Wladimir Klitschko: Who would he beat?

The way a few posters on here talk about the guy apparently they are still in shock that he's "The Man" of the division right now. People love to bring up his shortcomings as a fighter and that's nothing new for the Heavyweight Champ, it happened to Lewis, Holyfield, and everyone else before them. Anyway, the crux of this thread is who do you think is the best fighter Wladimir Klitschko would beat 9 out of 10 times and 5 out of 10 times....so give at least 1 fighter Wlad would clean house with and at least 1 he would be really competative with. Take your time and explain your picks and TRY to be reasonable and rational and don't just hate on the guy and try not to overrate the guy either, if you're going to do either of those just don't even bother posting.

Buster Douglas, Michael Moore, and maybe Frank Bruno LOL ;D

Wlad takes 9/10 vs:
Ken Norton - Ken didn't take punches well at all he lost vs every single big puncher he fought.

Andrew Golota - Wlad does everything Golota did only better and with more power.

Earnie Shavers - Yes The Acorn had big time power and he could crush anyone with 1 punch....but he didn't take it very well either and giving up all that height, reach, and weight would be too much for him to overcome. Wlad fights from a distance and Shavers would be lucky to get close with a wild swing.

Jimmy Young - Didn't have the power to beat Wlad and it's highly doubtful he would have pressed Wlad into action tiring him out so I see it similar to the Chris Byrd fights

Wlad splits 5/10 vs:
Riddick Bowe - Riddick never really fought a power puncher like Wlad and, he routinely gave up his height and reach, if not for his boxing ability(on the inside), power, stamina, and chin he'd get beaten every time. But because Bowe was able to win even fighting out of his advantage then I give him the benefit of the doubt.

Larry Holmes - Now this choice may piss a ton of folks off but in his Prime Larry allowed himself to get plowed by some very average power punchers (yes he got up to win) but with Wlad's boxing ability there's also the chance Larry isn't winning every single round when he gets caught and with Wlad's power there's also the chance of Larry either getting knocked down again or KO'd. Larry Holmes had decent power but nothing that would really drive fear into Wlad, 69 wins 44 KO's....that's above average but nothing spectacular.

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Originally Posted by boxer dude

Buster Douglas, Michael Moore, and maybe Frank Bruno LOL ;D

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Michael Moore the film maker??? Not even Michael Moorer former heavyweight champ? ;D

Okay these are the guys I think he can beat.

John L. Sullivan: Too small and not as advanced yet

Max Baer: 1 hit wonder, and not all that skilled

Jack Dempsey: Too small and wild

Rocky Marciano: Too small and short

Floyd Patterson: too small and short

There you go, Wlad for sure can beat those former HW champs.

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Originally Posted by Lyle

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Originally Posted by boxer dude

Buster Douglas, Michael Moore, and maybe Frank Bruno LOL ;D

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Michael Moore the film maker??? Not even Michael Moorer former heavyweight champ? ;D

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He's probably in the right weight class... :p

I think he would beat a lot of the older generations of heavyweights due to his size alone. He's very good at keeping smaller fighters at the end of his jab and his right hand would be a formidable weapon against any opponent.

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Originally Posted by generalbulldog

Okay these are the guys I think he can beat.

John L. Sullivan: Too small and not as advanced yet

Max Baer: 1 hit wonder, and not all that skilled

Jack Dempsey: Too small and wild

Rocky Marciano: Too small and short

Floyd Patterson: too small and short

There you go, Wlad for sure can beat those former HW champs.

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So he couldn't beat Jack Johnson? Or Jim Jeffries? or James Corbett? or Jess Willard? And thanks for not being too sarcastic, I certainly appreciate it

Not sure he would have beat Marciano, I would give Rocky the benefit of the doubt just because he never did loose.

He would have beat Archie Moore,

Michael Moore (the fighter lol)

Frank Bruno

Buster Douglas

And the best fighter he might have probably beat is Big Daddy Bowe, I actually think that would have been a very entertaining fight.

And for the record I think his brother is better than him and would have beat or at least stood a decent chance against a lot more atg's than he would have.

