So Tua gets through with a huge shot against Byrd and scores the knockout. Then fights Evander for the vacant IBF strap and wins. Wladimir actually gets through the Sanders storm and wins that fight. They set up the WBO champ Wladimir vs the new IBF champ Tua. How does this one play out?? Tua’s confidence is sky high after the Byrd KO. Wladimir got a bit shaken up by The Sniper Sanders but proved to many and himself he can weather storms and come back. A fun fight that never happened. Two offensive powerhouses and arguably two of the hardest punchers in the last 30 years. I see Wladimir being smart in this one (Especially after the Sanders scare) and boxing behind his jab and 1-2’s from long range. Don’t think Wlad would be messing with the left hooks too much in this one for obvious reasons. At least Fritz would most likely be telling him not to. Tua on the other hand would be bound and determined not to do another boring showing against a taller powerful boxer/puncher champion. I think Tua would be coming out extremely aggressive in the first few rounds but would get worn down by Wlad’s long range power and eventually stopped before the 9th. David would have a couple of being edge of your seat moments though. But a focused and careful Wladimir is too good. Wladimir TKO 9. The first to stop Tua
I'd similarly take Wlad to beat Tua. I'm not sure he'd stop him but his offensive arsenal and accuracy would put Tua in shell and yes, he might bust him up so badly ref stops it late. I dont think Tua has the skillset to get inside Wlad and use his short, explosive hooks etc...
On the surface I’d easily pick Wlad. But the Klitschko of the early 2000’s sometimes traded too recklessly. And that might be dangerous against a guy with an iron chin and substantial punching power