WLAD Vs Tyson of Douglas Fight

I agree with this completely. If Wladimir was a better fighter or the fighter Vitali is I'd idolize him.

On the other hand, many people underestimate Wlad pretty badly.

 

He would do just fine in the '80s.

The '80s heavies weren't anything spectacular. They were no more talented or accomplished than Wlad, and even less consistent.

No they aren't, only three fighters on that list (Spinks, Holmes, and Holyfield) achieved greatness at some point in their careers. The rest ranged from good to mediocre.

 

At least the majority of them knew how to fight. Now boxing in the heavyweight division is like synchronized swimming.

 

I know he beat him once close, I also know he had his shot to enter the tournament to win the undisputed championship and he was taken out quickly. It was a common event in Witherspoons career, close but not good enough. He was simply not that great of a fighter, certainly not better than the others listed, and my point is that he lost to fighters that Tyson had beaten, ie, Smith, Pinklon Thomas, Holmes, and Tysons sparring partner Martin, so I dont understand how one could elevate him above fighters he had lost to, especially by first round KO. Most of his fights against the upper echelon were close or losses with noone that spectacular in the win column, maybe Bruno and Tubbs were his best wins.
Douglas also beat up on Oliver Mcall in his prime, a pretty solid guy. Could Wlad beat Mcall in the late 80's?

 

Maybe wlad don't have to take that blow?

Douglas was nothing and still win prime Tyson..Later Holyfield schooled both

 

I believe on *that* particular night Douglas would have beat just about anyone put in front of him. Everything was going right for him that night and he has said in interviews he was in the "zone" totally focused of knocking Tyson out.

 

I'd favor Ruddock over Wlad and Tucker, Smith, Bruno would all have a shot but yeah, Wlad would be the best fighter Tyson has ever beaten. It's certainly not "laughable" that Wlad is better than anyone Tyson beat.

Swap Tyson and Wlad and Wlad would have losses like he does today but he would be the premier fighter of the late 80s. People under rate Wlad, his resume is pretty deep and he's a lock imo for the top 25 all time. He has flaws but his record speaks for itself.

I'd be curious as to the # of wins he has over top ten ranked fighters.

 

Tyson was up all night and still would of knocked him out had Douglas not been saved by the bell.

Any top 25 HW would of beaten Douglas short of them having their career worst performance.

 

Agreed 100%.

 

Douglas was obviously motivated, but he wouldn't have beaten just "anyone" unless perhaps they had the same style and limitations as Tyson. For example, Lennox Lewis might have simply blown through him like he did to Golota, and I wouldn't expect him to do much more with Holyfield other than perhaps extend him a few rounds longer. Heck, Douglas looked in the same shape and form a year or so earlier against Tucker, and he lost that one anyway.

He was a fairly good, fairly talented boxer who could look good if he found a way to shut you down (like he did to Tyson), but his chin was never that good, and that was never going to change.

 

Never thought much of Witherspoon or Bruno....Bruno was strong but as stiff as a Frankenstien monster...Witherspoon was undertrained unmotorvated and his big wins were Bruno and Gonzales....never looked outstanding IMO

 

Considering that Oliver McCall's best weopon was the right hand ( not the left hook ), and the fact that during the late 80's he was a 13 fight novice losing to journeyman, my answer would be yes...

 

Sure, why not?

Look at all the guys that outboxed him through his career.