I can also see Wlad beating the following:

Tommy Morrison: he just didn't have the talent or style to hang with Wlad plus he didn't take punches all that great either.

Donovan Ruddock - dangerous puncher but seriously lazy in the ring and in training.

Michael Dokes - solid all around fighter but simply not a threat to Wlad

Ray Mercer - we saw what a very raw Wlad did to an old Mercer, I think the Prime vs Prime wouldn't be all that different.

Ron Lyle - dangerous, but wild and didn't have great stamina

I think Wlad would hold his own vs Tyson and Liston. Say what you will about how dangerous Mike Tyson is but if his style had one flaw (it didn't it had more than a few) it was fighters that used similar techniques as Wlad: good use of height, reach, the jab, solid defense, and tying up on the inside...Wlad is solid to above average in most of those areas which means he would have a chance...if he had an uppercut he'd be a sure thing. As for Liston, i just don't think he could handle the movement and the size of Wlad...sure Sonny could bang but he'd have to catch Wlad first and that is easier said than done

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Originally Posted by boxer dude

Michael Moore (the fighter lol).

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That would be Michael Moorer
Michael Moorer

I think we all know Wlad would just flatten Shannon Briggs. Briggs in his day was a decent fighter with good handspeed and good pop, but I think Wlad would start up an asthma attack

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Originally Posted by Lyle

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Originally Posted by generalbulldog

Okay these are the guys I think he can beat.

John L. Sullivan: Too small and not as advanced yet

Max Baer: 1 hit wonder, and not all that skilled

Jack Dempsey: Too small and wild

Rocky Marciano: Too small and short

Floyd Patterson: too small and short

There you go, Wlad for sure can beat those former HW champs.

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So he couldn't beat Jack Johnson? Or Jim Jeffries? or James Corbett? or Jess Willard? And thanks for not being too sarcastic, I certainly appreciate it

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Okay to be fair these are the lists of other HW champs, he could take.

-John Ruiz
-Pinklon Thomas
-Oliver McCall
-Herbie Hide
-Trevor Berbick
-Michael Spinks
-Ken Norton
-Ernie Terrell
-James Braddock
-Ingemar Johanson

No way does Wlad beat Riddick Bowe. This is all fictional anyway. But I think you are a bit too much of a cheerleader for this guy. I mean let it go.

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Originally Posted by piye

No way does Wlad beat Riddick Bowe. This is all fictional anyway. But I think you are a bit too much of a cheerleader for this guy. I mean let it go.

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I think I'm pretty reasonable and rational with my explinations. I mean other than Holyfield and Golota there's nobody on Bowe's record that would really bother Wladimir and I highly doubt that even at his very best Golota would.

Riddick Bowe fought 0 big punchers that is a FACT. A very raw Lennox Lewis crushed Riddick Bowe in the amateurs and I'm thinking that may have had an effect on Bowe's choice of not taking on any big guns. I mean look at his record, only Pierre Coetzer stands out as a power threat. He didn't fight Lewis, Tyson, Ruddock, Bruno, Morrison, Moorer, Foreman...just Holyfield and Golota were threats to him and he was losing both fights vs Golota before the DQ's. Riddick Bowe's record being that of a former undisputed Heavyweight Champion is a really sorry one. Sorry if that offends you but Michael Dokes, Jesse Fergusson, Larry Donald, Elijah Tillary, and Buster Mathis Jr. aren't awe inspiring.

And just for the record I said that would be a 50-50 fight, Wlad would win 5 out of 10 meaning he would lose 5 as well....I don't think that's a "cheerleader" comment considering how I laid out my arguments for it....but feel free to chime in with your little gripes, I do enjoy them especially when they aren't backed up by any facts or evidence that would prove my points wrong.

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Originally Posted by Lyle

Wlad takes 9/10 vs:
Ken Norton - Ken didn't take punches well at all he lost vs every single big puncher he fought.

Andrew Golota - Wlad does everything Golota did only better and with more power.

