Wladimir Klitschko Retires - Where Does He Rank ?

Lmfao

 

I exclude golden age fighters like Dempsey, Johnson, and Jeffries. I think modern era starts with Joe Louis' reign. I have Wlad as a top 4 lock now. His active near 10 year reign was just too distinct and monumental an achievement combined with his overall longevity, I can't see any other fighter in history duplicating what he did. I think all my top 5 have that quality, they did something nobody else could.

1. Joe Louis
2. Muhammad Ali
3. Rocky Marciano
4. Wladimir Klitschko
5. George Foreman

Next level: Lewis, Holyfield, Tyson, Charles, Holmes, Liston.

 

LOL

 

He was either exposed in victory or triumphed in defeat. Best win of his title run was Chagaev.

A HW version of Felix Sturm is all he was.

 

Never in any bout impressed me. He was knocked stupid numerous times by lower level entities including one very low entity.

 

He is one of only a dozen or so heavyweigths who dominated a definable era, and he probably deserves to be ranked in the top twelve.

Anything beyond that would depend upon your criteria.

 

Great post is that true about the 225 lbs

 

Top 10 lock for me. Dominant reigns are important to me because it shows he was clearly above the field- for a long period of time.

 

Top 10 for sure. I don't want to hear about Dempsey, Johnson, and all those little kings of grainy footage. Vlad reigned much longer, against bigger, tougher guys (overall. I know Willard was big), and either clearly won (no dicey decisions) or clearly lost. I'd have picked him in rematches against Purrity and Sanders, and it's a shame he didn't fight either one again...would've helped the legacy. Guys who I think could beat him: Lewis, Bowe, Vitali, and Holmes.

 

Not nearly as hash as the illegal tactics decent honest challengers had to endure against him for 10 long years.

 

Thanks, and yep:

Purrity: 249
Sanders: 225
Brewster: 226
Fury: 247
Joshua: 250

 

Actually it hampers his legacy since he had a rematch clause over Sanders and chose not to trigger it.

In the prime of his career he was splattered by and ducked an old left over contender from the Lewis era.

How could he beat the top dogs of the 90's era when he was getting beaten by its contenders in his own era?

 

So all his best wins came against smaller guys and he lost to all the best guys his own size? Thanks for clearing that up.