Name 1 ATG fighter any of the klitchko brothers beat

Uhh... it's a fact. You are saying that article is inaccurate? It was common knowledge if you followed boxing at the time.

 

ATG doesn't mean "Top 50 P4P Ever."

They have not beaten an ATG. It is very likely (nearly a sure thing) they never will. Combined, Lennox is the only ATG they've fought.

However, yes, the Klitschko's are ATG (ruling a division for 5+ years, I'd say that gets you there)...
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Also, look at Mike Tyson. He beat two ATG's: Holmes and Spinks... being that here on ESB you/we worship dissecting each victory, specifically looking for negatives, he beat two ATG's: Holmes, quite old and past it; and Spinks, a light heavyweight with a whopping 4 fights at heavy.

So, I'm not sure the point of the thread starter...

 

I take it all your posts are full or irony?

 

THIS has to be a joke...

A good one though indeed, props.

 

I think not! Vitali started very well and nearly blasted Lewis out of there. But once Lewis opened the cuts around Klitschko's eye there was only gonna be one outcome. If the fight were continued Vitali could have lost the sight in that eye. Lewis would have, legitimately, kept jabbing the eye, causing more damage. Also, as the eye damage got worse he would have been vulnerable to heavy, unseen punches. Just because Vitali started well does not mean he did, or was gonna win the fight. Why do people feel the need to re-write history. Lewis TKO Vitali. :hi:

 

Vitali was in control.......................

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Ugh, the two sides on this argument are so stupid and stubborn. Vitali fans need to accept that it's a legit TKO loss. Lewis fans need to accept that Vitali was looking great against Lewis (probably up on the cards) and if it wasn't for the cut he very likely could've won.

 

I accept that Vitali started well, and have already stated that. He was probably up on the cards when the stoppage came but the momentum was with Lewis and with the eye damage he could continue to pot shot away with the jab. Nobody knows how the remaining rounds would have gone, but with the damage done to Vitali it is likely he would have suffered. The stoppage was correct in any course, and it was a legitimate TKO victory for Lennox no matter how well you think Vitali fought.

 

Any other articles to back this up?

The article is dated July 4th 1996, right after the Mercer fight states:

http://articles.philly.com/1996-07-03/sports/25622666_1_frank-maloney-wbc-belt-tyson-riddick-bowe

http://213.152.145.56/news/article/lewis-issues-45-million-tyson-offer/321986.html

NY times article dated the day before yourshey

http://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/03/sports/sports-people-boxing-a-few-punches-between-bites.html

I can picture it now....

Reporter: I'm here with Don King. Don it was reported yesterday that Frank Maloney has offered $45 million for Lennox Lewis to face Tyson?
King: Mmmm, what? Oh, erm, we offered $13.5 million, didn't ya know? Only in America baby, YEAH, USA, USA!!!!

From Wiki:

Lewis successfully sued to try to force Tyson to make a mandatory defense of the WBC title against him or force Tyson to give up the title, winning a four million dollar settlement from promoter Don King. Rather than fight Lewis.

And It wasn't "step aside" money either. The $4 million was court fees. If it was step aside money Tyson wouldn't have been stripped of the WBC title now would he?

Give it up.

:smoke

 

Isn't the whole point of being an ATG the fact that you're a rare breed? If beating a prime ATG is a requirement to be an ATG, then as soon as an ATG retires unbeaten during his prime, or moves up in weight the division is ruined forever because nobody beat him at that weight.

By the OP's logic, the heavyweight division lacks an ATG because they didn't beat an ATG, which means there will never be an ATG heavyweight again because the single criteria necessary to become an ATG is permanently gone.

How does that make any sense?

 

Vitali WAS up on the cards at the time of stoppage. Lewis failed to turn the fight around even after dubious cut. One can argue it was a legitimate TD victory for Vitali. That fight left more questions than answers and the rematch never happened thanks to Lewis.

 

This :good

 

:deal

 

Fact: the Klitschkos are not ATGs yet because their resumes are too poor. They are on their way though because their careers aren't finished and they stay very dominant against mediocre opposition. Haye and Adamaek are certainly good scalps on anyones resume. Especially Wlad can become an ATG if he continues doing his thing for some more years.
The argument 'the Klitschkos would have had a chance against any HW ATG in history' is simply not valid. ATG status is based on factual legacy, not on fantasy H2H matchups.
Only Vitali has faced an ATG, in Lewis, and he blew his chance when Lewis was there for the taking. So were there any ATGs available for the Klitschkos? Yes, Lewis was, at least for Vitali.

And Lewis resume is certainly better than Wlads or Vitalis. Last but not least, past prime Lewis holds a TKO victory over a prime Vitali - that should convince every Klitschko nuthugger.
Oh, and it was as clear a TKO victory as can be. If a fight ever had to be stopped on cuts, then it was this one. The cuts were caused by repeated punches to the face, no controversy here. Those who claim Vitali should've won because he was leading on points do not understand the rules of boxing. And if the fight hadn't been stopped, Vitalis would probably have sustained permanent injuries and his good career would have been ended. There would be no Vitali to cheer on by his nuthuggers today.