Thread: How skilled is Wladimir Klitschko really?

Is he any more skilled than another basic Euro fighter Mikkel Kessler? Klitschko fans go on and on about his "technique". I don't see how anyone can consider him "highly" skilled. Either these fans are new fans of the sport or they haven't watched the likes of Barrera, Morales, Frankie Randall, Buddy McGirt, Hopkins, JMM, PBF and other technicians from recent times.

Here is a question: Who had the better skillset Floyd Patterson or Wladimir Klitschko?

If anyone had the skillset of Floyd Patterson in the HW division today (or even CW, which isn't as bad as the HW division) I'd be ecstatic.

Damn. I will slightly tear into this but I am sure some other's will ask you if you yourself are new to boxing. Anyone with any sense can see Wlad is talented. First off he uses his height and reach unlike many have seen in a while. If you really look at his percentage of getting hit it is almost unfair I believe he is under like a 10% connect since his fight with Peter. Second his connect percentage is ridculously high making it seem that just about every punch he throws in a round lands. His countering ability is insane,he can fluently box from the outside pick shots off and land power punches. He has I believe over a 90% KO ratio. If honestly Floyd Patterson would Klitschko Do you think Floyd would win? I will sum that up for you 6'6 245 lbs, over a 90% KO ratio,with a very low ratio of being tagged against a 5'10 190 lbs who can easily be hit ala Ingemar Johanssen in their first fight, but yes he maybe the quickest of heavies but you can't hit what you can't reach.

He has a great jab,but thats all im saying cos we all know he can be a bit gun shy,i mean he does'nt steam in there specially lately

this sums it up Wladimir uses his physical gifts as well as any other fighter in the world uses theirs

Wlad can be a bit gunshy but outside of that there is little to detract from skillwise....In fact the Wladamir Klitschko before the Sanders loss was an animal.....

Wlad uses his height perfectly, he has a great jab one of the best in boxing today, his power is undeniable, he has impressive speed for a man his size.......

He has a great skillset....His only flaw as Yvonne stated is gunshy...

Thye fact he dismantles HWTS even the ones of today with his jab alone speaks volumes

Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

Wlad can be a bit gunshy but outside of that there is little to detract from skillwise....In fact the Wladamir Klitschko before the Sanders loss was an animal.....

Wlad uses his height perfectly, he has a great jab one of the best in boxing today, his power is undeniable, he has impressive speed for a man his size.......

He has a great skillset....His only flaw as Yvonne stated is gunshy...

Thye fact he dismantles HWTS even the ones of today with his jab alone speaks volumes

He was much more fluid, and willing to let his hands go before this fight. Since this fight he has been much more technical (maybe since Brewster I.)

Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

Wlad can be a bit gunshy but outside of that there is little to detract from skillwise....In fact the Wladamir Klitschko before the Sanders loss was an animal.....

Wlad uses his height perfectly, he has a great jab one of the best in boxing today, his power is undeniable, he has impressive speed for a man his size.......

He has a great skillset....His only flaw as Yvonne stated is gunshy...

Thye fact he dismantles HWTS even the ones of today with his jab alone speaks volumes

He was much more fluid, and willing to let his hands go before this fight. Since this fight he has been much more technical (maybe since Brewster I.)

Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

Wlad can be a bit gunshy but outside of that there is little to detract from skillwise....In fact the Wladamir Klitschko before the Sanders loss was an animal.....

Wlad uses his height perfectly, he has a great jab one of the best in boxing today, his power is undeniable, he has impressive speed for a man his size.......

He has a great skillset....His only flaw as Yvonne stated is gunshy...

Thye fact he dismantles HWTS even the ones of today with his jab alone speaks volumes

He was much more fluid, and willing to let his hands go before this fight. Since this fight he has been much more technical (maybe since Brewster I.)

Originally Posted by The Fightfan

Damn. I will slightly tear into this but I am sure some other's will ask you if you yourself are new to boxing. Anyone with any sense can see Wlad is talented. First off he uses his height and reach unlike many have seen in a while. If you really look at his percentage of getting hit it is almost unfair I believe he is under like a 10% connect since his fight with Peter. Second his connect percentage is ridculously high making it seem that just about every punch he throws in a round lands. His countering ability is insane,he can fluently box from the outside pick shots off and land power punches. He has I believe over a 90% KO ratio. If honestly Floyd Patterson would Klitschko Do you think Floyd would win? I will sum that up for you 6'6 245 lbs, over a 90% KO ratio,with a very low ratio of being tagged against a 5'10 190 lbs who can easily be hit ala Ingemar Johanssen in their first fight, but yes he maybe the quickest of heavies but you can't hit what you can't reach.

he's talented for sure. He's abnormally strong and packs a huge punch. i'm not sure that you get my question.

