Wlad is the best heavy out there I'm sure we all agree. His chin probably isn't great but he has reigned supreme for a long time. I would like to focus on his strengths and what makes him so good 1. Size Clearly being 6'6, 240 pounds is a huge advantage for him. 2. Jab He controls fights with his jab. The jab is the most important punch in boxing. Not only is it an offensive punch but it dictates range, can be used defensively to twart attacks, and is a power jab that hurts opponents. In the past he has often grown 20-30 jabs before throwing any other punch. 3. Defensive movement I think this is one of his biggest strengths. He defends attacks by his opponent by immediately taking a step back as the opponent throws a punch. This puts him in a great counter position and usually the attack fizzles out as the opponent realizes the danger of the right hand. 4. Concussive right hand power This keeps opponents honest. They may be able to get past the jab but if they carelessly come forward and make a mistake, they might get starched with a baseball bat of a right hand. This neutralises attacks and allows wlad to jab his opponents to death. 5. Lead arm defense Wlad parries shots and extends his arm to twart right hand attacks. He also keeps the lead hand extended slightly which is something for the opponent to worry about because the jab can travel a short distance. 6. Negating any inside work by tieing opponents up Once he learned this from manny, he pretty much became unbeatable by the current crop of heavyweights. He leans on opponents like Lewis used to do. But more importantly he effectively ties up the arms of an opponent on the inside and stops any shots getting through Please add to this or give your thoughts on what makes wlad so good. I think he is an awesome fighter to study.
Stamina is a big factor. Impeccable condition Doesn't take risks either I agree. Never puts more than 3 punches together and usually throws 10-20 jabs before a right hand. Never throws body shots as they could leave him open to a counter. I don't think I have ever seen him throw a body shot. Very hard fighter to beat.
He does throw lead left hooks at times but tends to only do it when he has had time to figure out a guys range. The only 3 punches in his arsenal are jab, right hand and left hook and he is dominating the sport. I think you have to have a solid jab and concussive right hand power to make his manny steward style style work. Hearts and Lewis had the same qualities. Andy Lee didn't have the power in his left hand to cope with chavez Jr and chavez lost lost respect for his left hand and started walking him down and getting inside. Lee didn't know how to tie chavez up and got overpowered on the inside, which all steward fighters are vulnerable to. When Duran and other inside fighters tried to do that to hearns , the huge right hand ended the fight. Lee himself said he was shocked at chavez taking his flush shots and said in the post fight interview "he took a lot of punches that would have knocked a lot of guys out". But this is about wlad in particular and what he does well. I think it's a combination of factors which when you put them all together, multiply exponentially.
I'd say that fact that he fights against fighters who pose no risk. that's got to work! of course you will look dominant if you pick and choose whoever you want.
Wlads main attribute is that he is so boring, his opponents lose the will to live and let him knock them out so it ends the boredom and they can get home earlier and have a nice cup of tea.
Really big, trains really hard, is really fit, natural ability, sticks to game plan, sticks to very strict diet, incredibly expierienced.
Poor division, picks poor opponents with Haye being the exception and won that purely on being the bigger man. Has an effective style and is allowed to get away with grabbing constantly. Look at Lewis vs Tyson and then look at Mormeck vs Wlad in terms of being allowed to grab.