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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Beanflicker

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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.

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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.

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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?

Usually I'd be a bastard and tell you to STFU and go watch Butterbean, but I feel good today and I feel like trying to fix your way of looking at the situation. People might call Holyfield, Tyson, or Lewis all action fighters or "exciting" fighters but in all actuality those guys had their fair share of borefests, yeah even Tyson (James Smith anyone??). Those guys had different little hitches in their games: Lewis would hold or push off, Tyson would allow himself to be tied up or constantly tie up he did it vs everyone (providing they withstood the first couple of punches), Holyfield would smother the other fighter and headbutt....Wlad is just following in the footsteps of past great heavyweights, watch Ali and tell me he didn't hold a ton, watch Larry Holmes and tell me he didn't jab a ton. I think the main difference between Wladimir and all other heavyweights is, he's too nice. He doesn't talk shit, he doesn't try and hype up fights, he let's his fists do the talking and he's the FIRST heavyweight since Gene Tunney to do that and Gene was almost as appreciated in the division as Wlad is. The fans back then didn't like him hell the fans not too long ago hated Lennox Lewis because he was "boring" but once Wladimir and Vitali are gone from the division there will be a big void left and people will start to look more favorably upon them.

When people say Wladimir is technically strong they mean he knows his range, he uses the jab as a way to set up other punches, he uses his physical gifts (height, reach, weight) to his advantage, he doesn't allow himself to get hit and for a heavyweight at any point in time that is special. If you look at past great heavyweights and you know what to look for you'll see similar attributes from the likes of: Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe, Larry Holmes, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman etc.

To each their own, but I am sure leftylee will be along shortly to tell you to watch David Haye :rolleyes:

Very skilled. Wlad has mastered sending the fans to sleep in under 30 seconds of the 1st round when he fights. Doctors just give insomina sufferers his career set. Job done.

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Originally Posted by Lyle

blah blah blah

wehhhhhhh

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oh god. A Klit nut-swinger out of the woodwork. Should've saved yourself sometime and write STFU.

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Originally Posted by jokaleras

oh god. A Klit nut-swinger out of the woodwork. Should've saved yourself sometime and write STFU.

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You talking to me or something ?

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Originally Posted by leftylee

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Originally Posted by jokaleras

oh god. A Klit nut-swinger out of the woodwork. Should've saved yourself sometime and write STFU.

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You talking to me or something ?

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I think he means Lyle mate, from what you wrote your probably his new best mate!!

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Originally Posted by skel1983

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Originally Posted by leftylee

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Originally Posted by jokaleras

oh god. A Klit nut-swinger out of the woodwork. Should've saved yourself sometime and write STFU.

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You talking to me or something ?

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I think he means Lyle mate, from what you wrote your probably his new best mate!!

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LOL no worries. I just didn't know who it was aimed at. If its aimed at Lyle, Jokaleras is the homie.

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Originally Posted by Lyle

Sultan Ibragimov would outbox Joe Frazier

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lol! get the fuck outta here!