In your view, was George Foreman largely right in this interview about Wlad?

Not so sure about that, to be honest.

I'm looking at it from this angle: Will Wlad be fondly remembered? Will people on message boards be talking about him in 40, 50 years?

Gene Tunney is an example of a guy who just doesn't get a lot of love. He barely is ever mentioned anywhere, except when Jack Dempsey is mentioned.
Yet, he built up an extremely impressive overall record. He twice beat a legend.
Yet, few really care about him. He didn't have the style or the big fights that people wanted to see. (Long count fight being an exception.)

On paper his legacy is fine, but in reality, few care about it.
A legacy needs to be more than just about winning, strange as that may sound.

A lot depends on the next era of heavyweights, I think. If it's a dull-as-dishwater era then Wlad may be fondly remembered.
But if a guy comes along and dominates by blasting people out in style and being in fights folk want to see, then Wlad could be forgotten in a hurry.

 

Wlad has done the same thing.

If he fought D and C level fighters 4 times a year he could easily beat Louis record.

 

That's like saying the Pitcher in the World Series should throw nothing but fastballs, or that the Super Bowl QB should run the ball every play...because that's more exciting to spectators.

 

Wlad's style is the equivalent of spiking the ball every play then waiting until the 4th quarter to try a pass. No-one would watch that ****, the same way no-one watches Wlad outside Germany.

 

Yeah, I'd say this is true.

I can't imagine that in 30 years time, anyone will be talking about Wlad like people are still talking about Frazier, Ali and Foreman. How many times are they in threads on the general forum? Pretty much every day. Fans have an enormous affection towards them because they gave the fans what they wanted to see. Generally, neither Klitschko does the same. Whilst they may be exceptional fighters today, that doesn't mean they'll be remembered tomorrow.

Fans want more than good boxing. People still talk about Bobby Chacon or Matthew Saad Muhammad more than they talk about Eusebio Pedroza or Harold Johnson. In 30 years time, people will be talking about Israel Vazquez instead of Chris John and Brandon Rios instead of Ricky Burns.

The fact is, Wlad hasn't fought anyone who people will want to see in 30 years time and the lacklustre performances he puts in will not woo the next generation of fans towards him either.

 

Wlad's fighting D and E fighters (F if you count Mormeck). Louis cleared out the Division FIRST fighting the best 4 or more times a year and then came the bum of the month club

 

I'm a huge fan of Foreman, but he moved like he was wading through pig **** and he punched like he was shooing away mosquitos, he really shouldn't be commenting on ATG's like Wlad, Lennox, or Ali.

 

I think that fight surpassed Patterson Liston I WRT the "deer-n-headlights" factor.

Lol...

 

Lol.

Wlad isn't fit to carry George's jock strap....

 

This is what people are going to remember in 30 years:

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Winning? Yes.

However, there is nothing impressive about beating up on a string of BUMs, STIFFs, Tomato Cans, NO HOPERs, and Ole Men.

Wake me when Wlad fights someone with a pulse...

 

Wlad gets a lot of hate now because of his nationality, but when the division continues to be dominated by Eastern Europeans, as it looks like it will be considering the prospects and the amateurs coming up, he'll be looked at in a better light.

He'll also be remembered for dominating the HW division for a long ass time, like Larry Holmes and Joe Louis did before him.

I could mention lots of sportsmen/teams that are considered boring by many yet their greatness can't be denied, you know why? Because the objective in sports is to win, afterall.

 

WRONG.

Wlad has *NEVER* cleaned out the division...

 

Good points.

While reading your post I began to think about which Klitschko fights I considered to be their most exiting and memorable. Off the top of my head I came up with;

V Klitschko Lewis
V Klitschko Byrd
W Klitschko Sanders
W Klitschko Brewster I

Honestly, these were some exciting fights. Too bad the Klit sisters couldn't manage a W.

Lol...

 

:deal