Hwts just don't know how to fight anymore. That's the problem. They are too big and rely on size rather than ability. Watch Walcott slip and deftly counter, watch Louis machine gun like combinations, watch Tunney expertly outbox his opposition, watch Ali gut it out with great skill against Frazier. Not a symblance of any of these great fighters were seen at any moment during last nights fight.
We also have to reevaluate Wlads entire career and his avoided fights. - no sanders rematch - the fighters Vitali filtered for him... - etc
Disagree. He's 39 and based on last night over the hill and hitting the steep decline. Unless you want to match him vs other fighters on their worst night, there is no head to head decline in his rankings. At the least, he wasn't badly KO's or outclassed like some other champions were long before their 39th birthday. The man was undefeated for 11 years and had 26 title defenses to his name.
So, the 18 title defenses were a mere illusion wherein he was pulling the wool over the eyes of top challengers... and at 39, we finally saw the real Wlad. I think I got it.
It probably hurts him. Yes, he's 39 (about the same age as the nr 1 p4p fighter), but there hasn't been any clear suggestions that he has lost a lot and still Fury made him seem clueless. A lot depends, of course, on where Fury goes from here. If Fury would go on to have a great reign it wouldn't been too big a deal for a 39-year old to lose to him.
I don't always agree with you Mendoza but you're spot on here. Lot of haters come out on day like this which I find amusing that they had to bite their lips for a decade. People have no clue how hard it is to train, to remain fit in a combat sport where the next man always comes at you with their best. H2h is fantasy anyway, I would bet my house almost every person that does a h2h will just pick the fighter they like more to win. It's about accomplishment and Wlad had a nine and half year run as champion. Most title fights ever for the division. Extraordinarily impressive career. Now he loses at 39 going on 40. A decision no less and everyone jumps out saying he was exposed. Laughable. Oh I always knew so and so was better etc. Name me the guys who had a longer reign? One man Joe Louis.
I disagree to an extent. I think he's been slipping for about a year. He looked good against Pulev, but he was forced to fight outside of his normal cruise control pace. So I'd say he looked like he was slipping--being aggressive to make up for poorer reflexes. Guys like Pernell did the same thing. And he had some problems with Jennings; looked worse than a few years earlier. In no way was he shot, though. It's a decline that's pretty ****ogous to Marquez's.
You need to wait until he's 50 and then you can call him biggest bum in the world. Lol at morons fury beat 40year old shot wlad and you act like he beat prime wlad
I was at the Jennings fight there was noticeable decline. Had Pulev opted to box than Brawl it probably would of been even more evident. He played into Wlad's hands. Still congratulations to Fury I for one never thought he would be the guy to turn the trick. He never impressed me much other than being game. He showed up last night and proved me wrong. I thought if he boxed he would last awhile I posted it here on another thread but that Wlad's jab would find the mark and then the right hands. But Wlad couldn't let his hands go. His reflexes and timing were off. Sure sign of decline. I think any mover at this point will give him trouble. He looked awful. It happens can't be king forever.
If we're going to do that, it's only fair we judge ALL heavyweights on what they did at an advance age. No need to have double standards, now.
Fighters get old, folks. Credit to Fury, of course, but I don't think it drops him in the prime-for-prime debates. He was never the greatest, but he's still undoubtedly a top 10 ATG HW in my opinion.