How could he have fought Lewis, he retired soon after the Vitali fight. Also at that point Wlad was hardly in a position to fight Lewis as he was coming back from the Sanders debacle. (though most versions of Lewis beat most versions of Wlad)
I don't think Lewis wanted any part of Wlad. Wlad was LL's mandatory in 2001 & 2002. Wlad also owned a piece of the titles in 2000-2003, but Lennox never fought him. I put this more so on Lennox than Wlad. One big piece of Lewis' legacy is that he got KO'd twice by once punch meaning he was unable to ever get off the canvas to win. That is a massive piece of being a great fighter.
Of course, the competition was much better when Americans only fought each other, but now that Eastern Europeans have been added to the pool it got much worse.
Yes the 90s were so amazing. When fat old Foreman, LHW Michael Moorer, Frans Botha, Bruce Seldon, Akinwande or Axel Schulz got title shots! The "golden era" -- such a great era, such depth of skill!!! :rofl:rofl:rofl
A bad man doesn't let a midget spit on you and your brothers face on live TV in front of millions of people and not do anything about it. Pretty sure Hayden runs **** behind closed doors. Wlad is as beta as they come.
I think at least 5 of those 6 were even alphabet champions ! As were Oliver McCall, Frank Bruno, Herbie and Tommy Morrison ! Yeah, 1990s get overrated.
He's a charming man and a good champion but I would never say he was bad. In the ring, he's a spoiler and carries fighters longer than he has to, to minimise risk, though he has been more aggressive in recent fights. As for reigning until 50, not a chance. Not even Foreman could do that and he was exceptional in terms of his longevity much like his early trainer Archie Moore and even Moore wasn't champion at 50. Even Hopkins before 50 ran into Kovalev and hasn't fought since. Wlad is clearly in decline and has been for a while. First time I noticed it, it was in the Pianeta fight, as good as he is he will not be champion when 50.
Wilder can barely beat Harold Scoiners. Really, get off the man's nuts. He sucks. I thought Wlad said he wanted about five more fights, but someone told me he enver said that. In any event, I hope he goes for the 26 defenses, but it seems doubtful. If he wanted to, only re-tooled Povetkin and Joshua would be threats.
Time has already told, you just don't want to accept it. 1) Wilder gets knocked down by guys like Nichols and Scoiners. 2) Wilder brings in friends to take obvious dives. 3) Wilder cannot beat Stiverne as decisively as Demetrice King. 4) Wilder defends against **** like Molina and Duhaupas because he is a coward. 5) Wilder struggles against Molina 6) Wilder is ****. He is a coward who talks trash about legends like Mike Tyson, beats up hookers, runs from good fighters and struggles against garbage because he himself is garbage.