He's hard to hit because he's 6'6. His idea of defense is stepping backwards in a straight line or leaning back. He also flails his arms or has them fully extended when backing. That kind of stuff gets you KO'd but how does he get away with it? B/c the rest of the division is full of immobile plodders and fighters who just lack the basics. RJJ got caught leaning back against Tarver in the second fight. Any technically sound fighter will take advantage of that. Unfortunately, the HW's right now are either too awful or too limited by their physique to do that.

As for his countering ability? I don't see how you can say that it's "insane". He rarely counters and when he does it's very simple counterpunching. "Insane" counterpunching is Donaire getting his lead foot inside Vic's right and thus getting himself into the hooking position to throw that lefthook. Wlad's offensive arsenal is limited and basic. He can't throw a combination that goes beyond the 1-2 (and it would be hard to as he has a very wide stance) and he doesn't even know to rotate his shoulder when throwing a lefthook.

BTW, I think Wladimir would KO a Floyd Patterson, but P4P there's no doubt that Patterson is the better boxer.

Originally Posted by jokaleras

Originally Posted by The Fightfan

Damn. I will slightly tear into this but I am sure some other's will ask you if you yourself are new to boxing. Anyone with any sense can see Wlad is talented. First off he uses his height and reach unlike many have seen in a while. If you really look at his percentage of getting hit it is almost unfair I believe he is under like a 10% connect since his fight with Peter. Second his connect percentage is ridculously high making it seem that just about every punch he throws in a round lands. His countering ability is insane,he can fluently box from the outside pick shots off and land power punches. He has I believe over a 90% KO ratio. If honestly Floyd Patterson would Klitschko Do you think Floyd would win? I will sum that up for you 6'6 245 lbs, over a 90% KO ratio,with a very low ratio of being tagged against a 5'10 190 lbs who can easily be hit ala Ingemar Johanssen in their first fight, but yes he maybe the quickest of heavies but you can't hit what you can't reach.

he's talented for sure. He's abnormally strong and packs a huge punch. i'm not sure that you get my question.

He's hard to hit because he's 6'6. His idea of defense is stepping backwards in a straight line or leaning back. He also flails his arms or has them fully extended when backing. That kind of stuff gets you KO'd but how does he get away with it? B/c the rest of the division is full of immobile plodders and fighters who just lack the basics. RJJ got caught leaning back against Tarver in the second fight. Any technically sound fighter will take advantage of that. Unfortunately, the HW's right now are either too awful or too limited by their physique to do that.

As for his countering ability? I don't see how you can say that it's "insane". He rarely counters and when he does it's very simple counterpunching. "Insane" counterpunching is Donaire getting his lead foot inside Vic's right and thus getting himself into the hooking position to throw that lefthook. Wlad's offensive arsenal is limited and basic. He can't throw a combination that goes beyond the 1-2 (and it would be hard to as he has a very wide stance) and he doesn't even know to rotate his shoulder when throwing a lefthook.


BTW, I think Wladimir would KO a Floyd Patterson, but P4P there's no doubt that Patterson is the better boxer.

Isn't that how you are suppose to counter easily and fluently with really no effort? IF also you watch Wlad's fight's he really doesn't have much to counter because no one throws at him and when they do he does counter them easily. To say Wlad's aresnal is limited is a bit of a stretch you want to watch a power punching clinic watch the Ray Mercer fight. He hit Mercer with I think every type of punch possible. Nitpicking his abilities too is a bit funny I mean come on "Doesn't Rotate his shoulder when throwing the left hook"? Uhmm again I point to watching the Merecer fight and look at his KO percentage again.

Originally Posted by The Fightfan

Originally Posted by jokaleras

Originally Posted by The Fightfan

Damn. I will slightly tear into this but I am sure some other's will ask you if you yourself are new to boxing. Anyone with any sense can see Wlad is talented. First off he uses his height and reach unlike many have seen in a while. If you really look at his percentage of getting hit it is almost unfair I believe he is under like a 10% connect since his fight with Peter. Second his connect percentage is ridculously high making it seem that just about every punch he throws in a round lands. His countering ability is insane,he can fluently box from the outside pick shots off and land power punches. He has I believe over a 90% KO ratio. If honestly Floyd Patterson would Klitschko Do you think Floyd would win? I will sum that up for you 6'6 245 lbs, over a 90% KO ratio,with a very low ratio of being tagged against a 5'10 190 lbs who can easily be hit ala Ingemar Johanssen in their first fight, but yes he maybe the quickest of heavies but you can't hit what you can't reach.

he's talented for sure. He's abnormally strong and packs a huge punch. i'm not sure that you get my question.

