I think Wilder is the future. Wilder moves like a much smaller man, but he has power in both hands and is proving to be hard to hit with flush punches. Wilder also showed tremendous stamina in his last fight, which is expected for a young guy with his build. Although Wlad will be favored, if Wlad manages to beat Wilder, I think it will be a HUGE win. Honestly, I'm not sure who to pick in that fight. Wlad obviously has the experience factor, which is huge, but Wlad is also close to the end of his career even if he hasn't taken a lot of punishment. The fact is, he's 40 years old with a family and millions of dollars. If Wlad can beat Wilder, where would people rank him on the ATG list? I think he would easily be top 10. Wilder is much better than people give him credit for. Wilder will prove to be the future.
If Wlad continues dominating for another 10 years, ending with 82 wins and 41 title defenses, he might sneak inside the top 10.
I agree that an argument can be made for him being in the top 10 today. Honestly, I think his footwork is one of his best assets. I'd say Wlad has shown the best footwork for a BIG, big man of all time.
It depends who you're arguing with. Does it really matter? Everybody eventually dies. At the end of the day, does it matter what someone else thinks about who the best heavyweight of all time is? I mean it is 2012. You own a pistol, right?
You have the point there. I was just ironically referring to some people requesting near-impossible feats in order to acknowledge what's due.
Right Now, Wladimir Klitschko sits at # 5 on my all time Heavyweight List. He just passed Rocky Marciano last year. If Wladimir Klitschko beats Fury and Wilder, he will move ahead of Larry Holmes on my list to # 4 all time. Wladimir is currently doing something Holmes never did, and that is fight the best in his division at all times. After 1983, Holmes stopped taking on dangerous, young fighters hoping to coast to 49-0...he even admitted in 1985 that he's paid his dues, and that he shouldn't have to taken on young dangerous fighters anymore. Meanwhile, Pinklon Thomas was waiting for a big unification match. Wlad is 39 and continues to take on the best out there. Fury and Wilder are next.
I really don't know how people can rank Wlad so poorly. He's easily in my top 10 already. Actually, I just looked it up, and it looks like the majority of you agree with me there. There was a poll here recently about where voters ranked Wlad. showthread.php?t=532848 (I guess I can't link yet on this account, I can't seem to post it.) 160 voters. Just under 2/3 of voters thought he was top 10. Just under 9/10 of voters thought he was top 15.
Well they clearly are not looking for challenges or they would demand Wlad next to unify. It will be Spring 2016 before the fight can be made.
Wilder has the best chance beating Wlad at todays HW scene. Povetkin already lost to Wlad and he is unlikely to fight him again. Apart from Fury, none of the guys in top 10 has a chance to perform better than how Jennings did. Between Fury and Wilder, I believe Wilder has the better chance with his power and speed, Fury won't be able to handle Wlad at all. So at the end of the day Wlad is the #1 contender to the throne. Wlad beating him will be huge and if he beats Fury and Wilder over the next 12 months he can continue dominating the division safely a few more years breaking records and ranking close to HW ATG peak when his career ends.
I read that Wlad's plans included Fury in September and Wilder in early 2016. Who know, maybe Wilder will take Povetkin first and lose against him.
Wilder is all that ...but you forget about his chin. Wilder's chin makes Michael Grant's chin look like McCall's chin.