Today's heavyweights are the best by far over past great fighters.

Seriously. Liston is intimidating, but Wlad has faced some meaner looking dudes.

Lets see who looks a little scarier.

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In Listons case the scary is actualy real.

 

I agree with you somewhat.

Wlad destroying brock.

Wlad destroying Ray austin

Koing byrd(2)

Admit, he can KO some good Comp (austin isnt good comp, I was just throwing him in there)

 

Wlad is scary when he wants to be but when Chris Byrd pulled a funny face the scary mask fell and he was all smiles.

Wlad is the heavyweight to watch right now. If he continues beating ranked opponents the way he has, then a top 20 all time heavyweight ranking is a posibility.

 

You've got to be kidding me. Not only are today's heavyweights NOT better than those of yesteryear, I don't think they are even better than a number of the top ten guys of yesteryear. If you could bring back George Chuvalo and put him in there, he'd beat just about everyone fighting today.

 

I remember all the moaning in the 1990's about how bad the division was, when now, it is looked on as a talent packed era. And the much vaunted 1970's was primarily the story of many over the hill fighters trying to hold onto what they once had. Were the big fights to be made today- and made consistently- in ten or twenty years this would be looked on as a talent-packed era. Big fights make the legacy of any era greater.

I would give a Manny-trained Wlad a real good chance against any heavy ever, with the exception of a top flight Ali. I'm not saying I would favor him, just that I would give him an excellent chance. And of course, any world class boxer can beat another on any given day. No one is invincible.

And in those pictures, Sonny doesn't look so much scary as old and tired. Reminds me a bit of latter stage Ray Mercer.

 

Chagaev has never suffered a KO defeat in 80+ amatuer fights or as a pro. He has a rock for a chin and under rated hand speed. He can coutner punch too. I think Chagaev has a chance to be a very good fighter.

Wlad does not have suspect stamina. I think his stamina has been very good in recent fights. The glass jaw seems a bit harsh. Sanders, McCline, Brewster, and Peter can hit. In truth many all time great heavies were Ko'd by weaker punchers then them men who TKO'd Wlad.

 

I take vitali pictures with a grain of salt considering he tested positive for steroids



PS Mendoza, Wlads stamina let him down vs Purrity and Brewster, and nearly let him down vs peter when he went down on the 3rd knockdown without being hit.

 

"I must break you".

I am willing to put Wlad number 1 heavyweight off ALL time if he climbs in that ring and says that to who ever he is fighting lol.

 

he gets mixed results in this era also, look at who he has lost too.

 

Here's a better picture of Listons size and shape. Looks pretty scary to me.

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That arm is bigger than some legs

He had one of the better jabs to be sure.

 

Liston's 218 in that one vs Clay's 210 1/2. Build wise it looks like a Heavy vs a Cruiser. Look at the legs and calves. Even the size of both their trunks.

 

Yeah, but Clay still found a way to get the job done.

Not to argue, but I don't think Ali was really that much smaller than Liston... it is a matter of perception regarding the photo. As you well know, John, people can look a huge amount larger than another dependent upon camera angle. Liston was certainly bigger than Ali, but not by a huge amount.

I posted a poster in one of Sal's threads that made this same point regarding Ali and Marciano. Ali looked like a shrimp next to Marciano in that poster.... you and me both know Ali was a little bigger. It was a matter of promoting Marciano, first and foremost.. and in the second tier, we are looking at Marciano in a closer photo than we are Ali. Perception does wonders for promotion

 

Adam,

You...have...got...to ...be... kidding...me. Chavalo would not be in the top 5 today, and would be lucky to have a spot in the bottom half of the top ten until he faced someone decent. Guts and glory do not always side with winning.

Chavalo got blown out by the two best hitters he faced ( Foreman and Frazier ), has a list of fights full of journeyman, and simply did not match up well vs quality boxers. A lack of fight changing power and speed vs ranked fighters also hurt his chances of beating anyone decent, save Quarry who mis-timed the count.

Review Chavalo's record and you'll see.