He's hard to hit because he's 6'6. His idea of defense is stepping backwards in a straight line or leaning back. He also flails his arms or has them fully extended when backing. That kind of stuff gets you KO'd but how does he get away with it? B/c the rest of the division is full of immobile plodders and fighters who just lack the basics. RJJ got caught leaning back against Tarver in the second fight. Any technically sound fighter will take advantage of that. Unfortunately, the HW's right now are either too awful or too limited by their physique to do that.

As for his countering ability? I don't see how you can say that it's "insane". He rarely counters and when he does it's very simple counterpunching. "Insane" counterpunching is Donaire getting his lead foot inside Vic's right and thus getting himself into the hooking position to throw that lefthook. Wlad's offensive arsenal is limited and basic. He can't throw a combination that goes beyond the 1-2 (and it would be hard to as he has a very wide stance) and he doesn't even know to rotate his shoulder when throwing a lefthook.


BTW, I think Wladimir would KO a Floyd Patterson, but P4P there's no doubt that Patterson is the better boxer.

Isn't that how you are suppose to counter easily and fluently with really no effort? IF also you watch Wlad's fight's he really doesn't have much to counter because no one throws at him and when they do he does counter them easily. To say Wlad's aresnal is limited is a bit of a stretch you want to watch a power punching clinic watch the Ray Mercer fight. He hit Mercer with I think every type of punch possible. Nitpicking his abilities too is a bit funny I mean come on "Doesn't Rotate his shoulder when throwing the left hook"? Uhmm again I point to watching the Merecer fight and look at his KO percentage again.

wow. this really is redundant. if you think wlad is a good counterpuncher, i'm not sure then what you'd think of guys like chop chop corley who's a dedicated counterpuncher (though only a decent one at that) or holyfield who's one of the best HW counterpunchers ever. read my post again for what my reply to this would be. i agree wlad looked his best against mercer. that was a pretty good punching display.

Originally Posted by jokaleras

Originally Posted by The Fightfan

Originally Posted by jokaleras

he's talented for sure. He's abnormally strong and packs a huge punch. i'm not sure that you get my question.

He's hard to hit because he's 6'6. His idea of defense is stepping backwards in a straight line or leaning back. He also flails his arms or has them fully extended when backing. That kind of stuff gets you KO'd but how does he get away with it? B/c the rest of the division is full of immobile plodders and fighters who just lack the basics. RJJ got caught leaning back against Tarver in the second fight. Any technically sound fighter will take advantage of that. Unfortunately, the HW's right now are either too awful or too limited by their physique to do that.

As for his countering ability? I don't see how you can say that it's "insane". He rarely counters and when he does it's very simple counterpunching. "Insane" counterpunching is Donaire getting his lead foot inside Vic's right and thus getting himself into the hooking position to throw that lefthook. Wlad's offensive arsenal is limited and basic. He can't throw a combination that goes beyond the 1-2 (and it would be hard to as he has a very wide stance) and he doesn't even know to rotate his shoulder when throwing a lefthook.


BTW, I think Wladimir would KO a Floyd Patterson, but P4P there's no doubt that Patterson is the better boxer.

Isn't that how you are suppose to counter easily and fluently with really no effort? IF also you watch Wlad's fight's he really doesn't have much to counter because no one throws at him and when they do he does counter them easily. To say Wlad's aresnal is limited is a bit of a stretch you want to watch a power punching clinic watch the Ray Mercer fight. He hit Mercer with I think every type of punch possible. Nitpicking his abilities too is a bit funny I mean come on "Doesn't Rotate his shoulder when throwing the left hook"? Uhmm again I point to watching the Merecer fight and look at his KO percentage again.

wow. this really is redundant. if you think wlad is a good counterpuncher, i'm not sure then what you'd think of guys like chop chop corley who's a dedicated counterpuncher (though only a decent one at that) or holyfield who's one of the best HW counterpunchers ever. read my post again for what my reply to this would be. i agree wlad looked his best against mercer. that was a pretty good punching display.

Wasn't it you who used the ridiculous statement Wlad doesn't turn his shoulder properly for a left hook. I would just ask the 47 KO's out of 53 of Wlad 's wins how proper was Wlad's left hook.

I notice alot in just about all of your statement's thus far that you name name's like Chop Chop Corley and Nonito Donaire. I will remind you that this is the heavyweight division. Heavyweight's and say middleweight's are 2 totally different division's hell even cruiserweight's are different. You are not going to find a perfect techinically sound fighter in the heavies without flaws. It's just that simple. Heavyweight's get by with power and good boxing ability not perfect boxing ability like you will find in some lower weight classes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO_sWnawpU4

What was that you were saying about the left hook?

Also in the begining of this thread you implied that if someone had Floyd Patterson's skill set they would beat Wladimir Klitschko....obviously you know fuck all about boxing. The Cus D'Mato/Floyd Patterson/Mike Tyson method of boxing does have weaknesses and what Wladimir uses to his advantage exploits those weaknesses. I bring to your attention the fighters who caused that style of boxing the most trouble....

