Quote Originally Posted by Lyle View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Taeth View Post
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 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.
Prime Ali v prime Wlad? only 1 winner and it aint Wlad. Prime Wlad v Ali post 1975? Its a 5/10er
Prime Holmes v Prime Wlad? Holmes by late KO
Prime Foreman v Prime Wlad? Foreman by early KO
Prime Tubbs,Thomas,Smith and the rest of the alphabet title holders of the 80s,90s and 2000s v Prime Wlad? Wlad to win 90% of them.
The reason why i say 90% is to allow for the odd one to slip through the net and score a knockout.
Im not being disrespectful to Wlad as hes a fine champion in his own right, its just that i dont find him as good as what some may do.
As for Holmes, and im not a Holmes nuthugger-in fact the opposite, i think your underestimating Holmes. Actually,im wrong, i dont think your underestimating Holmes, just his punch power and fantastic right hand (not just power,but precision and speed) and i think you just believe Wlad would beat him. Which is fair enough cos i see where your coming from. Again this is just my take on things. Feel free to rip me apart