All time, for former champs trying to regain a title. Obviously, we don't know how ajs career is going to wind up, so alot of room to manuever. But, ostensibly, a win over an Olympic SHW gold medal winning undefeated champ with two successful defenses would have to be one of the three or four greatest wins of any former HW champ in history. If you don't agree, please name 4 other better wins by former champs. I can only think of Ali Foreman, Holyfield Bowe(disputable win), Vitali Peter as comparing to it off hand. For the record, I view this as a 50/50 fight.
I am a fan of both but Vlad being 41 and out of the ring for 2 years will have an effect. Wish this fight happened year earlier. Ring rust sucks...
I think if he managed to win next month, it will solidify Wlad ATG status as one of the 10 best heavies of all time. It could even be top 5 if Joshua go on to achieve great things. As for the win, it will be mention with the likes of Holyfield Tyson and foreman moorer.
Vlad was world champion over over ten years in a row, a win over Jacobs will make him a three time world champion/heavyweight division................Vitali said that if Vlad is focused, the fight will be easy...................I agree, Vlad totally outclassed Jacobs in sparring not too long ago, Vlad is a young 41, tons of experience, would have knocked Fury out in a rematch. I know why he lost to Fury, he was not focused for person reasons.............he will be focused this time............
Depending how it goes, it might be better than when Floyd beat Ingo, or when Holy defeated Bowe, or when Ali beat Spinks, or when Lewis beat Rahman. But I tend to believe that it would have to be something special to surpass those instances. And no matter what happens, it falls short of the mark with Foreman beating Moorer. I think otherwise, it inherently has a strong case up against any other example.
Depends the manner in which he wins and how AJs career pans out after. FWIW, i think if AJ doesn't get him out for there in the first 4-5 rounds it could be a great night for WK
If Wlad does win, I read somewhere AJ has a rematch clause. So another question is: Would Wlad honor the rematch clause, especially after complaining how Fury ducked him in such an unhonorable fashion.
Wlad is in a good position here, if he loses it's because he's old. If he wins, it just solidifies him as a top 15 HW (which honestly he already is) It'd be kinda like old fat Lennox (Ko6) Vitali. Even at the end of his career, he was able to turn back his stiffest challenge.
Where a win would rank will depend on if your an AJ hater or an AJ fanboy. and an AJ win will be the same, People will always find some way of discrediting a fighter no matter what.
Would be sweet if Wlad wins by dirty boxing and a tko6, retires as no rematch required. In truth though Wlad haters will find a way to reduce the significance of any win. Btw Wlad WILL win this fight, brace yourself haters.
Hypothetically of course, That would be ,(by an entirety different realm) wlads greatest win. Obviously in hindsight , to me that would be a better and bigger upset than Douglas tko over tyson. Of course, back then tyson was hyped to the max and Douglas was a journeyman, but I knew what was tyson glaring limitations, so not totally surprising. Wlad couldn't pull the trigger against far lesser threats in his last couple eggs he laid, I literally can't picture a scenerio which gives wlad that punches chance. He's going to be under fire from shots he's never dealt with before. Wlad makes it to round 8, I'll be shocked and that's a huge win for wlad
