Rating Klitchsko as an ATG

Wlads pretty much the definition of one dimensional. It's basically the same thing over and over, Wlad at this stage might actually be the most one dimensional elite HW of all time.

But guys like Frazier, Foreman, and Tyson were one dimensional as well. It shouldn't be a knock on a legacy.

Anyway, Wlad post Sanders ranks higher easily. He hasn't even been in a competitive fight in years, and is in the midst of one of the most dominating title reigns in the history of the sport.

 

I've said before that if Wlad gets by Povetkin - as I think he will - and goes on to beat Haye and another notable name, the debates concerning his place in the history of the heavyweights are going to become very interesting.

Anybody think he can secure a pog in their top 10 if he continues this level of dominance up to his retirement?

 

No. Vitali lost to both of them. Wlad only fought one of them and beat him painfully both times.

 

Norton was certainly not 6'4, mate. He even lists himself as specifically 6'2 and 3/4. I do agree that Ken might give Wlad a lot of trouble, but I consider that match-up an interesting question mark. I also agree that Frazier isn't to be lumped in with Norton and co. The top four are Ali, Foreman, Frazier THEN Norton from that era. Different classes of animal there.

 

"baseball players"

Baseball players play in the major leagues and therefore play the best opposition available. There is a solid measurement of the competition. Boxers can and do pick their opposition. It would be very hard to measure how good a baseball player was who simply avoided the top five or six teams.

Far more important than statistics in boxing is the quality of opposition. Comparing opponents across the decades (Vitali dominates Joe Louis' opponents, etc) simply distorts history. The first question to ask is did this fighter fight the best of his time and defeat them.

Vitali is a spectacular athlete, in my judgement, and has dominated most of his opposition. Still, the best heavies since the late nineties are probably Holyfield, Lewis, Byrd, Wlad, and possibly Haye. Vitali defeated none of them and lost to the only two he fought.

 

He wasn't?
I thought that he was a little taller then Ali.
Whatever. The point is that he is a big powerful heavy with a good jab and hooks. norton was a pretty good fighter and I think he could avoid Wlad's jab and right hand.... I just think nroton's awkwardness would give him a lot of trouble as would his boxing skill. I would even bet Norton to beat him.

 

Wlad pre Sanders beats Norton. Wlad post Sanders likely loses.

Just styles, if you don't blow out Norton early ala Foreman you're in deep ****. Especially when your best punch is what Norton is famous for negating.

 

That's the thing though.. They bombed out Norton by swining crazy punches and not being technical about it. Foreman overwhelmed him and pressured him. so did shavers, and cooney.
I don't think Wlad would do that. He would throw like 4 right hands in the whole match. i think Norton can survive that.

 

We're only 10% of the way through the century, in an extremely weak era since the turn of the millenium, not saying much. I hope you don't mean the best to have fought in the 21st century.

And Lewis resumé post 2000 is better than all of Vitali's, which is awful. And the 2000 version of Lewis is better than any version of Vital.

Not both, just Vitali.

 

Both Klitschkos are HOF bound and have established themselves in the only way they have at their disposal...by beating everybody in their era as fighters...enough of this **** of constantly downgrading them.

 

OLD FOGEY,

Well, Vitali was winning both fights vs the two best he fought. The Byrd fight was a fluke. And Lewis did not want a re-match. In fact, Byrd declined a re-match too. You mention Joe Louis. What if Schmeling never gave him a re-match? What if Frazier never gave Ali a re-match?

I have seen the best in the 1990's struggle with lesser competition that Vitali would have easily defeated.

Vitali was never behind on any card after round three, never floored, owns the highest KO% of all time, owns the best rounds won to rounds lost ratio in ring history, and came back nearly 4 year off with no warm up fights at age 37 to re-claim his belt vs. Peter.

You can go back 100 years, no one can match these feats. Not one man. That was my baseball stats comparison.

 

Not high. As others have said their comp is terrible, Vitali lost to a fading lewis and chris f'n' byrd. Wlad got ktfo'd by someone like corrie sanders and lamon brewster, that's just bad. Most of the GOAT heavies at least lose to people that were good in their primes.... With the exception of Tyson... The klits have poor comp, and honestly are really one dimensional stand up fighters with their 1-2's. The fact that they're dominating the heavies is evidence of how **** terrible the division really is.

props to wlad on banging hayden panettiere though, she's a dime piece no question

even if she is like 14 years his junior

 

To be fair, I don't think it happens that often the champion fights top3 contenders. Sure, Marciano and Louis are far ahead of the Klitschko's in that department, but who would dispute that they're greater, anyway?

It would be interesting to see how many top3 fighters all HW champions beat, and what is their record against them?

An interesting stat, but I think the record against top10 opponents is a better guidance. Those are the official "contenders" for the title.