#1 James 'Buster' Douglas....used height, reach, size, and mobility vs the previously undefeated 'Iron' Mike Tyson and basically took Mike to school and don't anyone give me that old "Well Mike didn't have Rooney" bullshit Mike could have had Jesus in his corner and it wouldn't have helped him.

#2 Alexis Arguello, oh yes El Flaco Explosivo demolished one Kevin Rooney who used that very same style. Height + Reach + Power = KO win for Arguello.

#3 Tony Tucker, tall, lanky, used height and reach and had he not broken his hand early on in the bout perhaps he could have beaten Tyson. Tucker didn't win but he gave Tyson all kinds of trouble.

The other fighters who gave that style trouble were the fighters who didn't put up with the bullying/rough house tactics used by Cus and his fighters....I doubt Wlad would accept someone bullying him, we don't know on account of the fact no one has tried.

#1 Sonny Liston, rolled right on through Floyd Patterson TWICE

#2 Evander Holyfield the fight vs Tyson wasn't even close

#3 Lennox Lewis, he didn't put up with any of Mike's crap either.

Hell I could even through James 'Bonecrusher' Smith in this group, he wasn't known for his chin but even he lasted the distance with a Prime Mike Tyson

As for anyone not sold on Wlad's skill, you go out and try to win a fight with one hand and see how easy it is. Boxing isn't JUST about KO's but Wlad gets those too. Sure he doesn't come out guns a blazin like he used to and BECAUSE of that he's one of the most dominant fighters out there. Also Wladimir can't be blamed if the opponent he is fighting doesn't want to fight him, sure people were waiting for him to KO Sultan Ibragimov, I was one of the people waiting for it, but when you fight a lefty and he's loading up ready to counter the right cross do you know what punch you don't throw.....THE RIGHT CROSS!!!

But hey if you guys don't like Wlad fine go right ahead and hate on him, he'll be around for a while yet so be sure to pace yourselves

Originally Posted by jokaleras

Either these fans are new fans of the sport or they haven't watched the likes of Barrera, Morales, Frankie Randall, Buddy McGirt, Hopkins, JMM, PBF and other technicians from recent times.

OK herein lies your problem. What do you notice about the names you listed? The biggest guy you listed there is Hopkins, who spent nearly his entire career as a MW.

Of course the smaller guys will be more skilled than the HW guys. Muhammad Ali was the greatest HW of all time, but we could sit here and name about 100 guys, all in lower weight classes, who had more technical skill than he did.

People who say the Klitschko's aren't highly talented just don't know boxing. When have you seen a guy 6'7'' who moved so quick, with such great balance, with such cordination, who could work so effectively behind a jab. People want to pick on the Klitschko's, but I gaurentee you if you plucked today's Wlad and stuck him in ANY heavyweight era, he would be a star, if not the #1 guy.

Originally Posted by Beanflicker

Originally Posted by jokaleras

Either these fans are new fans of the sport or they haven't watched the likes of Barrera, Morales, Frankie Randall, Buddy McGirt, Hopkins, JMM, PBF and other technicians from recent times.

OK herein lies your problem. What do you notice about the names you listed? The biggest guy you listed there is Hopkins, who spent nearly his entire career as a MW.

Of course the smaller guys will be more skilled than the HW guys. Muhammad Ali was the greatest HW of all time, but we could sit here and name about 100 guys, all in lower weight classes, who had more technical skill than he did.

People who say the Klitschko's aren't highly talented just don't know boxing. When have you seen a guy 6'7'' who moved so quick, with such great balance, with such cordination, who could work so effectively behind a jab. People want to pick on the Klitschko's, but I gaurentee you if you plucked today's Wlad and stuck him in ANY heavyweight era, he would be a star, if not the #1 guy.

that's another point. Athleticism. If I wanna see athletic big men, I'll go watch the NBA where are 7'0 men thousand times more athletic than Wlad who looks incredibly clumsy and awkward when he tries to pull off maneuvers.

As for big men not being skilled? What about Riddick Bowe? Holyfield? Dwight Qawi? Michael Spinks? Eddie Mustafa Muhammad? John Conteh? Matthew Saad Muhammad? Or any of the top LHW's from the 70s/80s. Hell, Andrew Golota was more skilled than Wlad. Though Wlad is the more effective fighter.

You're right. Heavyweights do suck incredibly in comparison to the lower weight classes(especially so now). And Wlad would do pretty well in some eras mainly because of his humongous stature and power. Though he'd get absolutely demolished by a lot of the top guys of the 90's.

frankly, I don't see how can anyone can have Wlad as their favorite fighter. Does anyone really like watching him other than to see an upset?