How Great Is Wladimir Klitschko?

Accomplishments, he may be just inside the top 20 or perhaps outside. Head to head, it is very arguable he's top 10.

 

What about Ezzard Charles, James Jeffries, Jersey Joe Walcott, Jack Johnson, Harry Wills, Sam Langford, Max Schmeling?

I definitely would not rank Wlad in the Top15 yet.

Top25 maybe. But I'd rank him above Riddick Bowe.

 

Agreed, although this has somewhat to do with his massive size advantage over many of the other "older" era fighters, same for Lewis I guess, thats not saying I take anything away from them though. But beating. But beating Ibragimov doesnt really improve his legacy for me, hes unfortunate to be in a weak HW division, at the moment anyway, but hey, I wouldnt put my house on too many HW beating him H2H, apart from Lewis that is!

 

Regardless of where you may put him, now, he still has plenty time, and hopefully some more good opportunities, to raise his ranking.

 

Probably Chambers? how on earth he will get passed Povetkin ?

 

give him some time. he is only 31, with another 4-5 years in his prime. if he unifies and cleans up the division he could easily be in the top 10, maybe top 5. he would be the dominant fighter of the 00's, more than frazier or bowe have accomplished.

 

Wlad right now stands at about 30-35 on the ATG list, just behind Bowe. He has only been champ now for a year and a half, and has fought pretty much above average fighters during his reign so far. He would have to be undefeated for the next 5 years for me to consider him a top 10 ATG, just like Holmes was undefeated and held the title for 7 years in a pretty weak era.

Wlad is very talented, but in the next 2 years you will see him get knocked out again, his chin is still very weak and will be exposed again by an agressive puncher who has the balls and chin to get through Wlads punches to land his own.

 

The next 3 or 4 years are crucial for Wlad.

He should be in his prime. If he stays unbeaten during this time, unifies the belts (at the very least about 3 of them anyhow), and fights the top contenders then he'll have a great shout of being around that top 10-15 ATG range.

He's kind of at a Lewis '98 position at the moment, though unfortunately without a Holyfield to fight. He's come back from a devastating stoppage loss(es), regained a title belt and has beaten some top-rated opponents.

If I could ask for one thing, I'd hope to see his 'Mercer' fight come up soon...as in, that fight where he's drawn into a slugfest against a guy that can take his best shots, but manages to gut it out, fire back and prevail. That would be a huge boost to Wladimir's credentials and image, show that fire.

The closest was the Peter fight, but while that showed he can keep his nerve when under severe pressure it wasn't quite the same thing.

Wlad needs to keep on doing what he's doing, basically. Another stoppage defeat, conversely, would be a massive blow to his hopes.

 

For Wlad to move up he needs to beat the following 'more-than-average' boxers of his era:

Ibragimov
Chagaev
Virchis
Valuev
Dimitrenko/Povetkin

If he can beat these with a KO and with good aggresive styles. So far his last fights with Brock, Austin, Byrd, and 2 times with Brewster (although he lost the first fight, he did put on a great show the first 4 rounds and had Brewster down in the 4th and was very agrresive before being caught in the 5th.) With wins over those guys, Wlad would be considered Top 20 for sure, if not even Top 15.

 

He's ahead of Bowe by a long shot already.

 

He's ahead of Charles, Jeffries, Walcott, Wills, Schmeling & close to Johnson & Langford which he would pass if he unifies all the belts and doesn't lose again before retiring. He passed Bowe a while ago.

 

Wladimir Klitschko looks very good when the fool in front of him just stand there and gets hit. He has had 4 tough fights but lost 3 of them. And those 4 tough fights weren't really all that tough.

 

That's easy enough for you to say from the comfort of your trailer...................ever consider that he hasn't had more "tough fights" because he's the one who's making it a tough fight for the poor sap that has to face him?

Austin went the distance vs. another current beltholder Sultan. Wlad smoked him easily, without even using his right hand.

 

Ever think that maybe some of his other opponents tried to make it a tough fight, but weren't effective at excuting their plan, due to Wlad's size and skill?

You cant' say, he's had only four tough fights, as that is utterly rediculous. I am sure that Brewster tried to make their rematch a tough fight, and I bet Austin and Brock both also tried to make it a tough fight.

Give the man some credit. :-( GEEZ!