My Ranking of Wladimir Klitschko presently.....hes got a long way to go

I'm not a particularly huge fan of Wladimir Klitschko, but frankly I find it unbelievable that SuzieQ can think of 41 heavyweights who ought to be rated ahead of him.

 

What does " bigger is better " have to do with the fact that the guy has won 50 out of 53 fights, is 11-2 in title bouts, and currently holds two belts? He's probably beaten more ranked opponents than Sonny Liston or Rocky Marciano. He's come back from some horrible losses to salvage his career and become a champion-something that most guys can't do.

If you ask me, Wlad is pretty damn awesome.

 

Champions are only capable of facing the best fighters who are available during their era. For the most part, I think he's beaten the best men around. Of course, I'd like to see him fight the winner of Chagaev-Valuev, and perhaps give Samuel Peter a rematch, but still.

Usually the public decides who it is that they feel is "THEE" champ. Frankly, I think the popular concensus is that Wladimir Klitschko is the best heavyweight in the world. He currently holds two fragments of the title, which by the way, is more than Holmes ever had at one time.

 

Wlad's top30 already, he may move upto top20 when all is said and done and way above his brother Vitali. Thats a fair rating and there are some extremes - Mendoza has Wlad as knocking out a Prime Ali, Suzie doesn't have Wlad in the top40 of all time. This is the dominant HW of the last 5years that is flawed but excellent in many areas and despuite being in a weak era has beaten many of the better fighters in this era

Suzie what 41 fighters do you rate over Wlad? I can understand someone not rating Vitali as top50but Wlad should be top30.

Mendoza how do you see Wlad ko'ing Prime Ali?

 

This is a very good observation.

I too have noticed that there never seems to be much balance in terms of people's opinions on klitschko. They either love the guy or hate him all together. Some have him beating guys like Holmes and Ali while others don't even see him beating Chuck Wepner.

Me personally, I think I would probably have him ranked somewhere between 15-20 He is a very good fighter with an impressive resume, and can certainly see moving him up in the future.

 

Don't make things up PowerPuncher, I never said Wlad knocks out a prime Ali. Show the source here, or lose credibility. Or simply take the out that you were being sarcastic.

I do think Ali would have hard time with Wlad....Any version of Ali. 66-67' or 71-74. The closest thing to Wlad that Ali faced was Norton, Lyle or Holmes. I think Ali on his best night would win. Re-read this 2x.


I also think on other nights Wlad could win. Norton did it. Lyle almost did it, and like Young or Jones might have done it on points depending on how you score the fights. Of Coruse Holmes and Berbick beat Ali, but Ali was too old for those fights.

 

This is how I see its well. As for Wlad being #1, Ring Magaizne, Fight News, Box Rec, and just about every fight expert on quote feels he is the #1 guy out there, and has been for a few years.

 

With all fairness to powerpuncher, he could have easily mistaken someone elses quote for your own. I'm not trying to bail him out of trouble here, but if power puncher has visited the general forum lately, then he's likely heard such claims. Somebody started a thread in the general forum with a title like " 1967 Ali vs klitschko" or something like that. It was astonishing how many people actually said that Wlad would knockout Ali. Additonally, I have read threads in the past where some people have actually rated Corrie Sanders as a top 10 all time great, soley on the basis of his win over Klitschko.


Its really quite bad.

 

I have certainly developed a lot more respect for him over the years. When I saw him get destroyed by Sanders 5 years ago, then by Brewster a year later, I was certain that he was finished. To my surprise, he has regained composure, and elevated himself to the top of the boxing world. This takes a great man to do. Not many fighters can come back from such devastating losses, only to become even better fighters. For this reason, I will never again question the man's heart.

 

One point that stands in his favour is the fact that he was ranked No1 by Ring Magazine in 4 seperate years.

Do you know how many fighters have been ranked No1 in 3 seperate years?

Harry Wills
Max Schmeling
Jersey Joe Walcott
Sonny Liston
Joe Frazier
Muhamad Ali
Mike Tyson
Evander Holyfield
George Forema (if you include his second career)
Wladamir Klitschko

Once a fighter is on that list they have to be at least encroaching on your top 20 IMHO.

 

I think if Wladimir klitschko were to retire tommarow, he'd be an all time great.

 

No, you have to simply prove that you are the best of your era, something that Wlad has already done. History will decide how great his opponents were.

What defines lineal champ? If there is someone else in the world who you think has a good argument for being the heavyweight champion, then why don't you tell me who it is?

How was he supposed to? " the man" never gave him a title shot, then retired in 2003. Floyd Patterson never fought Rocky Marciano, does that mean he shouldn't be considered " the man "????

By your logic, there hasn't been a real champion in over half a century, so there for I guess there is no lineal title.