Earnie Shavers - Yes The Acorn had big time power and he could crush anyone with 1 punch....but he didn't take it very well either and giving up all that height, reach, and weight would be too much for him to overcome. Wlad fights from a distance and Shavers would be lucky to get close with a wild swing.

Jimmy Young - Didn't have the power to beat Wlad and it's highly doubtful he would have pressed Wlad into action tiring him out so I see it similar to the Chris Byrd fights

Wlad splits 5/10 vs:
Riddick Bowe - Riddick never really fought a power puncher like Wlad and, he routinely gave up his height and reach, if not for his boxing ability(on the inside), power, stamina, and chin he'd get beaten every time. But because Bowe was able to win even fighting out of his advantage then I give him the benefit of the doubt.

Larry Holmes - Now this choice may piss a ton of folks off but in his Prime Larry allowed himself to get plowed by some very average power punchers (yes he got up to win) but with Wlad's boxing ability there's also the chance Larry isn't winning every single round when he gets caught and with Wlad's power there's also the chance of Larry either getting knocked down again or KO'd. Larry Holmes had decent power but nothing that would really drive fear into Wlad, 69 wins 44 KO's....that's above average but nothing spectacular.

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I don't think Wladimir Klitschko done everything better than Andrew Golota, infact there pretty evenly matched in all departments, except Andrew Golota has a better chin. But Wladimir Klitschko has more heart its a very close 50/50 match up.

I agree with Earnie Shavers, i do think Wladimir Klitschko would pick him apart. Barring a hail mary overhand right from Earnie Shavers.

I agree with Jimmy Young although he did beat George Foreman, and probably beat Muhammad Ali, Ken Norton. But he is simply too small and wouldn't be able to get inside, i think he would go the distance though in a boring fight.

Riddick Bowe didn't deal that well with outside fighters, so Wladimir Klitschko would give Riddick Bowe problems. But in the end Riddick Bowe would catch up to him his stamina, toughness, and boxing skill would win in the end probably by TKO in the 8th round.

Lyle i really don't know why you underrate Larry Holmes, he was great at his best. And what mediocre punchers put him down ? he was put down with one of the hardest punches of all time, by one of the hardest punchers of all time. And got up at 4 and then proceeded to kick Earnie Shaver's ass.

He was down against Renaldo Snipes but that was a flash knockdown, that caught him off guard. He soon recovered then had Renaldo Snipes in big trouble in the same round.

Larry Holmes had the better jab, better technical skills, better speed, better footwork, tougher ETC. Yes i agree Wladimir Klitschko hits harder, but Larry Holmes has underrated power. See the right uppercut against Mike Weaver. Larry Holmes by TKO in 10.

I wouldn't underrate Ken Norton he only had trouble vs fighters that swarmed him. Yes Wladimir Klitschko is a big puncher, but he's cautious boxer aswell. So Ken Norton would have a chance, and Ken Norton can bang himself. He was a master at taking away the jab, if he can take away Holmes and Ali's jab he would take away Wladimir Klitschko jab aswell.

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Originally Posted by generalbulldog

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Originally Posted by Lyle

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Originally Posted by generalbulldog

Okay these are the guys I think he can beat.

John L. Sullivan: Too small and not as advanced yet

Max Baer: 1 hit wonder, and not all that skilled

Jack Dempsey: Too small and wild

Rocky Marciano: Too small and short

Floyd Patterson: too small and short

There you go, Wlad for sure can beat those former HW champs.

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So he couldn't beat Jack Johnson? Or Jim Jeffries? or James Corbett? or Jess Willard? And thanks for not being too sarcastic, I certainly appreciate it

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Okay to be fair these are the lists of other HW champs, he could take.

-John Ruiz
-Pinklon Thomas
-Oliver McCall
-Herbie Hide
-Trevor Berbick
-Michael Spinks
-Ken Norton
-Ernie Terrell
-James Braddock
-Ingemar Johanson

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Herbie Hide at his best was very dangerous, even though the Heavyweight division wasn't his legit weightclass. He still badly wobbled Riddick Bowe numerous times, and even hurt Vitali Klitschko in the 1st round. He also destroyed Tony Tucker in only 2 rounds.

