Were does Vitali Kiltschko rank among all time heavyweights?

Based on what? Beating Sanders and Peter? Being beaten by Byrd?

 

Sanders or Peter. Not a good look, huh?

 

I'm not going to get into the usual statistics wrt Vitali. You know them.

 

I would say Peters, Sanders, Adamek, Donalds, Johnson or Chisora all solid wins take your pick which is the best

 

probably top 20. Just his sheer size and durability makes him a h2h nightmare vs smaller heavies. But not top 15 and certainly not top 10.

 

Under Liston and Wlad. Above Bowe, Fury.

 

I conpleted my rankings before Usyk moved up to HW, though I don't rank fighters all time until a few years after they've retired, so as I stand today, Vitali is still my #20.

 

A good champion in a weak era, beset by injuries. Best I can give him is possibly just scraping top 20.

 

Yes, even after they've retired, I find it best to wait a few years, to see how the careers of their key opponents unfold. I find the perspective that time gives, can be both helpful and impactful.

 

No one can deny that Vitali was a great prime for prime fighter, and I would edge him prime for prime against Wlad.

Kind of like Riddick Bowe, a somewhat thin record despite being a great prime for prime fighter.

However, his resume - although quite good - it says a lot that he doesn't have a signature win in which instead he has a signature performance in the loss against Lennox.

 

Top 5 H2H arguably number 1, an absolute monster in his prime who never legitimately lost a fight.

Top 10 or 15 on achievements. Shame he had a lot of bad luck with injuries, he really could have proved to have been one of the greatest.