'm not sure if that's wise against Haye. It worked well against a very aggressive Peter, but Haye has more handspeed.


One last thing on Barret stunning him, Barret knew his only chance was to land a Hayemaker yep) and pretty much went all-out on every punch. There is no shame in getting stunned by a 230lbs man who puts everything into each punch.