Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr 2 - Brit to return to New York’s Madison Square Garden

**TitoFan** · 06-26-2019 05:42 AM

C'mon Lyle....... we both know "Rainman" was looking for a place to land softly since he stepped into the ring. He's one of those who entered the ring like a lamb being led to slaughter. Hardly a competitive heavyweight. Schwartz looked like Mike Tyson, Ali, and Joe Louis all rolled into one, in comparison with the crappy "effort" Austin turned in that night.

You and I are going to continue to disagree on Wlad's parade of opponents, but I remember the Sultan, Povetkin, and Haye fights all too well. Sultan's feared left loomed over their entire fight, which in effect was little more than a pawing contest, to see who could paw the longest. Povetkin presented a real threat to Wlad, so Wlad resorted to the most outrageous display of grappling, fouling, and just throwing himself on the opponents back that I have ever had the misfortune of seeing.

You'll see boxing prowess in the Povetkin fight. I'll see a disgraceful display of wrestling the likes of which I never care to see again. And don't even get me going on the Fury fight. Wlad threw 4 punches a round!!!!! Fury didn't win that fight. Wlad lost it by practically waving the white flag from the start. He let Fury get into his head like I've never seen any fighter get into another's head before.

I give Wlad Sam Peter. I'll willingly give Wlad credit for ANY fight where the opponent came to fight and Wlad just outFOUGHT him ("fought" being the operative word here). In fact, even in a loss (to Joshua), I give Wlad all the credit in the world. He finally fights like a heavyweight champion, only to have the young gun outgun him. Did WONDERS for the heavyweight division.

Remember..... boxing can't exist without fans. The heavyweight division was dying during Wlad's reign. Fans were being turned off by the droves. And it wasn't a "well.... Wlad isn't American" thing. I'd bet the American public would've gotten behind any nationality champion that would've given them what they crave. The Ali-Fraziers, the Holmes-Nortons, even now the Wilder-Furys. It's too bad Fury went and fought a human punching bag after Wilder..... but here's holding out hope that they have the rematch.

El Kabong · 06-26-2019 06:16 AM

If fans were turned off to the division in droves why all the filled seats then? Comped tickets for everyone

60K worth of comped tickets?

The guy was a great boxer it's the only reason he held the titles for as long as he did. He couldn't have done it otherwise. And yes he fought SMART to a fault at times...Sultan, Povetkin, Haye were looking to score 1 big shot and follow up and Wlad snuffed out every single chance they worked for themselves. Boring to you perhaps, but it takes skill to have a professional fighter unable/unwilling to let the hands go due to footwork, ring generalship, and yes a bending of the rules (all great fighters bend the rules).

Sultan was a shifty SOB and NOBODY had an easy time with him. He had a draw with Ray Austin and other than that the only other blemish on his career was a loss to Wlad where Wlad pitched a shutout. Sultan fought Evander Holyfield and yeah Evander was almost 45 at the time, but he was still no pushover as after that Evander fought Valuev (and got robbed on the cards by the way). As for Evander's thoughts on Sultan "It was a great fight. He got the decision and I have to go back to the drawing board," Holyfield said. "He's a left-handed fighter, and moves a lot. I did the best that I could with the style that he had."....and that's ABSOLUTE LEGEND Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield saying that.

Povetkin catches hell because of his propensity to never fight outside of Europe and his ability to fail the odd drug test. Overlooking that he is a tough fighter too! It took a prime Anthony Joshua 7 rounds to stop a 38 year old Povetkin not the one Wlad fought. And yet again Wlad pretty much pitched a shutout.

As for Haye Wlad told everyone he was going to take Haye 12 for all the bullshit he spouted and also post fight Wlad said "He was very cautious", said Klitschko afterward. "He was very difficult to hit. Just like Ibragimov. I really didn't get challenged in the ring offensively. You know, like 'Let's fight!'. Instead he was like all of them, like all of my recent opponents. I would have loved to have celebrated my 50th knockout." so there you have it.

but we'll never agree on that.

I notice you don't mention Pulev...why? Wlad crushed that dude

**TitoFan** · 06-26-2019 07:03 AM

Pulev came to fight. Wlad displayed awesome offense in that fight. Thus, Pulev belongs in this group.