They will remembered well by Boxing fans, but if a new Heavyweight comes along (ala Tyson) they might get the Holmes treatment lol. I don't see that happening though, Wilder hasn't seriously impressed me although Jennings has.
Vitali has the highest knockout percentage of any heavyweight champion in boxing history. Vitali is also the only champion to come back after four years and win a world championship, easily, and with no tuneup. Vlad has one of the highest KO percentages in heavyweight championship history, not far below Vitali. Both Klitschkos are the only brothers to hold all the belts at one time, etc. They are also the most educated, both have their doctorates and speak 4 or 5 languages. Ambassadors to UNESCO, United Nations, too much to mention, but they are the very best.
I'm not really sure if we will ever get a Tyson again, he simply was the last guy to put Boxing the Mainstream after Ali. Lewis was only really accepted in the public esteem only when he defeated Holyfield & Tyson and even to this day it's widely disputed he was the man of his era from the casual perspective. The little giants are carrying the sport nowadays (Pacquiao & Mayweather) are the only guys that are featured on ESPN and Mainstream Media (it's beginning to chance I'll admit). I admire the Sky Ringside show for what it's worth, but other sports have far more coverage it seems; NBA TV, Soccer, NFLNetwork and others dedicated to educating their fan bases, updates etc. Boxing doesn't have none of that except an odd interview on ESPN or CBS, NBC (Which is encouraging Fury-Cunningham etc.) it's one of the few sports where we discover most of our information through secondary sources; YouTube channels, Boxing sites (ESB, Asylum, NSB etc.). I hope we can see Boxing back on regular TV like Football.
I love this non-sense is still coming up. How is today the weakest HW era ever? The 80s, 50s and 30s were much, much worse.
They will be remembered as the two men who killed heavyweight boxing, destroying more than 100 years of lineage and prestige.
Vitali is an arm puncher. His KO% means nothing. Vitali is the only champ to come back after four years. Yeah good for him. Foreman was out for 10 years. Came back and won the lineal title as well as WBA,IBF Being brothers who hold titles together means nothing,it has nothing to do with anything. Speaking languages means nothing. Most educated? Who cares? They're ranked somewhere in the top 30. They're also smug dickheads who make up slave contracts and fight terrible opponents. Mormeck,Wach,Sosnowski,Briggs Quitali Bitchko Wladdy Clinchko Take that to your neo nazi meeting and shove it up your mother's twat. *****.
The 80's were decent. Pinklon Thomas Mike Weaver Larry Holmes Greg Page Carl Williams Trevor Berbick Michael Dokes Tony Tubbs Mike Tyson James Bonecrusher Smith Buster Douglas Tyrell Biggs Evander Holyfield Mike Spinks Tim Witherspoon Gerry Cooney James Tillis 80's were 10 times better than this era
The heavyweight division is at the weakest its ever been. When Chris Arreola becomes the number one contender, I think that speaks for itself.
I highly doubt it. If they didn't exist, nobody since Lewis and Tyson retired would be dominant. Instead, the titles would just pass between the current contenders over and over again, probably with few unifications and you'd still all call this 'the weakest era in heavyweight history'. I bet you'd probably be hoping for one fighter to emerge dominant and unify the belts. As for prestige, I'd say they've added some rather than not; they make boxing appear classier with their education and linguistic skills rather than Tyson lisping about eating children or David Haye blundering left, right and centre.
Again.. If Wladimir and Vitali wasn't here, the lineal championship would change hands between B level fighters. both brothers are legit elite boxer who dominates their opponents, you can't "destroy" a division by simply being the best.
2 brothers who completely dominated a relatively weak era after a few setbacks earlier in their careers. And obviously putting the butthurt in a huge number of British and American boxfans for being champless for almost an entire decade.
Wlad will be forever remembered as the one man to defeat Mormeck, Thompson, Wach, and Pianeta all within only 14 months. Vitali will forever be remembered as the guy who cheated his way out of the Charr fight. Oh, and they had some good fights, too.
Wladimir as a long reigning belt holder in a weak division, maybe somewhat under appreciated, top 15 all time heavy. Vitali will be remembered for losing to Lennox Lewis in a tough fight.