Where do you rank Vitali Klitschko on All Time Great lists?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Asterion, Mar 21, 2011.


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  1. Asterion

    Asterion Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Vitali has now beaten a list of contenders of this era. He could not say that when he was forced to retire in 2005, with a poor resume, but his career has taken new heights after 2008.

    Where do you rank him? Top15? Top20? Top25?

    We have to remember that he's not beating contenders: he's doing it at 39 years old, after a difficult injury and comeback. He's doing all of this while past his prime. Guys like Joe Frazier, Sonny Liston, Jersey Joe Walcott, Ken Norton, etc, might have a similar or better resumen, but consider Vitali's comeback and condition of old warrior and things will balance out.

    The toe-to-toe factor is also important. While Vitali always had an awkward style, and now it's worse because he is old, he has a great KO percentage and just dominates his opponente. Guys like Schmeling, Charles and Patterson could have a better standard technique, but I think Klitschko would knockout all of them with his size and power. Let's remember that Klitschko has a lot of long-term power, and also knows how to use his size/distance to be elusive.

    Obviously I won't compare Vitali to guys like Lewis, Holmes, Ali or Louis (we saw how Lewis-Vitali ended: Lewis TKO6 after a hard struggle). BUT I think Vitali has done enough to be named among boxers like Patterson, Liston, Norton, Jeffries, etc.
     
    Asterion, Mar 21, 2011
    Asterion, Mar 21, 2011
    #1
  2. H .

    H . Boxing Junkie banned

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    no where ... yet
     
    H ., Mar 21, 2011
    H ., Mar 21, 2011
    #2
  3. RightCross

    RightCross Grandmaster of Boxing Full Member

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    I had him at spot #31 on my all time list. He might have moved up a spot or 2 since his last 2 wins. If he gets a couple more wins he can probably get as high a 27 on my list. He is too old at this point though to ever pass my #26 Archie Moore.
     
    RightCross, Mar 21, 2011
    RightCross, Mar 21, 2011
    #3
  4. bandido

    bandido The Black Bandit Full Member

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    top 20 for me. in absolute terms, i have these HWs as definitely above him:

    Ali
    Louis
    Holmes
    Johnson
    Marciano
    Foreman
    Dempsey
    Liston
    Lewis
    Frazier
    Tyson
    Holyfield
    Wlad

    A case can be made however for these HWs to be ranked ahead of him:

    Bowe
    Norton
    Patterson
    Charles
    Walcott
    Jeffries

    which means he could be anywhere between 15-20 for me.
     
    bandido, Mar 21, 2011
    bandido, Mar 21, 2011
    #4
  5. doylexxx

    doylexxx Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    but he is still only a contender compared to those other guys who were the one and only HW champion

    being ranked top 2 contender in the world which he is . In that case we have to list a lot more people
     
    doylexxx, Mar 21, 2011
    doylexxx, Mar 21, 2011
    #5
  6. doylexxx

    doylexxx Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    And thsi is just it , Archie was a top rated HW as well

    150 KOs
     
    doylexxx, Mar 21, 2011
    doylexxx, Mar 21, 2011
    #6
  7. sosolid4u09

    sosolid4u09 4 8 15 16 23 42 banned Full Member

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    I must break you
     
    sosolid4u09, Mar 21, 2011
    sosolid4u09, Mar 21, 2011
    #7
  8. Normen Bates

    Normen Bates Member Full Member

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    Where do I rank a fighter who's signature win is over Chris Arreola.....hummm, defiantly not in the elite bracket. I think Vitali Klitschko is a average heavyweight at best, but the state of the division has allowed him to look better than he really is.

    Looking at his resume the best fighter he fought was Lennox Lewis, but he lost, so their for the desperate attempt to turn the loser into the winner is really pushing the issue we have took at it for what it is.

    I think Vitali is a good fighter, but he's far to overrated and he gets so much credit for doing close to nothing. He's beaten everyone he was supposed to beat and in my own personal opinion thats not enough to rank him as one of the All-Time Great heavyweights.
     
    Normen Bates, Mar 21, 2011
    Normen Bates, Mar 21, 2011
    #8
  9. Kel1981

    Kel1981 P4P No.1 Full Member

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    Great fighter in this current day of heavies, all time though.....I dunno really, Lennox was his only measuring stick and he gave a great account of himself (but lost) but who else has he really faced that dominated? I rate Vitali way above Wlad so for me he is the best Heavy since Lewis which should count for something. Top 30 easily, top 20 debatable.
     
    Kel1981, Mar 21, 2011
    Kel1981, Mar 21, 2011
    #9
  10. Tonifranz

    Tonifranz Active Member Full Member

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    He is below Wlad, whom I rank in the 15-20 category. He probably is in the 25-30.

    Anyway, my top 20 Heavyweights are:

    1. Ali
    2. Louis
    3. Holmes
    4. Marciano
    5. Johnson
    6. Foreman
    7. Lewis
    8. Frazier
    9. Dempsey
    10. Tyson
    11. Liston
    12. Holyfield
    13. Jeffries
    14. Tunney
    15. Walcott
    16. Charles
    17. Wladimir Klitschko
    18. Sullivan
    19. Corbett
    20. Patterson
    21. Schmeling
    22. Norton
    23. Baer
    24. Braddock
    25. Vitali Klitschko
     
    Tonifranz, Mar 21, 2011
    Tonifranz, Mar 21, 2011
    #10
  11. Nonito Smoak

    Nonito Smoak Ioka>Lomo, sorry my dudes Full Member

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    There is no question that Jeffries and Charles are better than Vitali. Add those two, John L. Sullivan, and Harry Wills to your top list and that would be extremely justifiable. Those four are def better, plus don't forget Sam Langford and Max Schmeling. Vitali is 25-30 for me, but I see him climbing in the twilight fights of his career and when reflecting years down the line.
     
    Nonito Smoak, Mar 21, 2011
    Nonito Smoak, Mar 21, 2011
    #11
  12. Terror

    Terror free smoke Full Member

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    25-30.

    Doesn't have the resume and his brother did more with his time.
     
    Terror, Mar 21, 2011
    Terror, Mar 21, 2011
    #12
  13. madballster

    madballster Loyal Member Full Member

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    Nowhere. You don't rank fighters while they're still active.

    Let him finish his career and then let's look where he stands against the HW greats.
     
    madballster, Mar 22, 2011
    madballster, Mar 22, 2011
    #13
  14. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    If he retired today. top 30. If he continues for a couple more years, beating the likes of haye, povetkin, adamek he might make the top 15. If he does that and then beats wlad or a conqueror of wlad he'd be top ten for me.
     
    lufcrazy, Mar 22, 2011
    lufcrazy, Mar 22, 2011
    #14
  15. Brighton bomber

    Brighton bomber Loyal Member Full Member

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    I have him just inside the top 15. Head to head he's a difficult propostion for almost anyone, big, tall, strong, awkward skills, high workrate and iron jaw. But he simply doesn't have the resume to break the top 10.
     
    Brighton bomber, Mar 22, 2011
    Brighton bomber, Mar 22, 2011
    #15
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