Langford v Wlad?

I agree

 

Povetkin us un-defeated. Since 2004 he has beaten a few top ten guys, and some former title holders. This is not average!


As for Olympic Gold its been more hit lately than miss on who the future champions will be. Bowe, Mercer, Lewis, and Wlad come to mind.


Harrison won in perhaps the weakest super heavyweight Olympic class ever, In fact there were better fighters at heavyweight ( 91K ) such as Savon, Ibragimov, and Chagaev in 2000.


Wlad has beaten at least 12 top ten fighters, and has been the Ring Magazine champion for quite a few years. SuzieQ is right, outside of his brother, he has cleaned out the division, and offered re-matches to former top ten rated guys as well.

 

Is three KO losses in 63 fights that bad at heavyweight? No sir. In fact many famous heavies have been ko'd as much or more in less fights, and in some cases by far lesser punchers that Brewster or Sanders!

I have another take. Has there ever been a 1A and 1B this dominant for so many years without losing? Not really. Yet when the rest of the top ten has matches vs each other, we get some good matches. This to me suggests the division is average in terms of depth with two hall of fame guys staying at the top for many years. Wlad is 37, Vitali is 42, yet they are still in great shape. They never got fat like Ali, Fraizer, or even Louis did. Seldom do we see fighter in their late 30's to early 40's in this type of shape.



Povetkin or Haye would rate as top 5 in many years using Ring Magazine anual ratings as the benchmark.

 

Vitali hardly merits inclusion in the discussion. I don't think he's a clear #2 any more, nevermind a "1B". Over the last ten years he's been inactive for about five of them !

 

Povetkin is pedestrian. Anyone who says otherwise hasnt been paying attention to his career.

In this era of protected champions and careful matchmaking yes 3 conclusive knockouts is bad. Say what you will but Sanders and Brewster while being punchers were nothing special. Brewsters record as a puncher was totally padded. Nearly every time the guy stepped up he failed to get a knockout. His only "marquee" knockouts are Wlad, Golota, and maybe Krasniqui. Thats pretty anemic. I watched the guy hide in a corner and lose every round to the glass jawed, light hitting Etienne. Getting blitzed by him is nothing to go bragging about.

 

I agree, but a 9 year 18 fight winning streak since then counts for something surely.

 

Without reading through the pages...sane people pick Wlad, Janitor picks Langford and Burt is OFFENDED

 

Like I said, I think Wlad is good. Dont mistake that. Hes talented, he comes in shape, he can punch, and hes big. Thats a tough combination to beat. My only real point is that its a weak division. Very watered down, very little talent, and a lot of guys basically stuck in traction, not willing to move forward and not risking enough to be moved back. Wlad could very well be a great fighter I just think its hard to judge him using this division as a measuring stick. That said there is no doubt in my mind that he is very good and would be a tough match for most. I just cant look at his fights in this division and say that he beats Tyson, Holyfield, Ali, Louis, Foreman, Bowe, or even Lewis (who I was never that high on but think would present Wlad with some serious problems) among others that I think would be problematic for him.

Another issue I have with the Klitchkos is that they kind of operate as a unit. I believe fighters of a certain style and ability that would problem Wlad, Vitali knocks off and vice versa. This makes for difficulty in rating them. I understand why they wouldnt fight each other and wouldnt encourage it myself. But the fact that you have these two brothers with two different styles and skill sets holding the top firm is kind of like the Mayweather/Pac situation where we will never know who was really the best because they couldnt or wouldnt fight each other. Unacceptable for Mayweather/Pac, understandable but frustrating for Wald/Vitali.

 

That's not true, and judging by your attitude it won't change your opinion. But to clear this up:

Most of these are not annual but the actual RING rankings at time of the fight:

Tony Thompson II #10
David Haye #2
Eddie Chambers #4
Ruslan Chageav #3
Tony Thompson I
Sultan Ibragimov #6
Lamon Brewster II #7
Calvin Brock #7
Chris Byrd II #1
Jamell McCline #8
Chris Byrd #10

So Mendoza's claim seems to be accurate. In contrast to his peers of his era in any weightclass, Wlad is one of the few that consistently fights Ring ranked fighters. Its no wander he's P4P ranked.

 

Will have to check where the 30-0 Chambers was rated when he lost to Povetkin. Before the loss Cambers defeated Brock ( who was in the top ten before ) and Guinn. After losing to Povetkin, Chambers best Peter and Dimitrenko. Dimitrenko was in the top ten at that time for sure.


Its transparent you want to downgrade Povetkin, but like I said it would not be hard to view him as a top 5 guy in many of the annual ring magazine ratings.

 

Yeah, I agree.
I share you views on Lewis too.

 

Thanks. Will Mcvey let the facts get in the way of his agenda? I expect a spin reply without quoting what you wrote in full context. We shall see if he can admit a mistake.

 

Wlad's Comp> Joe Louis Comp