He is absolutely attrocious on the inside. From a distance, there are few that I would consider on par or better than him...probably ever. That jab, that right hand, that left hook...all things of beauty. From a distance, I do not think any fighter currently active could beat him (without a well placed power shot that is...but lets just say there aint no way I would favor any to do it). But tonight (as I have seen in the past...) I noticed...and am now convinced that as PHENOMINAL he is from the outside, he is just as bad (maybe worse) on the inside. Everytime the fight gets close to the inside, Wlad does not look to trade or to attack...he looks to tie up. And thats fine, Im not knocking him for it. He (and his trainer) knows his limitations and he doesnt fight outside of them. BUT, it raises the question...how would he fair against a fighter who can truely make him fight on the inside??? With all apologies to Wlad fans (cause there aint a nuttier bunch...), against a GREAT inside fighter...like say a PRIME Riddick Bowe...I dont think he has a chance in hell (other than of course a punchers chance...which a fighter like Wlad ALWAYS has). He would be systematically broken down and STOPPED. Other than maybe catching said opponent on the way inside, I just dont see any other concievable outcome. On the inside, he is just terrible. I know most of the Wlad fanatics on here are going mistake this post for "just another Wlad hater" (ignoring that I actually love watching Wlad fight and think he is truely a great fighter)...but it doesnt change the fact that its the truth. Sorry guys...
True!!! But none of Emanuel Stewards fighters don't know anything about inside fighting. Second with his long hands and body, there shouldn't be a reason for him to fight on inside. I mean Riddick Bowe was a good inside fighter but his right hand was a joke. How would he deal with Wlad??? In other words why should he learn to fight on inside if he is phenomenal on outside??? Andrey
True!!! But none of Emanuel Stewards fighters don't know anything about inside fighting. Second with his long hands and body, there shouldn't be a reason for him to fight on inside. I mean Riddick Bowe was a good inside fighter but his right hand was a joke. How would he deal with Wlad??? In other words why should he learn to fight on inside if he is phenomenal on outside??? Andrey
I like Wlad, but will agree. The thing though is the majority of shorter fighters (at least much shorter than him) are good on the inside. The problem with this is Wlad's jab, and straight right are so devastasting that not many can rush him, and get inside without taking massive damage. Even if they do...He'll just clinch, and hit them while there on the outside. People that are tall as him aren't usually good on the inside either because there used to being on the outside. Then it's just a straight up fight on the outside, and Wlad wins with his power majority of time. I definitely don't have blind love for wlad...I wish Vitali could have stuck around forever cuz he was so much better, and would have unified the division no doubt, but this is who we got. Fact is though there's really NOBODY currently going to beat him. Valuev he'll chop down, Peter would have to get a lucky punch since wlad is talented at fighting on the outside (at this point of skill in his career), Hayes isn't heavy enough or even has a HW fight to judge on, and Arreolo (whatever it is) Wlad is going to EAT while he comes in! The guy can hit, but he's not the poster boy for muscle/ fitness, and I'd bet he'd be gased in no time. So, wlad isn't perfect, but he's the best in the division, and won't easily be beat. This fight was crap though because the guy was southpaw, had great defense, and a pretty good chin. Hardly anybody could of looked good against thompson.
His arms are too long. I don't think Wlad would be able to put a lot of leverage on his punches if he was throwing inside.
I totally agree with your first half of your argument. Wlad's inside game doesn't suck, it is absolutely non existent. But the second half, don't agree at all. Wlad has become adept enough to be able to clinch, push, and other little tactics to never be in a position to have to fight on the inside. Plus he has great footwork. Wlad would beat the hell out of Bowe. There is a reason Bowe avoided bigs.
Bowe's right hand was a joke??? Ummm, ok? Your kidding right? Listen, I do like Wlad...alot...and I understand that he is so good on the outside that his inside deficiancies dont really hurt him in the long run of a fight....but look back vs Sanders and Brewster (admittingly I have never seen the loss by the hands of Purrity...so I cant comment on it)...in both of those fights, his troubles started on big shots landed on the inside (along with his stamina issues vs Brewster). Without addressing it, it COULD come back and bite him. Im not sure there is a fighter out there that can expose (I really hate that word...and I do not mean it in the "exposed" way its used normally on here) this...but the fact is, there are many in the past that DEFINATELY WOULD HAVE (not could...WOULD). Tonight just showed it even more...against a fighter like Thompson, who has very limited power, he STILL could not do anything on the inside.
I will stay with my original fighter I brought up...Riddick Bowe...whos arms were the SAME length and was very good from the outside and ABSOLUTELY AMAZING on the inside. Length of arms doesnt limit what you can do from the inside...plenty of great inside fighters were also long. Its how you attack from the inside (use the uppercut, hooks to the body, etc.).
He needs to develop the uppercut the way Lewis did. Lewis developed the ability to throw devastating uppercuts with both hands as his career progressed which was a huge asset, it basically won him the second Holyfield fight. With the power he has in each hand, if he developed an uppercut to catch fighters as they are coming in he could be a lot more effective inside. But much he seems content to fight from range and then tie up his opponent inside, which works to a degree, keeps him from getting caught and tires out his opponents. But he really has no inside game to speak of, at this point he probably won't develop one