Wladimir has 18 defences-

You can only beat who's in your era, and he continues to do just that.

He has ducked nobody, and faced almost everybody he could

The only reason why he never faced Holyfield, is because the Kiltschko brothers look upto Evander Holyfield.

 

Wlad doesn't have 18 defences. He became champion when he beat Chagaev, so he has 6 defences. There's a huge difference between defending an alphabet title against guys like Jefferson, Sufford and Botha, and being the real champion.

Joe Louis didn't have the luxury of multiple world titles to defend in anonymous fights. If he did, I'm sure he'd have had more than 25 defences.

 

Louis hardly had a stellar list.

Theres a reason why it was called 'bum of the month' club.

 

delete

 

Yes he's a great, but his world titles mean very little.

 

Holmes was defending the Ring title and was the premiere heavyweight when he switched over to the IBF. That's a bit different. He still would've been every bit as much champion as Hopkins and Calzaghe were at light heavyweight because of that. Burns had eleven, I thought?

I disagree. When you hold titles, you're under a microscope, on the big stage. There are people who want what you have and fighters and trainers are working to study you and defeat you. Holding onto the titles does mean something. It does put more weight onto fights and fighters. There's more at stake, clearly. And historically, regard for fighters tends to reflect that and hold it in high regard. Rightly so, I'd say. I certainly don't rate it as highly as beating great fighters. But, I do consider it when reflecting on what feats a fighter accomplishes. Not dropping the ball all this time while holding what other class athletes getting serious support are coveting is far from meaning little, in any era, for me.

 

Does Ricky Hatton have over 20 then?

 

18 defences,,, all of them ****.

 

he will break loius' record

with the young crop coming through like...

Fury
Price
Pulev
Povetkin
Helenius

He could make some good defenses, we just have to wait to see if he fights them. Cant really see any one of them beating him.

One of all time greats by the end of his career but dont think hell be considered right up there. Maybe top 10 by some people but deffo in the top 20 in my opinion. We have to just see how he ends his career. If he keeps winning then i can see him haveing another 6 to 8 fights.