I wouldn't be suprised if Herbie Hide done a Corrie Sanders, on Wladimir Klitschko. Herbie Hide is quick as hell, and has some serious power. Despite being a blown up Cruiserweight.

ICB, wow, I can't believe how much you underrate Wlad in all aspects. He is so hard too hit. He doesn't have that snapping KO power, but in terms of the power behind his shots it right up there with the All time heavy punchers in the sport.

I don't think its easy to underestimate Klitschko's speed because he cautious he doesn't really show just how fast his hands hard, but you can tell by the way he lands jabs so consistently that not only are his jabs hard to see coming, but they are very quick as well.

I honeslty see him beating most of the heavyweight champs in the history of the sport more often than not. He is way too big and skilled(especially at using his height) for almost anyone around 6 feet tall. At least this version of him.

I think the tall guys who had some power like Bowe would beat him, but I am not sure who I would favor in that fight because Bowe had some really bad fights along with the brilliant ones.

I can't see how any version of Holyfield would be really effective against Wlad. He always had a hard time with guys who could stay away.

I think Wlad has just as good of a jab as Holmes, it may not be as flashy, but its just as accurate and hits harder. I just think his size and power along with that jab would totally negate anything Holmes brings to the table, and I think that Aliesque movement wouldn't work for anyone except Ali against Wlad.

Basically I see Lennox beating Wlad virtually everytime. Same with Vitali. I see Ali winning 7-8/10. I just don't see other guys having enough size, coordination and skill to deal with such a talented individual. Sure there are guys like Foreman, Tyson, Dempsey, Frazier, even Shavers who could use power and/or speed to catch Wlad with a lucky punch but more often than not I see him pummeling them with the jab and stopping Dempsey, Frazier, and Shavers and maybe even Tyson.

Simply due to size I have him beating a fair few old heavies... but it's worth noting that most of those guys would be cruiserweights (if they were lucky! look at guys like Bradock and even a younger marciono, not that I think Wlad beats him at his best but to use Rocky as an example - he was heavyweight champ yet if he boxed today he could probably boil down to light heavy!) now days and didn't benefit from the advances we've made in sports and nutritional science...

Very hypothetical a lot of this because if you took the talent and potential that the older guys possessed and trained them nowadays who knows what you'd end up with!

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Originally Posted by Taeth

I can't see how any version of Holyfield would be really effective against Wlad. He always had a hard time with guys who could stay away.

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I like youre thinking Taeth but I can't agree with you on Holyfield. He is the easiest fighter to underestimate, not the strongest, not the biggest, not the hardest or fastest puncher but very very consistent in his work and very effective.

There are 2 ways (that have been demonstrated in history) to beat Wladimir #1 Corrie Sanders - land hard punches and follow up #2 Purrity & Brewster - take everything Wlad hits you with and outlast his stamina.

I think Evander Holyfield's constant pressure, solid defense, granite chin and combination punching would have been too much for Wlad to handle. I mean Holyfield took everything Bowe had, Lennox Lewis had, Mike Tyson had, and he just kept coming forward. He's only been stopped 2 times once by Bowe when he had hepititus or something and once by James Toney when Evander tore up his shoulder.

When we talk about Ali many folks think it's a disgrace to say Wlad could beat him but history proves that Ali had trouble with guys who could box with him...I'm not saying Wlad would dominate Ali, I'm not trying to hate on Ali, I'm just saying he would need a lot more than the "rope-a-dope" to beat Wlad. Although Ali had very quick hands, good defense, and a great chin which probably would have won him fights over lots of people (including Wladimir, I think the big key for Ali is fast hands + combination punching as not many heavyweights ever have both) he wasn't invincible.

If he can avoid a flush left hook, I think Wlad would handle Joe Frazier most of the time. The jab alone would cause Frazier all kinds of problems.

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Originally Posted by Violent Demise

If he can avoid a flush left hook, I think Wlad would handle Joe Frazier most of the time. The jab alone would cause Frazier all kinds of problems.

