Would Wlad stick around for Wilder if the latter mows down another 2-3 top contenders

[TitoFan]

I don't think what Wilder does will influence Wlad one iota. Why would it ? Like Tam said he has stated that he wants to unify and while Wilder has that belt then that is the fight he will seek. You can call Wlad a lot of things but a bottler is not one of them. I f Wilder beats Fury then it would be no great shock. Below Wlad there is a big chasm



and then everyone else. Don't really understand your thinking on this one.

Elementary, my dear Watson.

Wlad has fought mostly a procession of mediocre, underachieving opponents.... who in all actuality have posed little threat to him. Povetkin was probably the lone exception as of late, and we all saw how Wlad treated Povetkin (aided by the generous ref).

If Wilder were to wipe out (emphasis on the wiping out part) Fury and another opponent, such as Arreola, who among the riff-raff are two of the more respectable opponents out there..... it would go a long way toward cementing Wilder's status as not just another hard hitting bum, but as a real threat to Wlad and his chin. Remember, Wilder's got the height and reach to match Wlad.

Wlad is already in what we'd call the twilight of his career. It's been a long, victory-filled career. So the thinking is... "Why chance it?" Why tempt fate for one more reach for the gold ring?

[walrus]

I think he'll stay. The guy is a rock. I was really down on him after the pov fight, it was almost disrespectful to boxing but I got over that and really appreciate the guy. I don't think he'll walk away if Wilder continues his winning ways. Perhaps this is more wishful thinking on my part as I would love to see the two fight. I'd love to see Wilder become the champ but Wlad knows how to win fights, even if it's a bit ugly in the process. An American heavyweight champ might give boxing a shot in the arm in the US.

[Beanflicker]

I don't think what Wilder does will influence Wlad one iota. Why would it ? Like Tam said he has stated that he wants to unify and while Wilder has that belt then that is the fight he will seek. You can call Wlad a lot of things but a bottler is not one of them. I f Wilder beats Fury then it would be no great shock. Below Wlad there is a big chasm



and then everyone else. Don't really understand your thinking on this one.

Elementary, my dear Watson.

Wlad has fought mostly a procession of mediocre, underachieving opponents.... who in all actuality have posed little threat to him. Povetkin was probably the lone exception as of late, and we all saw how Wlad treated Povetkin (aided by the generous ref).

If Wilder were to wipe out (emphasis on the wiping out part) Fury and another opponent, such as Arreola, who among the riff-raff are two of the more respectable opponents out there..... it would go a long way toward cementing Wilder's status as not just another hard hitting bum, but as a real threat to Wlad and his chin. Remember, Wilder's got the height and reach to match Wlad.

Wlad is already in what we'd call the twilight of his career. It's been a long, victory-filled career. So the thinking is... "Why chance it?" Why tempt fate for one more reach for the gold ring?

I'm starting to get the feeling you're not keen on the big guy

[TitoFan]

I don't think what Wilder does will influence Wlad one iota. Why would it ? Like Tam said he has stated that he wants to unify and while Wilder has that belt then that is the fight he will seek. You can call Wlad a lot of things but a bottler is not one of them. I f Wilder beats Fury then it would be no great shock. Below Wlad there is a big chasm



and then everyone else. Don't really understand your thinking on this one.

Elementary, my dear Watson.

Wlad has fought mostly a procession of mediocre, underachieving opponents.... who in all actuality have posed little threat to him. Povetkin was probably the lone exception as of late, and we all saw how Wlad treated Povetkin (aided by the generous ref).

If Wilder were to wipe out (emphasis on the wiping out part) Fury and another opponent, such as Arreola, who among the riff-raff are two of the more respectable opponents out there..... it would go a long way toward cementing Wilder's status as not just another hard hitting bum, but as a real threat to Wlad and his chin. Remember, Wilder's got the height and reach to match Wlad.

Wlad is already in what we'd call the twilight of his career. It's been a long, victory-filled career. So the thinking is... "Why chance it?" Why tempt fate for one more reach for the gold ring?

