Wlad was too flawed at the time to beat Lewis, as shown by Sanders. Steward improved Wlad a bit but I still don't see him beating Lewis prime for prime.
No way Wlad beats Lennox. Lennox has too much in is arsenal and can control the fight from the outside. Wlad wouldn't be able to use his typical defense of simply stepping back in straight lines or leaning away. Lennox would present too many problems. Wlad is a very good fighter, but he is being seriously overrated on this forum given his one sided beatings over limited fighters that just aren't very good. Vitali is much more competitive with Lewis, and would likely beat Wlad's ass.
Wlad's defense now consists of him being taller than the majority of his opponents, putting his hand up, and stepping back. Against Toney Thompson, who has simliar height, Wlad's defense didn't look very good at all. Wlad doesn't have the upperbody movement to get away from Lennox's hands, all he can do is put his guard up and try to block. Eventually something will get through, and it remains to be seen if Wlad can survive a war.
ye it does seem his defence is now tailored aroung being the bigger man and controlling with his jab. i doubt this would be enough vs lewis
Like 6'6 260lb power puncher Jefferson. Klycko mauled him from the opening bell. KO3 6'5 260 Moli KO1 6'5 240 Bostice KO2 6'5 285lbs Wolfgramm KO1 6'6 260 Monroe KO6 You forgot though, after the push he'll throw that savage left hook (Jefferson, Shufford)
Lets be rate, if the one-two off Lewis (that finished the 2nd Rahman fight) landed on Wladmir, he would not be getting up. There is a few names on Lewis's record aswell, prime for prime would beat Wlad. It took him 11 rounds ffs to stop Eddie Chambers and people are saying this is the better version of Wlad, he would not have a prayer against a prime Lewis.
One of the hardest hitting heavyweights in history has no prayer of knocking out a guy who's been one-shotted by lesser fighters. Gotcha. These guys' career arcs are so similar it's bewildering to me that people have to make it a point to paint the picture that Lennox is somehow so superior that Wlad has no chance of winning. Big, talented athletes? Check. Highlight reel knockout power? Check. Been KO'd by guys they had no business losing to? Check. Bounced back from those losses to prove they're the goods? Check. Manny Steward? Check. The best heavyweights of their respective prime decades? (90's and 2000's)? In my humble opinion, check. It's got toss-up fight written all over it.
If I remember correctly, Lewis called and told Sanders to go after him the second the bell rang...Lewis knew the strategy... Lewis KO1...probably about 90 seconds....And I was not a Lewis fan...
does anyone feel that had lewis fought the sanders strartegy, wlad would have been able to avoid getting stopped? lewis fought like this vs golota, and his chin is much much better than wlads.
Lewis would have tried to annihilate Wlad in the first 3 rounds with a brutal but risky onslaught. I'd give Lewis the edge here. Out of 10 fights, Lewis would likely win 6, probably 4-5 of those by stoppage. Out of the other 4 I'd favor Wlad by UD or late KO.