Wladimir Klitschko Should Be More Appreciated

It's true though. I'm not trying to knock on Wlad but certainty, in American publications of the time (magazines, articles etc) there were plenty of journalists and trainers lamenting the lack of quality American heavyweights as they were drifting into other sports like basketball and wrestling instead.

 

let me just say this some might have not liked wlad style in the ring and so on but what he did was close to perfection especially after his defeats.
He knew exactly how to fight smaller fighters and guys his size. He was like an artist who was painting a picture over 12 rounds or less

 

No he doesn't.

He was a magnificent and physically gifted athlete.

His tactics of pushing, shoving and excessive clinching should have gotten him disqualified multiple times.

He hurt heavyweight boxing and boxing in general.

 

Holmes never unified.

 

It's a lame excuse, there are plenty of Americans in the lower paying MMA world. The Americans are fortunate that the Soviets were not allowed to fight professionally until the 90s. There could have been Klitschkos and Usyks in the 70s winning titles. Americans tend to lose interest in sports when they're no longer dominating.

 

It's really a matter of taste. You can argue fighters up and down the rankings ad hoc depending on what your criteria are.