Is Wladimir Klitschko a "Warrior" like Holyfield/Frazier/Marciano?

[SlimTrae]

Well he doesn't really have to be does he? His talent and technique keep him out of the battles those guys were in and those kinds of battles can really shorten a career.

What does it matter if he goes to war or not when he wins all the time? I just don't see the point of knit picking how Wlad fights, the point is to WIN and Wlad puts a check mark beside that in his fights....it's boxing, not rock'em sock'em robots, there's skill involved here.

Technically, you are right.

But he stands to retire like Floyd: someone who can be called a great boxer, but not a great fighter.

It's not about fighting till one gets brain damage, it's about having a legacy where fans can reminisce on his career with great stories to tell.

Not reminiscing on his statistics.

Can't disagree with you more! Boxers fight with what they have; intelligence, who they are inside, and the way they are trained. Many of them have a natural inclination to get right to it and bang away, most of them are inclined to hit and not be hit, some do both, and some don't want to be hit at all.
None of them are under any obligation to expose themselves to brain damage to keep the fans happy and reminiscing about the fights they've seen!
When your wife, lady friend, mother, or smart phone calls you at work to remind you of a doctor's appointment, do you think, "No way, cancel that damn thing. I want my co-workers, the boss, the stockholders, and my family to reminisce about the way I died on the f*cking job!" Piss on being a warrior, the race you want to win is outliving your enemies!
Marciano and Frazier would probably say they wish they could have fought the way Wald fights. One thing is sure, their careers would have been longer and easier.
I love a slug fest as much as the next person, but I'll be winching through the whole thing and absolutely not thinking this is the way boxing should be!

lol, I can't disagree with you enough (on this topic) as well.
But it's all good.

I agree with your take on boxers. But we have also concluded there are those called boxer-Punchers which aren't brawlers.


IMO Wlad doesn't fight because he wants to be smart in the ring. It's not his makeup. Not in him.

Ray Leonard is a good example of aboxer-puncher. knew how to box, but when he got his skills compromised, he knew how to bang. So.... Does he slurr today? Nope.

What about Julio Cesar Chavez? While I don't speak Spanish, I know stuttering and slurring when it's done.
JCC wasn't a club fighter, right? He was an inside banger who used subtle shit on the inside. Only a warrior could or would dare to fight in close. Too many risks. Remember how he took away Edwin Rosario offense, using his elbow and forearms to block then counter in close quarters.

Hopkins another boxer who can minimize the punches he takes by clinching just like Wlad or Lennox. All 3 over use the clinch. However, Lennox and Hop got junk yard dog inside them when needed. Neither guy today is punch drunk.

Pernell Whitaker master boxer who didn't rely on clinching to ...not get hit. It takes a brave hombre to stand in front of their foe and just make them miss.

I agree that a fighter shouldn't take punishment for the sake of it. But that isn't my argument. Mines Is in agreement with Brock. Wlad doesn't have it in him to fight.

Some guys like Arturro Gatti throw caution to the wind blow for blow toe to toe like Israel Vazquez vs Marquez. Or Provodnikov vs MathysseSome boxers will fight with a cautious approach

Some boxers live to entertain like Emanuel Augustus, so I disagree with you that (all) boxers should try to hit and not get hit.
I do agree with you that all boxers should use whatever skills, gifts they have.

That means whenever a boxer has their skill compromised, and claim clinching is all they got?
Cool. But don't call that a trait of a warrior anymore than to just stand and trade.
That's a crazy dude lol

Wlad again is a brave person for choosing a hurt game. But that doesn't make him a warrior. He ain't nothing close to a warrior.

Wlad clinches out of reflex, not as a pre determined act.