Next for Wlad

[El Kabong]

Lyle, what I keep going back to with Wlad, and I realize we've discussed this before, but is his lack of inside game. Your response was in part (correct me if I misquote you) that it's irrelevant because Wlad never has to work on the inside because he's so good with range and because of his long reach. That's true against the bum of the month club like Mormeck. Yet, even Mormeck got inside in the first round a few times, but he just didn't know what to do once there. With a one of the great heavyweights of the past, a fighter that knew how to get on the inside and what to do when there, and a referee that took points away for excessive clinching, I believe Wlad would struggle. Now, Clearly, Wlad is a great fighter and could compete in many eras, but I question whether some of the other great heavyweights of yesteryear wouldn't be able to get inside and tear Wlad up. That's the only reason why I am not sure I agree with you on how high Wlad should be on the all-time great list.

Mike Tyson said pretty much the same thing to the Wall Street Journal about his strategy. Here is what he had to say: "You have to fight Klitschko like Joe Frazier or Henry Armstrong. Come in behind the jab. Move your head all the time. Get inside and stay there. And when he misses, make him pay with devestating counter punches." "It would be very physical."

Well the way I see it is the manner in which Wladimir clinches, he's looking for the ref to break them and create space, well if an opponent initiated the clinch, then broke it and hit off the break (something which is KIND OF illegal but what I call a "bendable rule") THAT is how you get Wlad in trouble because he will be looking to tie up, if you push off his defense will be out of position and you can connect with 2-3 free shots, maybe 1 of which will have true power. You'll have to keep from smothering your attack AND make sure you don't wipe out your stamina doing this because as Tyson said "It would be very physical".

Face facts, it's just hard to beat them even without their inside fighting...in fact I will venture to say Wlad's athletic ability, physical size, and UNWILLINGNESS to fight on the inside has made him damn near unbeatable to the other fighters in the division. Fighting on the inside is counter intuitive to the basic boxing rules of using your height and reach...he's very smart to keep the fight at range.

[Master]

Thompson gave a survival performance last time, just because he managed to survive that long does not mean he should deserve to fight next. I would much prefer to see another young fresh heavyweight challenger.