When has Wlad taken a flush shot and survived? (Post video clips)

[Rantcatrat]

All boxers take punches in a fight but Wlad has perfected his style so that he does not get hit cleanly which is the name of the game. It is for the opponent to test Wlad’s chin and if they can not get to it and expose it then that is their fault and not Walds.

"Style" being the operative word here.
In Wlad's case, "style" is synonymous with "petrified avoidance of meaningful exchanges."

Isn't it a bit of a double standard to describe Wlad's defense as "petrified avoidance of meaningful exchanges," yet describe other defensive fighters as having great defense?

The point of boxing is to hit and not be hit. If Wlad hasn't been hit flush in 8 years, doesn't that just mean he is very effective at his craft? He's not ever in grand ole' toss ups, like Golovkin, but he works with his strengths and minimizes his weaknesses, as good as anyone in the ring today.

@Rantcatrat, there's a fine line between being a defensive genius, and being downright scared of getting your chin touched. Defensive geniuses evade or block punches, and many times come right back with a counterpunch. There's a purpose behind the defense. You can see it in the boxer's body language. Let's go down a few weight divisions. Whitaker and Benitez were defensive wizards (much as Floyd is also). They artfully dodged the opponents' shots, but never looked scared or out of control. Their opponents weren't scared of them either, so most of the time they were on the offensive.

Wlad, maybe because he's been KO'ed several times, fights like he's deathly afraid of getting that chin tagged. He makes fights boring, because he's unwilling to pull the trigger when the opponent is there to be had. Exhibit A: the Sultan fight. That was possibly the worst HW fight in the history of boxing. Sultan unwilling to throw meaningful shots at Wlad... and Wlad pawing at Sultan, wary of the left hand. All frigging 12 rounds long. The very few times Wlad does get tagged, he seems out of control. His eyes widen as if to say: "Oh no... here we go again."

So no... I don't think it's a double standard at all. IMO, of course.

There is a difference in the method of defense. I agree there is more skill involved with Locche's, Benvenuti's, or Floyd's defense. But, at its most elemental, defense means avoiding attack. The motivation behind both is to avoid punches. Both have the same result. Do you think Floyd's defense is for a different purpose? Wlad uses his natural advantages, length and reach, as his defense.

The point is that it is EFFECTIVE. Few have been able to penetrate it in 8 years.

As you saw in my other post, my friend, Wlad isn't going to win any "chin" contests. He also can't fight on the inside if you want to criticize him. But, he's developed a style that is damn effective, albeit boring at times.