I'm starting to get the feeling you're not keen on the big guy

I give him his just dues. He's big, strong, athletic. He always keeps himself in shape, which in itself is a great accomplishment nowadays (I'm not much into big, blubbery heavyweights with man boobs). He's fought everyone they've put in front of him (not exactly his fault that the term "everyone" here includes a bunch of bums), and as far as I know he's never ducked anyone. He's an intelligent, well-spoken, articulate fighter... an excellent ambassador to the sport. (Again, I'd much rather hear Wlad speak, than the slurring Bowe or Toney). That's a lot of just dues, ain't it?

Howeverrrrr...........

What I've always held against Wlad is what a lot of fans hold against him, even if they don't voice it. Ever since the early knockout losses in his career, Wlad has completely adopted a style of fighting which emphasizes (and only emphasizes) protecting his chin above everything else. Before the chorus of "the point of boxing is to be hit without getting hit" begins..... let me point out that the whole premise of boxing is to actually engage the other guy and try to knock him out. If not, let's change the name of the game to shadowboxing and see who does it better in the ring. Protecting your chin can be your first priority. But when it becomes your ONLY priority, that's when many fans lose interest.

Wlad has had enough stinkers in his career that to me, it demonstrates that he'll use whatever means necessary to avoid getting his chin grazed. This includes pawing for 12 rounds, clutching, mauling, leaning on his opponents, fouling..... whatever. If it makes for an insufferable spectacle, so be it.

His opponents haven't helped the cause, either. Before Wlad, EVERY heavyweight champion you can imagine was taken into deep waters once or twice by an opponent wanting to fight and win.... not just to share a ring with the champion for 12 or 15 rounds. ..... and the champion has risen to the challenge, and put his stamp on his career. Yeah... so-and-so went down and was in trouble several times, but came back to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. We fans love our classic, epic battles. How many epic battles has Wlad been in?

Maybe if he hadn't suffered those embarrassing losses early in his career we would've seen a different Wlad throughout the years. A more exciting, engaging Wlad. His fanbase is pretty big now... but imagine how much more popular he would've been in the States. .... and to those who'll say Stateside fans won't get behind a European champion, think again. If I remember correctly, Lennox Lewis drew a lot more interest in the States than does Wlad. Lennox was a great champion, even though he too suffered a couple of KO losses. What did he do? He came back, better than before. ..... AND.... he came back to avenge his KO losses. Lennox didn't become a gun-shy, reluctant-to-engage champion, right?

So no.... although I give Wlad his just dues.... I'm not really that keen on the big guy.

[Beanflicker]

That's your right to not like Wlad, but...

" let me point out that the whole premise of boxing is to actually engage the other guy and try to knock him out"

...it has to be pointed out that Wlad has 53 KO's in 63 victories. Joe Louis had 52 KO's in 66 victories, for reference.

So if the whole premise of boxing is to engage and try to knock your opponent out, Wlad has done a better job of it than just about any HW champ outside of George Foreman. Technically, he has a higher KO percentage than Mike Tyson.

[TitoFan]

That's your right to not like Wlad, but...

" let me point out that the whole premise of boxing is to actually engage the other guy and try to knock him out"

...it has to be pointed out that Wlad has 53 KO's in 63 victories. Joe Louis had 52 KO's in 66 victories, for reference.

So if the whole premise of boxing is to engage and try to knock your opponent out, Wlad has done a better job of it than just about any HW champ outside of George Foreman. Technically, he has a higher KO percentage than Mike Tyson.

You're right, Bean. Stats are stats... and that one is right there to be seen. Notice I haven't once said Wlad isn't a great HW, nor that he shouldn't one day be in the HOF. My beef is strictly style-related... and I think Wlad, as great as he is, could've been so much more popular (especially in the U.S.), and maybe have risen a notch or two in the final assessment of the greatest HW's in history. For the reasons I stated before, it is my personal opinion that he's going to be slightly shortchanged in public opinion when all is said and done.

[Beanflicker]

That's cool. I'm not Wlad's PR guy so it's not my job to make people like the guy. I'm not a huge fan of him myself, I don't get excited for his fights like I would a Pacquaio, Kovalev, GGG, LEMIEUX, ect.

I just gotta give the guy his due: he doesn't get hit, and more often than not he closes the show on his opponent. Can't ask for much more from a guy.

