Yeah Vitali would have definitely won if that big bad Lennox POOwis hadn't been landing hard, effective punches.
If it wasnt for the Doctor...Vitali would be wearing an eyepatch? I give credit to Wlad, hes came back strong from his defeats and established himself as the best HWT in the world. As stated earlier, if he was to beat Haye in a remtach, beat Arreola, Adamek, and a couple of the other guys like Povetkin, Helenius and CHisora, he can retired happily knowing hes cementing his legacy. HOWEVER, i would not rank him above Lewis. The may be similar type of champs and had some silly losses, Lennox came back and avenged those losses in style. He also mixed it up more and showed he has more strings to his bow. Wlad is basically a one trick pony IMO Wlad and Vitali are a bit like Bowe and Holyfield. Bowe beat holyfield but didnt do **** outside that. Holyfield has much more losses, but he fought and beat the better opposition. Vitali is to Wlad, what Bowe was to Holyfield.
Actually, it does; in order to be the best, people have to think and say you are the best! See the guy who posted below you if you want a place to start. Without a true determination capable of being made (as the Klitschko brothers will not fight one another) it obviously does matter whom it considered better - history will judge both Klitschko brothers the same way it has judged those who came before them and fighters who are considered "The Man" of their era find that their legacies are enhanced as a result. I believe that Wladimir's legacy is definitely hurt (not much, mind) by his brother's presence - as no-one can definitively say that he is better than Vitali. If we go back to 2004, Vitali was considered the lineal heavyweight champion when he retired; his lineage having been establish after LL retired and beating Sanders. Any argument for Wladimir establishing lineage in his brother's absence has to be that based on his achievements in the ring, demonstrating to most informed observers that he was the best in his class. Some do not think he did but the question for you is this: did Wladimir do enough during his brother's retirement to establish his own lineage, at any point? Thusly - the argument goes - that when Vitali returned to the sport, the lineage he established in 2003 - although vacant during his absence - had not been broken so therefore continues to runs through him to date because people continue to argue over which Klitschko is the better fighter and therefore lineage either remains with Vitali or is vacant because neither are "The Man"; they are "The Men". (N.B. I do not recall Sam Peter being widely recognised before the Vitali fight as as Wladimir's 'leftovers with a belt'. As far as I can recall, there was talk of a Wlad - Peter rematch to prove who was No.1, before Vitali announced his return, shelving that idea.)
I consider wlad the best today and that's all I care about. When forming my opinion and my rankings i'm not bothered what other's think about wlad or his brother. I'm not a fan of neither so I have no intention of convincing people who the better is. But quite simply in the land of my rankings I am god and if I say he's the best that's all that's required. Since 06 he's been the top ranked fighter by most publications but more importantly, by me also.
Again, I can think anybody is better than anybody else and it doesn't make the title change hands. It's just an opinion. It really doesn't matter, for the purpose of this discussion. I don't care about Vitali's lineage, because he vacated his claim and did not get it back since. Vitali can't just waltz back in and beat Samuel Peter and reinstate his claim to the true title when his brother has been doing all the real work and still is. If you consider anyone linear, I really can't understand it not being Wladimir. "I think he's better" and "He used to be" are not solid arguments. I don't know what talk you heard about Peter at the time, but he was UD'd by Wlad and if people can see rabbit punches, they shouldn't think the fight should be judged as close, that's for sure. He was Wlad's leftover. He was outclassed in that fight. He was only outclassed yet again against Vitali. A guy they shouldn't even have allowed to fight for the title his first fight back in years in the first place. "Champion Emeritus"...Come on.
You're kidding, right? The Ring magazine is the same entity that gave it's trinket to Roy Jones jr duing his joke of a title "reign" @ 175lbs. The Ring has absolutely positively ZERO credibility. You got anyone else?
How many heavyweights can rival an 8 year spell as the best hw in the world? Louis, ali, holmes and who else? Jack johnson was more like 05 to 11, lewis was 99-04, sullivan was more like 82-88 I don't think anyone else can match it to be honest.
I'm undergoing a mass revaluation of my top 400 or so boxers. I believe galaxy was the top dog when he unified the wba and ibf titles. I'd certainly say he's a top 10 within his division.
You asked who, I gave you who. Discredit them all you want, thats your prerogative. They recognize him. Thats a fact.