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I just watched the Ali vs Fraiser fights. If it was a prime Fraiser , he would catch Wlad and ko him. As much as I like Wlad, he wouldnt beat the greats . Well I'd give him a chance agaisnt Marciano, Johnson, and Dempsey/

Vitaly's the one who would be able to hold his own against virtually any fighter from any era due to his chin. Wlad on the other hand would be blown out inside of three rounds by nearly all the all time greats who possessed power due to his lack of chin.

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Originally Posted by match

Vitaly's the one who would be able to hold his own against virtually any fighter from any era due to his chin. Wlad on the other hand would be blown out inside of three rounds by nearly all the all time greats who possessed power due to his lack of chin.

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....Vitali is easier to hit than Wladimir. Wlad on account of his ability to cover up his flaws is a better fighter

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Originally Posted by Lyle

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Originally Posted by match

Vitaly's the one who would be able to hold his own against virtually any fighter from any era due to his chin. Wlad on the other hand would be blown out inside of three rounds by nearly all the all time greats who possessed power due to his lack of chin.

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....Vitali is easier to hit than Wladimir. Wlad on account of his ability to cover up his flaws is a better fighter

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Honestly, I see it just the opposite. Wlad is clearly more offensively skilled, but I think Vitaly's strengths in total are greater than Wlad's. I hold Vitaly in much higher regard than his brother.

Vitali's skill is based on his size and his awkwardness...Wladimir is probably the most technically skilled fighter out there right now not named Mayweather. He does everything correct and I don't know of anyone else who is more effective on the attack than Wladimir fighting these days....maybe Pacquiao but hell Manny has been outboxed several times before and I have rarely seen Wlad so much as frustrated with an opponent's boxing skill...maybe vs Brock or Thompson but he caught both those guys pretty good.

Vitali can get frustrated a little easier IMO, when he's fighting a guy who won't open up like Byrd or Johnson and he wants to land a homerun punch he gets frustrated. Wlad is smart enough to either stick with what works (even if the fans don't like it) like vs Sultan or find a way to get a stoppage like vs Brock and Thompson.

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Originally Posted by Lyle

Wladimir is probably the most technically skilled fighter out there right now not named Mayweather.

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:lol::lol: where do you rate Yuri Foreman and Felix Sturm then?

Wlad wouldn't be in the top 20 let alone the 2nd most technically skilled.

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Originally Posted by sumkalambay

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Originally Posted by Lyle

Wladimir is probably the most technically skilled fighter out there right now not named Mayweather.

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:lol::lol: where do you rate Yuri Foreman and Felix Sturm then?

Wlad wouldn't be in the top 20 let alone the 2nd most technically skilled.

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I agree with Lyle, maybe he isn't number 2, but he's def. in the top 20 of most skilled fighters. Probably in the top 10

Ok I'll spot him Joe Hipp.....maybe Bruce Seldon ;D

One fight that would interest me would be RJJ the night he beat Ruiz against Wlad. I mean my money would go on Wlad but I think Roy could get around the jab with his freak speed and counter Wlad quite a bit. The big problem for Roy though would be that although at MW upto LHW he had freak power, it just didn't carry upto HW, I know he did some damage to Ruiz's face but he never really looked like stopping him at all. Wlad though does have great power and if he hit Jones clean (not that it was easy to do in those days) he would go and over 12 rounds I think you have to give Wlad the benefit of the doubt and say he would catch Jones sooner or later.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Ok I'll spot him Joe Hipp.....maybe Bruce Seldon ;D

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No John Tate? Michael Weaver?

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Originally Posted by rjj tszyu

One fight that would interest me would be RJJ the night he beat Ruiz against Wlad. I mean my money would go on Wlad but I think Roy could get around the jab with his freak speed and counter Wlad quite a bit. The big problem for Roy though would be that although at MW upto LHW he had freak power, it just didn't carry upto HW, I know he did some damage to Ruiz's face but he never really looked like stopping him at all. Wlad though does have great power and if he hit Jones clean (not that it was easy to do in those days) he would go and over 12 rounds I think you have to give Wlad the benefit of the doubt and say he would catch Jones sooner or later.

