Wlad's best wins

Pulev didn't KO an ancient Tony Thompson over 12 who Wlad had smashed several fights prior and he took 11 rounds to get rid of Dimitrenko and Ustinov, far less athletic and skilled giants with chin and heart problems. Against Wlad, Pulev essentially tried to fight a bazooka with a pistol.

Even going into the 11th Jennings was down 4 points on the judges' scorecards. Wlad liked to come on strong in the championship rounds as he wasn't risking gassing out and getting stopped as happened against Puritty and Brewster when he opened up early. Wlad said after the fight that Jennings was the most determined opponent he had faced in years, which may well be true. The only fighter who unambiguously gave a better effort was Peter 1. Jennings was caught with big shots against Ortiz on the inside, which was a range that Wlad was not comfortable fighting at and Jennings wasn't ground down by SHW Joyce years later in a close fight. Wlad preferred to grab and hold but he was not permitted to do this as much against Jennings in America.

 

AJ had 43 amateur bouts and 18 pro fights, not even 10 years in boxing.

Wlad had 140 amateur bouts and 68 pro fights, about 32 years in boxing.

Freshness and athleticism matter but so do skill and experience, things which improve over time. Joshua was probably closer to his prime but there's no way of knowing for sure or how much. At the same age as Joshua was, Wlad was getting flattened by fringe contenders. And whilst Wlad did a good job from a technical and athletic point of view and showed a lot of determination, he probably blundered the fight due to excessive caution, which was a recurring theme.

 

Peter 1 was probably Wlad's best ever win because unlike the others he both came to win and had the tools to do so.

 

Wlad had unusual longevity: Hopkins was still among the best LHW's at 49, whereas Jones was burnt out when more than a decade younger.

Joshua wouldn't have gone 10 years unbeaten: he proved that with the Ruiz loss. But he also has a tougher field to contend with than Wlad did and is far more seasoned a champion now than when he faced Wlad.

 

Joshua was definitely overhyped but a good fighter and very dangerous nonetheless and definitely not the finished article at that point skillset or experience wise. Klitschko also had a lot more left in the tank than people gave him credit for and people bought into a lot of myths about him before the fight (he had a glass chin, he had terrible stamina, he was slow, he was a stiff board, he had no heart, he dominated a "weak era" etc. etc.)