Wladimir Klitschko's Record against Ring Magazine annuel top 10

But the losses happened several years ago...is it reasonable to expect that Brewster, Sanders and Purrity should still be top 10 rated after all these years?

 

A fair post from every aspect.......

Unfortunately, Wlad's losses to Brewster, Purity and Sanders will always hurt him, regardless of what he may or may not accomplish in the future. Additionally, his recent flat performances against Thompson and Ibragimov aren't going to help him much either.

His best bet, is to step it up against some of the more marketable names that are lined up for him.

 

Ring Magazine Rating is often on the slow side in recognize up and coming talent and they were not exactly giving in terms of foreign fighters until recently.

Brewster and Sanders both were ranked highly. I think Sanders was as high as #2 or #3, and Brewster #3.

I just saw the Wlad vs Thompson fight. A few things. It wasn't one of Wlad's best fights. I do not think Wlad was up to fight Thompson. I get the sense Thompson's style, durability/ long arms and defensive / counter punching type of tendencies made Wlad adjust a bit. Wlad landed plenty of good body shots, and had to go to a straight right type of jab to land on Thompson, who had his right glove pretty much glued to his face to block Wlad's left jab.

You must have missed Wlad's combinations. He threw a few of them, including one nice body punch and uppercut like Tyson's used to, but not exactly as devastating. Thompson also landed some well placed shots early, and tried to pull a Ross Purity late by covering up when the fight was lost on points barring a KO for Thompson. Wlad won’t punch himself out. In fact his stamina and power were good late in the fight. When Thompson became weak, Wlad closed the show like a champion should.

Footnote. ***Wlad is now 5-1 vs Ring Magazine Ranked southpaws ( Byrd, Byrd, Ibragimov, Thompson, and Sanders ) *** No other champion has beated this many ranked southpaws.

 

There's never been near that many before during someones career, surely. Top level heavyweight SP's are a rarity.

 

While this is true, Wlad's record against top ranked southpaws is tops among champions. These days, boxing has more southpaws.

Southpaws have always been viewed as hard to match up against, mostly because orthodox fighters get used to seeing things curve, move, angle, or rhythm a certain way, and Southpaws do it backwards / reverse.

 

He KO's a guy who- to my knowledge- had never been down before, let alone KO'd and completely whitewashes a guy who had never been beat and we call these performances flat?

Why do I feel Wlad is being help to a higher standard than most?

 

Klitschko is held to a higher standard than any other heavyweight, and rightfully so. When you're considered to be the consensus top heavyweight in the world and facing inferior opponents in terms of physical attributes and skill, then I feel there's an unwritten mandate that you should at least put forth an effort to dispatch of your overmatched opponents. Klitschko's performance in the Ibragimov fight was embarrassing. He was head and shoulders the better heavyweight and yet excluding a couple bursts of genuine effort to achieve a knockout, he basically fought like a 6'7", 240 lbs *****.

Yes, he completely dominated Ibragimov and it's apparent he wants to become a great heavyweight. Unfortunately for Klitschko, greatness is bestowed upon those who take risks. From Klitschko's last two fights, it appears to me as if he is so worried that he's going to get caught by a big shot that he plays it safe until his clear physical superiority and skills overwhelm his opponents to a point where he can just land that big right hand when his opponents are fatigued. So we can expect some pawing with the left hand, some clinching, an array of jabs with the occasional combination mixed in until whoever is facing the giant Ukrainian is tired enough to be open for that power punch. Great for his career, not too great for boxing fans.

 

So sick of hearing the same old bland **** on here.

 

Thompson was a mandatory and he came to fight, it was a good win, although I think the names you mention here and Samuel Peter are harder fights he would still be favourite but I doubt we will see these fights Wlad appears uninterested.

ps this fight was free to air in Australia hope that happens again, did you watch it John Thomas?

 

You are kidding?!?!!?!? A mate said it was thursday and i scoured 2 different TV guides and it wasn't there!!!

 

Ahhhhhhh 6am!!! I failed to take into account the times dammit.