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...there was a reason RJJ went after John Ruiz instead of Wladimir and I don't think it was money or TV or anything to do with the business side fo the sport other than Wlad was extremely dangerous and John Ruiz wasn't

Holmes schools his ass:thumb:

If Shavers landed then say good f:censored:n night

If Brewster & Sanders cleaned his ass up then you better believe others on their best night would own his ass

Wlad is the man right now, sure! but if your saying vs these guys at their best then the bro's going to have some issues!!!
:LOLATYOU:

Let's see who else he can beat. He can 100% beat these HW champs at these stages.

-38 year old Ali in the Holmes fight
-38 year old Holmes in the Tyson fight
-39 year old Tyson in the McBride fight
-39 year old Holyfield in the RUiz fights
-48 year old Foreman in the Briggs fight

He could take all of those guys within 3 rounds, with the exception of the 48 year old Foreman whom might eke out an losing decision. Foreman was tough as hell for an old geezer.

I'd go so far as saying Wlad's a paper champion. The only reason he even has a belt is because his brother won't fight him. Vitaly would wear his @ss out faster than Corrie Sanders.

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Originally Posted by match

I'd go so far as saying Wlad's a paper champion. The only reason he even has a belt is because his brother won't fight him. Vitaly would wear his @ss out faster than Corrie Sanders.

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That is a load of shit right there...you call Wlad a "paper champion" and yet make no case for it either.

If Vitali fought Wlad right now I think you would be shocked at how well Wlad would do. Vitali isn't the same fighter he used to be and Wlad has only gotten better.

Wlad would destroy a prime Tyson. He would beat Holyfield. Him and Lewis would be a great fight. Everything else is before my time.

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Originally Posted by eagleskins

Wlad would destroy a prime Tyson. He would beat Holyfield. Him and Lewis would be a great fight. Everything else is before my time.

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Totally disagree on all 3 points - but it's all about opinions ;)

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Originally Posted by eagleskins

Wlad would destroy a prime Tyson. He would beat Holyfield. Him and Lewis would be a great fight. Everything else is before my time.

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Your time obviously being from 2003 onwards as youve clearly never seen prime holyfield or tyson.

"My time" consists of the likes of lewis, bowe, holyfield, ruddock etc and i genuinely would be hard pushed to name one of them that wladimir could beat.

I do completely believe however that wladimir would of been a tad too much for bruno ;D;D;D

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Originally Posted by hattonthehammer

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Originally Posted by eagleskins

Wlad would destroy a prime Tyson. He would beat Holyfield. Him and Lewis would be a great fight. Everything else is before my time.

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Your time obviously being from 2003 onwards as youve clearly never seen prime holyfield or tyson.

"My time" consists of the likes of lewis, bowe, holyfield, ruddock etc and i genuinely would be hard pushed to name one of them that wladimir could beat.

I do completely believe however that wladimir would of been a tad too much for bruno ;D;D;D

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Yeah, Tyson was a monster. KTFO by Buster Douglas and Danny Williams. Wlad would intimidate Tyson before he ever stepped in the ring. Tyson is the most overrated fighter of all time. Do me a favor. Name one good fighter Tyson beat? Because there is a ton of tomato cans that beat him.

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Originally Posted by eagleskins

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Originally Posted by hattonthehammer

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Originally Posted by eagleskins

Wlad would destroy a prime Tyson. He would beat Holyfield. Him and Lewis would be a great fight. Everything else is before my time.

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Your time obviously being from 2003 onwards as youve clearly never seen prime holyfield or tyson.

"My time" consists of the likes of lewis, bowe, holyfield, ruddock etc and i genuinely would be hard pushed to name one of them that wladimir could beat.

I do completely believe however that wladimir would of been a tad too much for bruno ;D;D;D

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Yeah, Tyson was a monster. KTFO by Buster Douglas and Danny Williams. Wlad would intimidate Tyson before he ever stepped in the ring. Tyson is the most overrated fighter of all time. Do me a favor. Name one good fighter Tyson beat? Because there is a ton of tomato cans that beat him.

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Name a fighter Wladimir Klitschko has beaten, that is better than Michael Spinks ?