No again. Ruddock vs. Peter would be a better comparision. The only reason the vote is close is because we have many Klitschko haters that post here, some under alias accounts, and these polls are mostly a popularity contest.
Ruddock suffered an asthma attack and retired on his stool as a result of respiratory problems. He wasn't "brutally stopped."
If you think Wlad would even sniff any strap outside of a Jock strap in the 90's you are delusional. You don't think Wlad benefits from the Heavywt division being so weak these days? In the 90's I'm not so sure if Wlad would be able to crack 10 in the rankings. Vitali probably could make it to the top 10, but Wlad would have gotten KO'd once he reached the 20's. Ruddock fought in a much better era. Wlad is feasting on cupcakes.
I'd go with WK by late KO... But, if you think about it, a prime Rudduck would probably be the most dangerous fighter Wlad ever faced. Name a Wlad victim who was so much better than Razor... I can't.
Ruddock was no more than that generations version of Chris Arreola or Samuel Peter. Peter earned the WBC belt, something Rudduck didn't do.