Is it safe to say Wladimir got the worst chin of the top 10 heavyweights?

I do agree mate. I usually call anyone who's ever experienced a top ten ranking a world class fighter.

Below that I'd say domestic class. Those who win the titles are obviously elite.

I see what you mean by titlist, much more respectful. I dont intend any disrespect when I say paper champ but I appreciate it can sound needlessly blunt.

With regards to the thread wlad isn't currently in my top ten, he's my number 12. I do think he's the least durable out of those 12 if I'm being honest but the way he's turned his career around since the Brewster defeat is nothing short of inspirational. Ten years ago his brother is begging him to retire, today he can lay claim to being one of the most dominant champs in history. I dont believe his durability has increased but I do believe his defence has become much more effective.

 

That's all fair.

Gotta respect a guy who covers up his weaknesses.

"Sure he's got *****s in his armor. Look at all that armor!"

I feel, too often, we get so obsessed with chins and power we don't give real credit or analysis. Fighter A's "chin" is bad, Fighter B has "power", so B beats A. It's just never that simple. The big puncher gets beat just as often as vice versa. Handicap in durability and composure is not as steep a weakness as others that exist.

 

I think to beat him you gotta past that jab and very few can do that no matter how big the punch so I do agree there.

 

No worse than Lewis.

Maybe even no worse than Louis.


CHIN was the bit on trial, wasn't it ?

 

Lets a have a look at Wlads opponents since he was blown out by Brewster. There has been mythos built up around him as an undestructable force due to these wins.
Ive seen posters claim his run since that defeat is "inspirational" even though lesser boxers than Wlad were able to dominate these fighters and dont get credited with such praise.

Sultan- Was gong the distance with old man Holyfield before he fought Wlad. Nobody won that fight, everybody lost. They both fought like cowards, no need to sugar coat it, its the truth and everybody knows it. Took his check after the fight and turned his back on the sport for good.

Thompson- Not a great fighter. Never beat anybody.Clumsy. no speed and poor footwork he only gave Wlad trouble by being awkward and avoiding a fight. Not the way to beat Wlad.

Rahman- His best years were in the 90s. Struggled with Monty Barret years prior. He only had a belt because it was gifted to him when Vitali retired curtesy of King. Got a draw against Toney who was shot to pieces from over 70 pro fights and weighing almost 240 pounds right before he fought Wlad. Would of been dominated by any top HW on the scene today.

Chagaev- Went 12 rounds with old man Matt Skelton who Price put away in 2 rounds. Had hepatitis c and was ubale to fight outside of Germany. Never beat anybody of note and was also beaten by Povektin soon after.

Chambers- Took Wlad to 12 rounds without having much pop and wearing a shakey beard. Was undefeated when he lost to Povektin who didn't posess the size, reach, weight and power advantage Wlad has. Would be dominated by the current HW scene so he moved back to Cruiserweight.

Peter- Was beaten by Chambers who had none of the advantages Wlad has. Went 24 rounds with a soft battle worn James Toney and was unable to put him away. Was pulverised by not even the best of the new crop-Helinius who was walked down and beaten up by Chisora. No skill, never beat anybody to get the rematch , would be punnished by Fury, Haye. Pulev etc..

Haye- Another small ex cruiser with only 4 HW fights. Was unable to hurt him , landed only 150 punches over 12 rounds and got out landed on power shots. Got seriously hurt in the 12th and could of been finished off if the ref hadn't let him hold on most of the round.

Mormek- Another Cruiser. Old. Was practically retired, inactive for 2 years, couldn't get a fight to save his life , yet was a good enough to be selected by Wlad to fight for all the titles. Barley threw a punch the whole fight. Managed to step inside on Wlad repeatadly and was clinched to death despite having no advantage whatsoever over him. Was fouled opon till he was ko'd despite Wlad given no warnings or point deductions. Would be obliterated by any active HW today.

Thompson II-Shot to absoulte ****. No fight him in and did he best to coast to 12 rounds. Will get blown away by Price on Saturday.Is no threat to anybody in the division. Got selected for another fight with Wlad by skipping the eliminator process when Chambers pulled out. Excat same case with Pulev now but he fails to be selected and has to go back down the pecking order becauses he poses to much of a threat despite having only 17 fights.

Wach- Had never beaten anybody and was practicaly unknown. Shockingly bad boxer with zero skill who managed to cause Wlad a cut that required 16 or so stitches. Would be taken out by any fighter with an ability to sustatain an attack to head and body long enough to force the ref to end it.

I cant think of any fighter who would fail going through that list. His post blow out loss run is made up of under-matched fighters and bottom feeders with a personal ref at hand to bail him out of trouble.
Boxing writers will note that for what it is and not some mythical rebuilding of Wlad K as a fighter and his dominance over elite level competition.

 

He's considered dominant and elite today, by the people in the business.

It's people like you who would be rewriting history.

Wlad isn't the finest fighter I've ever seen. But he's up there.

 

Byrd, Iggy, Chagaev, Haye, Chambers, Peter and Brock were all top 5 opponents with a different stylistic challenge offered by each one.

Thompson, Rahman and Austin were all mandatories.

Mormeck and Wach have been soft touches granted but the reason i say his comeback has been inspirational is because a decade ago his brother begged him to quit the sport as he didn't think he had it in him. Today Wlad is regarded by nigh everyone as the best HW on the planet, a status he has enjoyed for the last 7 years.

A career turnaround like that is nothing short of inspirational, especially in the modern era.

I still agree he is the least durable out of the top 15 or so heavyweights but his greatness isn't really in question.

 

I made nothing up. People in the business made decisions to drop him from major networks.
I believe you have worked with the man which would make your opinion more biased than others.
Hes a decent champ but theres no case for him being a great.

 

Longevity... 7 years at the top of the division, longer than Dempsey, Marciano, Frazier, Tyson, as long as Holmes.

Emphatic nature of victories... 50 KO's in 59 wins.

Not as good as Savannah Wlad Klitschko, tho. That guy could really fight.

 

Nowhere near as good as Savannah, agreed. But a big HW against a flyweight ?

Come on !

 

In a division branded -dead by almost everybody , longevity is meaningless.

 

Same thing was said of Lewis a few short years ago.

And Holmes before that.

And folks talked of Joe's bums-of-the-month.


Wlad's dominance and longevity will ensure ATG status, and if he doesn't **** up between now and retirement, he'll probably clinch a top 10 spot in the division.

 

Are we talking Wlad in his chin prime or not?

 

I've stressed that numerous of times and people don't buy it becasue of his skills.I don't think he is a great fighter but he would be top level in any other era due to his safety first.