When will people realize Wlad was not in his prime when he lost 3 times?

Add Prime and Past prime Lewis to that

 

Wlad was in his prime for all at least 2 of his 3 losses. He was fully developed physically and had experience and a winning record over world class opposition. What you're descibing is peak, and I would agree he wasn't peak yet.

 

what a load of bollocks.klit fans remember this post wlad is just waiting to be exposed again and it will happen sooner rather than later when he decides to fight someone who can knock the skin off a rice pudding.he has fought nothing but bums just like his aging creaking brother who will get ktfo if he fights haye.

 

When a fighter loses, he's shot, when he wins, he's prime material. Isn't that the general pathetic logic?

Fact is, Wladimir was in his physical and mental prime but wasn't prepared properly to perform at the level he's supposed to considering his physical attributes. Emannuel Steward pretty much clearly taught him what he's supposed to do. You can be in your prime but fight out of the style you're supposed to, proper conditioning and coaching/guidance is there to fix that.

 

Good post!

 

he like all boxers are in their prime in their 20's to early 30's. just because he managed to correct his mistakes from the past and prolong is career while winning, doesnt mean he wasnt in his prime at age 25. people lose in their prime you know? thats not what "prime" means.

 

He held on to Haye in the 12th and was rocked by Wach in the 5th. His chin is as china as it ever was, but he illegally leans on opponents to avoid the follw-ups.

 

lighter weight boxers are in prime in 20s and early 30s. Huge guys in any sport hit prime in mid 30s or even late 30s. Weighlifters, wrestlers etc..
Of course, Wladimir was not prime when he was in his 20s and even early 30s. He matured late like all big men. He was a reckless kid when he was young and he was not as strong physically.

 

Now that Wlad's career is in it's last third, this will be a debated topic. When his career ends, it will remain forever.

When was Wlad's prime?

I don't know the answer. But this are the possible answers:

1) 2001-2007

This is between the start of his physical prime and the start of his "boring" fights. More or less between Mercer and Ibragimov. However, this option forgets about masterful performances like Chagaev, Chambers, Haye, Wach, etc.

2) 2002-2012

It would be hard to belief that Wlad's prime has covered a decade.

3) 2006-2012

This is a possible option. But we are forgetting about Wlad's KO streak in the early part of the 00s, before the Sanders fight.

 

Such a moronic thing to say since big guys in the NBA, NFL and NHL are usually shot by their mid 30's. It is a fact that athletes start physically declining after 30, that is why most retire then.

 

Not really.
Wlad's a lot more relaxed in the ring and comfortable with his style. But in reality he has just racked up a few more average wins in a weak era. Granted, it's not his fault it's a weak era, and there's definite improvement there, but he lacks any career defining fights.

 

Yep.

The one thing you got to give Wlad credit for is he is always in impeccable shape.

 

:deal

:yep

 

All great fighters have lost, with the exception of duckers and those that retired very young.

Foreman was a baby and he lost to arguably the best fighter of all time. And to this day Ali nut huggers hold that against him.

Wlad is easily top 10 ATG

 

He might be by the time he retires, but at this point he isn't and no credible source rates him as such.