[TitoFan]

Still...... what better way to close out a career than against a two-handed banger like Wilder.... IF..... and that's a huge IF..... Wilder develops into the kind of complete fighter nobody so far thinks he will be. 'Cause as opposed to the naysayers who will never give Wilder his due.... I give him full credit for his systematic dismantling of Bermane Stiverne. Two more of those showings, especially if Wilder is taken into the later rounds..... and I think we have a potential "cherry on the top" type of fight for Wladimir Klitschko.

[El Kabong]

My beef is strictly style-related... and I think Wlad, as great as he is, could've been so much more popular (especially in the U.S.), and maybe have risen a notch or two in the final assessment of the greatest HW's in history. For the reasons I stated before, it is my personal opinion that he's going to be slightly shortchanged in public opinion when all is said and done.

Is it more important to win fights or fans? Shortchanged in public opinion....yeah I'm sure that Wlad will cry himself to sleep every night on his bed of money which he shares with a young Hollywood actress....oh the horror that awaits him in retirement

Wlad was only ONE OF the Greats, not THE Greatest....he threw it all away because he wouldn't fight in a style that shortened his career and gave his opponents a better opportunity to beat him.....he just threw it all away

[Beanflicker]

Should be said too that Wlad doesn't really have the incentive to be more exciting that guys in America do, because he has a dedicated fan base in Germany where he'll make millions per fight and people will flock to the arenas to see him regardless of whether or not he fights in an exciting fashion or not. As far as I know the German's who go to see him aren't complaining and really they are the ones paying his salary, so what else can you do?

[TitoFan]

The sarcasm always comes out, don't it?

See below.

My beef is strictly style-related... and I think Wlad, as great as he is, could've been so much more popular (especially in the U.S.), and maybe have risen a notch or two in the final assessment of the greatest HW's in history. For the reasons I stated before, it is my personal opinion that he's going to be slightly shortchanged in public opinion when all is said and done.

Is it more important to win fights or fans? Shortchanged in public opinion....yeah I'm sure that Wlad will cry himself to sleep every night on his bed of money which he shares with a young Hollywood actress....oh the horror that awaits him in retirement

As a boxing fan who presumably enjoys action-filled, exciting fights..... does it really matter to you one way or another whether Wlad has a bed of money or that he shares it with a young Hollywood actress? It's not like you're getting a commission..... Most of us couldn't give a rat's ass what Wlad's lifestyle is, or will be after he retires. I only care about the way he fights.


Wlad was only ONE OF the Greats, not THE Greatest....he threw it all away because he wouldn't fight in a style that shortened his career and gave his opponents a better opportunity to beat him.....he just threw it all away

Again..... are those my only two choices? Fight like a scared deer, protecting that glass chin...... or rush in recklessly in a way that will shorten his career?? So there's nothing in the middle?? Hmmm..... this boxing sport is weird, ain't it?

Arguments with you are fine, until you start treading that ridiculousness line.
Then it all goes to shit.

[Ron Swanson]

So here we have a man that through hard word, intelligence and discipline has made himself into the best boxer in the world. I know many will say "but Floyd Mayweather...." But to put Floyd in the same ring you have to use all these magical qualifiers. Nuts and bolts, there is not a man on this planet that Wlad Klitschko isn't favored significantly over right now if they step into a ring.so he is the best.

And boxing fans think it is reasonable to say "yes, this is the best boxer on this planet, his style beats any other man that gets inthe ring, but I don't like how it looks so he should fight different". It's absolutely amazing what a person can convince themself is reasonable.

[Master]

Pride alone would mean Wlad would stay and make sure he beats Wilder because everyone will think he was scared at the first genuine opponent as champion.

[El Kabong]

Pride alone would mean Wlad would stay and make sure he beats Wilder because everyone will think he was scared at the first genuine opponent as champion.

[El Kabong]

If Wladimir was afraid of losing/getting knocked out, then he would have retired after the Brewster loss instead of going after the most dangerous power punching heavyweight on the rise at the time (Sam Peter). No Deontay Wilder is not anything like Sam Peter style wise, but he's young, he's on the rise, he's got big power, and he's undefeated.....much like a lot of the guys on Wlad's record already.

If it makes you feel better to HOPE for Wlad to retire that's fine, but he will unify, he will fight Wilder, and Wlad will win by KO...I don't need a crystal ball to know that will happen.