Has There Ever Been A HW That’s Been Written Off And Then Risen Back Up To The Degree Wlad Did?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by CooperKupp, Oct 19, 2024.


Was Wladimir’s comeback and reign the best in history?

  1. Yes

    8 vote(s)
    44.4%

  2. No

    10 vote(s)
    55.6%
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  1. CooperKupp

    CooperKupp “B.. but they all playin NBA basketball again!” Full Member

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    There have been many Heavyweight champs who lost, got written off, then came back to win the title or at least a strap. But I can’t think of one who was COMPLETELY written off and rose back up to the degree Wladimir did. Lennox lost. Twice by one shot KO’s at that! But he was never bashed and written off like Wlad. George Foreman was t either after his losses.

    After Sanders, Wladimir definitely had way more detractors. But majority of boxing fans were of the opinion he still had the talent and power to come back. But after the Brewster disaster… Wladimir was being bashed mercilessly. Many actually were saying he “Should just focus on training his brother who’s a REAL FIGHTER” and even well known announcers and boxers like Roid Jones were just saying he “Should just call it quits and hang it up. He’s gone as far as he will go”

    Then to come back, Win the majority of the belts, and actually have 18 title defenses and become arguably the most dominant HW Champ in history?!! Nobody else bounced back to the degree Wladimir did imo.

    Agree or disagree?
     
    CooperKupp, Oct 19, 2024
    CooperKupp, Oct 19, 2024
    #1
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  2. Ney

    Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Obviously, George Foreman would be the answer. Not just written off, but utterly forgotten about.
     
    Ney, Oct 19, 2024
    Ney, Oct 19, 2024
    #2
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  3. bolo specialist

    bolo specialist Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Louis after losing to Schmeling - I remember coming across a Ring magazine article after that loss saying to the effect, "Louis bubble has burst." Then he beat Schmeling to a title shot, destroyed him in a rematch, & went on to set a still-standing record for title defenses.
     
    bolo specialist, Oct 19, 2024
    bolo specialist, Oct 19, 2024
    #3
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  4. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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    I'd say so. I mean, there are a lot of guys that were written off and came back, but no others that I can think of that dominated a decade afterwards. Wlad had extraordinary discipline in addition to his skill and size to make that happen.
     
    BCS8, Oct 20, 2024
    BCS8, Oct 20, 2024
    #4
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  5. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 MONZON VS HAGLER 2025 banned Full Member

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    Jersey Joe Walcott?
     
    Journeyman92, Oct 20, 2024
    Journeyman92, Oct 20, 2024
    #5
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  6. apollack

    apollack Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Jack Sharkey comes to mind. After the loss to Dempsey, draw with Heeney, and loss to Risko, it seemed to be that his career was heading in the wrong direction. And yet he came back to win several important bouts and the championship. His career was up and down like that.
     
    Last edited: Oct 20, 2024
    apollack, Oct 20, 2024
    apollack, Oct 20, 2024
    #6
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  7. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 MONZON VS HAGLER 2025 banned Full Member

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    A record that’ll never be broken!
     
    Journeyman92, Oct 20, 2024
    Journeyman92, Oct 20, 2024
    #7
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  8. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 MONZON VS HAGLER 2025 banned Full Member

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    Jack Sharkey is so underrated and a remarkable heavyweight at a technical level, hearing about the “unskilled and primitive” era and having Tunney, Sharkey, Schemling, Louis and Dempsey as champions so close together?…. contrast to guys like Frazier, Foreman and Ali the “Golden” era being all famously technically scant or unconventional.
     
    Journeyman92, Oct 20, 2024
    Journeyman92, Oct 20, 2024
    #8
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  9. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Wonder if Dubois will be the next one.
     
    MaccaveliMacc, Oct 20, 2024
    MaccaveliMacc, Oct 20, 2024
    #9
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  10. apollack

    apollack Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Modern day I have to give kudos to Daniel Dubois. At first, I thought he was another Sonny Liston with a big punch and heavy jab. Then I saw him get broken and exposed by Joe Joyce, and after Usyk I wrote him off. Surprisingly, he has come back with some very significant victories.
     
    apollack, Oct 20, 2024
    apollack, Oct 20, 2024
    #10
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  11. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    He didn't take two bad Ls in a short period like Wlad though.
     
    NoNeck, Oct 20, 2024
    NoNeck, Oct 20, 2024
    #11
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  12. Smoochie

    Smoochie G.R.E.B G.O.A.T Full Member

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    Holyfield after gettin' cooked by Moore and Bowe for the 2nd time then havin' his best years in 96-97?
     
    Smoochie, Oct 20, 2024
    Smoochie, Oct 20, 2024
    #12
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  13. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Jack Johnson was a rebuild project by Joe Chonyski, who had knocked him out.

    I guess Mike Weaver.
     
    catchwtboxing, Oct 20, 2024
    catchwtboxing, Oct 20, 2024
    #13
  14. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    JJW's rise from being written off was arguably just as meteoric, albeit from an even lower depth to scale a smaller summit.
     
    Greg Price99, Oct 20, 2024
    Greg Price99, Oct 20, 2024
    #14
  15. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Yes, but there were also those saying that he was young enough to come again etc.
     
    janitor, Oct 20, 2024
    janitor, Oct 20, 2024
    #15
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