So Vitali Klitschko has retired. First thoughts on his historical ranking and legacy?

It would appear so!

 

I think Tunney fought Carpentier and Gibbons in Heavyweight, but it were two wins over Dempsey in Heavyweight (in your statement it appeared like one). If who was rusty in the first, then he wasn't in the second (was still in the early thirties). Possible was even the last Greb fight in the Heavyweight, as it was supposed to be an elimination to challenge Dempsey.

 

You may be right but Carpentier was a small light heavy and best Gibbons a little more than that in weight. They may have fought at heavyweight but these two weren't even cruisers at the 190 limit, Greb never fight at heavyweight.

 

Cruiserweight didn't exist, Patterson and Corbett were mostly below that limit (possible Marciano too). Both were before challengers of Dempsey for the world championshipin Heavyweight and Carpentier can be regarded as top 3 of the divison for the whole decade. So the only top guy he possible didn't face was Firpo (maybe because of timing, as who was a bit past his best).
As Wills was probably already over the hill (Uzcudun defeated him when 1924 or 1926?). There was nobody left when he retired, he cleaned out the weight-class, more than Ward Super-Middleweight or Crawford Light-Welterweight.
Therefore in my opinion should he be rated as the best heavyweight of the ninteen-twenties (he was at least most successful).
And the biggest achievement of Lennox Lewis to retire as world champion did Gene Tunney first.

 

Against Byrd was it no controversy as it was not his decision; Sdunek told the referee to give a hold of the bout, without his permission (didn't ask) to prevent permanent demage on the arm, because the injury was created in training. But he let him fight with a similar one vs. Chisora for 10 rounds.

Against Lewis is it that he was on the way to win and it didn't go to the scorecards nor was he allowed to continue. That could be a choice of the corner and not necessary of the doctor.