Wlad Klitschko's top ten...

I think this proves that whatever greatness Wlad possesses is based on quantity, not quality. This is not to say there aren't some good fighters but not one of them even remotely comes near the great classification.

 

Povetkin is #1 in my view on that list.

 

Have to put Chambers in there over old Mercer. Chambers had only one loss a decision to Povetkin. He also had quality wins over Calvin Brock and going into the Wlad fight he had back to back wins over a still quite formidable Sam Peter and an undefeated and highly touted big Dimintrenko.
Rest of list could have some quibbles but not bad should also have Pulev a number 1 contender when Wlad faced him.

 

Pulev should be in there, I think. Anywhere in the lower half would probably be alright.

 

Absolutely Pulev too. He'd been a top ten guy for ages, and we finally got to see how Wlad would handle a guy with a great jab.

 

I'll support @The Long Count here. Chambers is one name missing on the list.
He's a bit forgotten now, but He was very good in his prime. Excellent defensive fighter with very fast hands. If You look back at Povetkin fight, Eddie schooled him for the first 4 rounds before He run out of gas. He was lighter and looked in better shape for the Klitschko fight. That's where He was in his peak.

 

His best win is also Ike Ibeauchi's best win. And Ike got rid of Byrd quicker and more dominantly.

If Povetkin is his best win , which i would say he is , then Wlad had to cheat and foul in order to get that win. Meaning his talent ceiling only went as far as that cheat fest he had to produce to avowing losing.
Anthony Joshua put Povetkin away without hugging , holding and and bear hugging every 5 seconds

 

Crazy thing is if you take out Brewster and Mercer and put in Chambers and Pulev. It’s amazing how many peak fighters Wlad beat. No shot big names or over the hill faded legends that many greats make their reputation off of. The fact Wlad did it so often and made 18 defenses speaks volumes. Because these are not bad fighters on this list.

 

I think H2H is the most important part of a resume.
1. Haye (best h2h)
2. Povetkin
3. Byrd
4. Byrd (I or Ii, same thing)
5. Iggy
6. Peter I
7. Pulev
8. Jennings
9. Chagaev (seemed to be in poor form at the time post hepatitis)
10. Probably Thompson (either fight)

 

Definitely not Mercer. Pulev and Jennings were way better.

 

Chris Byrd 2 should definitely be on there he'd been a champion for 4 years when Wladimir beat him. Plus it was an even more dominant win than their 1st meeting and it didn't go the distance.

I definitely wouldn't have a shot Mercer over the 2nd Byrd win who was champion as I said.

 

Or.. He prevented those potentially great fighters from achieving greatness.

 

...and who would be the main candidate here? I think We've seen enough from those guys to know what They were, which is good to perhaps very good fighters. Hard to imagine them as Greats.

Without Wlad, it would most likely be an era of fragmented belts quickly changing hands, with some fun fights - but no real dominant star. Maybe something like the Heavyweight division between Holmes's and Tyson's reign.