Quote Originally Posted by Taeth View Post
I look back at previous heavyweights, and I struggle to find very many heavyweights over the history of the sport that would have been these two at their best.

I think they would have steam rolled Frazier, Marciano, Patterson, Liston, Louis, Foreman. I see absolutley no way how these guys could get in on guys taller and stronger than them with that kind of jab.

I don't think Holmes and Ali's moving on the outside styles would be super effective because at least Wlad who is always in balance would walk them down with his jab.

Norton might present problems for Wlad because he is awkward, but Vitali would destroy.

Honestly besides Lennox Lewis I can't think of a fighter who even in their prime I would give a better than 50/50 chance against these brothers.

I also find it insulting or ignorant to say Wlad hasn't fought quality opposition in the last little run Ibragimov, Chagaev, Peter(at the time), Byrd, Brock, Chambers, and the list goes on were all highly competent fighters. But Wlad has great timing and highly underrated speed, and I can't think of a punch in the history of the heavyweight division that landed more consistently than Wlad's jab, and that jab lands like most heavyweights crosses.
Strong Post. And I agree with most of it. The skills of the Klitschkos are underrated.

I disagree with Lyle about HBO's business reasons for not airing every Klitschko fight. The truth is most casual fans of boxing are Latino and the heavyweight division, other than Arreola, lacks any recognizable Latinos. Recall HBO aired the Arreola heavyweight title fight with Vitali and the Arreola v. Adamek fight and for that matter, most recent Arreola fights. To get the casual fan to tune in and get your ratings up, you need either a Latino heavyweight or opponents that are more recognizable to the casual fan - Haye or Adamek (if he wins) v. the Klitschko's WILL be on HBO. Guaranteed. Two Russians just doesn't excited the American masses even if they happen to be the best heavyweights out there. But, that's no jab at the Klitschko's because they do their thing to perfection and can't be beat, it just means their wins may not make it to american tv.

Would I have tuned in to see the Povetkin fight? Of course.

And I have to agree with Hitman that Wlad needs to make his fights more exciting even if it means exposing himself to more danger if you want to see them on american television more often. It wouldn't hurt for him to knock his opponent out before the 7th round here and there and it's not like he can't do it. He dominates them.