He dominated for a decade. Even if the division was weak, that's still impressive. Prime Wlad would have KO'ed Joshua.
I always chuckle when people think that heavyweights just forgot how to fight for 10 years when he was champion. Dude was the most dominant, long-reigning HW champ of my lifetime, and a class act outside the ring. A true ATG. Enjoy retirement, champ!
was never a big fan of him and disliked him even more after all the stuff he got away with in t he povetkin fight. but he earned my respect in the Joshua fight. went out like a true champ . enjoy retirement wlad .. pulev vs aj next I guess I don't think it will be as bad as a fight as everyone on here thinks. but still say Aj wins.
Ridiculous that most fighters don't get respect until they retire, boxing fans are in a league of their own when it comes to being the worst and most out of touch people.
What a juggernaut this guy was. In truth, he really did have the longest Heavyweight title reign of all time. Louis was largely inactive for 3 of his 11 years over World Ward 2, who is to say in that time he might have got upset by Bivins or Franklin? And don't give me that "but Louis was lineal bruh" nonsense, both guys beat the RING #1 to earn their belt. This content is protected
His greatest contribution to the sport... Was the way he made most of you look like idiots for a decade. "McCline is too big, Sanders exposed him, Brewster ended him, Peter will knock him and his bro out, Byrd will win the rematch, Austin is too big, Brewster will win again, Sultan will knock him out like Sanders, He won't ever fight Haye, Okay, Haye will knock him out like Sanders....uh...worst era ever, nobody knows how to fight anymore. Heavyweight boxing is dead. He won't ever fight Povetkin....Okay, Povetkin would beat him....uh, he cheated, Povetkin sucks....he won't fight Pulev...okay, Pulev will stop him....uh, Pulev sucks, worst era ever. He's too old, he will duck Fury .......Uh...Fury won..yay...Heavyweight boxing has never been better. I was right all along. He won't fight Joshua in England after a long lay off at 41 years of age...uh...wow,he almost beat Joshua..but Wilder bruh..."
Except that Pulev is the IBF mandatory opponent and it was only agreed otherwise for the huge fight that Klitschko rematch would have been. Joshua will nought get around to Ortiz, Parker and maybe even Wilder will pluck up the courage to get in the ring with a real opponent.
At the end of 2000 Wlad was the number 1 rated contender to Lennox Lewis, almost 17 years later he's the number 1 contender to Joshua. That's insane longevity.
I was in early grade school when he first reached contention and won a belt, now I'm pushing 30... Legendary career with incredible longevity as you said.
ATG. Dominated for 10 years. It's a huge ask for a Heavyweight to do that. Losing to the HW division's prime successor whilst past prime is nothing to be ashamed of, especially when you gave him all he can handle. Respect to King Wladmir (although I'm personally glad he's retired because I found him excruciatingly boring).
Mike tyson was top 10 ranked in the 80's , 90's and 00s. 3 decades. The fact Wlad was rated #1 in 2000 proves how many guys he avoided during the first 10 years of his career. He didn't hold that position for long despite never facing any of the top 5.