Is Wladimir Klitschko a top ten ATG heavyweight?

When Hopkins was Wlads age he was putting on clinical and masterful displays of boxing against guys like Johnson, Trinidad and Pavlik.

At nearly 50 years old he still behaves nowhere near as badly as Wlad. He doesn't have stopping power over his opponents nor is he big enough to wear them out by leaning down their backs.

He's winning because he's a multi-dimensional strategist who farts more boxing skill than Wlad.

Andre Ward used one butt in his whole career against Kessler. I'll be waiting for you to pull up the rest of his fights where he head butted his way to victory???

Wlad is a disgraceful cheat everytime he steps in the ring.

 

Right on the money! Couldn't have stated it any better than this!!

 

How the **** does a win over a 9 fight novice and a bum improve your legacy ? ?

 

Only if his opposition suddenly and inexplicably become a more appreciated line of World Title Challengers. This is unlikely.

 

Both are poor to watch and use a lot of cheating in the styles the use,holding and fouling

 

It shows how bad he is to watch when his ok ratio is as high as it is yet no one wants to watch him.the only live challenge he has fought is haye.haye goaded him beyond belief b4 the fight and ppl slagged him off for doing it but it was blatently to get under his skin so he would take at least 1 risk in the fight which he didn't do once.why isn't it eland who gets criticised for his abysmal negativity in every fight he has ?

 

I wonder whether some folks underrate the Ks and rank them lower simply because they dislike them so much because they are so dull.

 

I don't think the Klitschko's are as much disliked as the extreme fandom, which followed/follows them - due to the lengths Klitschko Fanatics will go to overstate their idols' place in Boxing history. Wladimir, in particular, has a case for his 'greatness' argued on his behalf, almost daily.

The problem is, even if one puts the Leapai bout and the Povetkin fiasco aside, a genuine issue remains and that is one of Wlad Klitschko’s continued dominance being equated to a legacy of real worth. Based on wins over Pianeta, Wach, Thompson (x2), Mormeck, Haye, Peter, Chambers...

...It would be wildly imaginative of anyone to stretch Wlad's ledger to being one of top-ten greatness. The Heavyweight division is not exactly a talent-rich pool of top-flight Boxers; more a landscape filled with floundering chancers and has been so for at least ten years. In short, Wladimir has had no serious opposition and so, while his dominance is still notable, it is not without qualification against a line of opponents, most of whom would not have even been given a shot at the title in previous eras. And, Wlad has hardly made his wading through this shallow pool a spectacular.

Of course, Wladimir Klitschko deserves some credit for winning and continuing to win those fights. But, not one of them makes its mark as a battle between comparable contemporaries; none being a definitive test of Wladimir's much touted abilities. So, one is left wondering what these 'abilities' actually are.

The relatively recent Povetkin bout hasn't helped, having been a dire display, emphasising how basic Wlad is; a fight noted, not for its unparalleled exhibition of Boxing skill but more for Wlad's out-and-out clinching and ridiculous 'leaning-on' approach to defence. It's not unreasonable then to think that Wlad is simply not as good a Boxer as some like to purport; lacking in any discernible quality in his footwork, with a very much overrated jab, he is unable to effectively control distance. Coupled with his reluctance to exchange, low stamina and without an inside game, this leads to his dependence on outfighting and resorting to gross stifling tactics, should anyone shorten the gap; a dull display of fouling, made all the worse by complicit refereeing.

Unfortunately, no amount of trumpet-blowing from 'Klitschkonettes' will change the general perspective on such performances. Very few people, even over time, will come to appreciate the boring, drawn out hug'n'lean fests of Wladimir Klitscho. Quite oppositely, I fully anticipate that many will come to the realisation of Wladimir's reign as not being worthy of a place in the top-ten of all-time greats. I do trust that, however, once the dust has settled and the Kitschkonites diminish in number, history will be kind to the brothers - so long as they are not glorified for what has been a reign over mediocrity and far from a golden age of Boxing.

 

I agree with everything except your estimation of Wald as a boxer. C'mon, man, guy has great control of distance and has an amazing jab. He's an excellent boxer.

With regards to the matter of him leaning on opponents, I've said this before, any coach who doesn't talk to the ref about this before the fight is really not doing his job. They really oughtta demand of the ref to not allow that crap.

 

I disagree. He is often slow to react to an incoming opponent (which invariably leads to him engaging in bear-hugging and leaning) and, in cases where he does react in time, he often overdoes it, leaping back in ungainly fashion and totally out of range, which, for someone with his physical advantages, is a waste of energy.

Wladimir can Box but he is not an excellent Boxer, IMO. His jab is an inconsistent mix of pawing, outstretched-left and, on occasion, it looks good. Even in the latter cases he tends to sweep the delivered jab right, across his chest/midriff. All-in-all, I consider his Boxing disorganised.

While I can take your point about the coaches needing to highlight the fouling, is it really up to them to get the rules enforced? Sure, they should bring it to the ref's attention but it is so blatant, with such an obvious impact on the opponent, referees should be on the case, like flies on manure.

 

Top 15; maybe. But his era is one of the worse ever!

 

No it isn't. Louis' and Holmes' title reigns were worse for quality, Tyson's title reign was worse as well. Even Ali's second title reign was pitiful. Some of the Americans on this forum can't handle the fact that an eastern euro has completely dominated the HW division for an almost unprecedented amount of time and has thumbed his nose at their American boxing establishment, taking the belts to Europe.
The scornful hate that he gets stateside is akin to the treatment the Black world champion Jack Johnson recieved from the white racist press of his day. Every accomplishment must be denigrated, all positive attributes must be muted and his great skills must be ignored or falsely discredited.

 

I'm white and English.the way he fights is appalling,his opposition poor and his size is what wins his fights and knowing how to use it not his skills like Tyson Holmes and ali