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Top 20, he's not even the best Klitschko.
Vitali resume doesn’t stack up to WladsTop 20, he's not even the best Klitschko.
Vitali resume doesn’t stack up to Wlads
I think people tend to devalue his resume because he wasnt in the most competitive era but thats not really a realistic criteria to use if you are trying to assess cross generational greatness. Is it simply impossible fighter A is greater than fighter B if they happen to be from certain eras? I think thats a bit silly.
Doesn't define who had the better legacy. Roy Jones would have beaten Sugar Ray Robinson doesn't mean he had a better career than Robinson.If they had fought we all know who would have won.
Holmes is still the 4th best HW at worst, probably 3rd best.
I think the best thing about Wlad’s career, and probably something that won’t happen as much today, is showing you can overcome early losses to be an all time great. Unfortunately in a Post-Mayweather world, 1 loss often defines you as bum in most peoples eyes unless they happen before the casuals get to know who a fighter is.
10 year unbeaten streaks at a top of a division will do that for you though.
I have mine ready for copy paste but it’s like this for me:1. Ali
2. Lennox
3. Joe Louis
4. Jack Johnson
5. Rocky
6. Larry Holmes
7. Wladimir Klitschko
8. George Foreman
imo.
When he unified against Ibragimov in '08, that was the first unification fight in the HW division since Lewis/Holyfield in 1999.He didn’t beat the real contenders but tbf he was almost 40 when he fought fury, over 40 with Joshua. All fighter are slipping by that age, no matter how well you take care of yourself. Furys a bad match up for him anytime, but he’d have knocked Joshua out if he was a few years younger.
David Haye was a real threat to him, and prime povetkin was a very good win. The strength of that era is a double edged sword. He had an incredibly dominant and impressive run, but is penalised because he didn’t appear to have any real challenges.
When he unified against Ibragimov in '08, that was the first unification fight in the HW division since Lewis/Holyfield in 1999.
Povetkin had been ranked 2 for years when they met. Pulev as well. When you look at the top 10 pretty much each year up until he lost in 2015(and even then) he always had 4-5 names in the top 10 he had beaten. Chagaev was like top 5 if not top 3. Got to give Byrd his credit as well
Tyson Fury if you take the top 10 from Ring Magazine year end at 2019 currently has 1 name from the top 10 on his record and has never had more than 1 at any time going all the way back to his Wlad win in 2015. Joshua has had at one point 4. Wilder I believe has had 2 at one time.
I think it just shows how consistently Wlad was facing quality opponents, and that has a lot to do with him being unified champ and contenders having to come to him if they wanted to fight for a title.
Would he really get much credit if it was him beating Holyfield instead of Ibragimov beating Holyfield?I’m certainly not saying he avoided fighters, he didn’t! His issue was the real threats to him came before he reached the top - Lewis, Holyfield - or when he was past his best - fury, Joshua. It’s bad luck tbh and if affects how some fans view him.
my criticism of fury had always been his standard of opponents outside if the 3 title fights. It’s been terrible. Hopefully that changes now
Would he really get much credit if it was him beating Holyfield instead of Ibragimov beating Holyfield?
Out of curiosity why do you rank Jack Johnson ahead of those other guys?I have mine ready for copy paste but it’s like this for me:
1. Ali
2. Louis
3. Holmes
4. Lewis
5. Jack Johnson
6. Foreman
7. Holyfield
8. Marciano
9. Frazier
10. W. Klitschko
Transcended boxing. First black heavyweight champion. Was literally forced to flee the country, while he was champion, because the country was so racist that him being black and having a white wife and traveling across state lines was illegal then. Wins and resume were as legit as they come at the time.Out of curiosity why do you rank Jack Johnson ahead of those other guys?
How many did Holyfield, Foreman, and Frazier redeem?no worries, i guess i differ then in that opinion, and im not sure Wlad is even top 10 considering his losses and that he didnt redeem most of them
How many did Holyfield, Foreman, and Frazier redeem?