Landmine: I actually did really enjoy your 2nd response (other than quoting me out of context in large bold type, which thankfully someone else called you out on almost immediately, so I guess it was pretty obvious).

I will say, and this may have been evident in the blog post itself, that I am only about 60/40 on this. I appreciate that you are 100% and as I said, I agree with you 100% in 2003. Things may have changed since then; I think they probably have. Would I be nervous holding a betting slip on Klitschko to make it to 12 rounds in a rematch against any of the guys who dropped him before ... or even a fat and faded David Tua for that matter? Hell, yes. But in the end he won that fight against Peter in 2005, which bears remembering and may have had some implications about the direction in which he is headed. We shall see. It will be fun to watch, at the very least.

As to whether he is a great natural athlete like Byrd or Toney, he is obviously far taller, bigger (at least by lean weight), and stronger than those guys. Those are athletic gifts as well and they matter a great deal in the heavyweight division. When you take everything into account, he's a pretty gifted fighter physically.

If he hasn't got true KO power, then tell Chris Byrd. I hear you already, he's not a true heavyweight. Well, he's been one of the top guys in the division for a while now. None of us are happy about it, that's just how it is. Also tell Ray Mercer, who may have been 40 when they fought, but is a skilled defensive fighter well-known for his chin. That fight was one of the most overwhelming beatings I've ever seen laid on anybody.

Speaking of which -- I realize I 'm out on a limb here, but I'll stand by my "one of the greatest offensive fighters ever" comment. Size, range, power (I say), skill, and accuracy. He's not George Foreman, but he ain't Jameel McCline either. He will land lots of good punches on anybody in the division and if you don't get him out of there before a decision that you will not win, then there's a pretty good chance he'll get you.

It's true I ignore the belts. They deserve to be ignored at this stage. I doubt you disagree, really. Shannon Briggs? Oleg Maskaev? I won't waste my breath. Wlad would destroy Valuev. The guy doesn't have the power to KO him--even if he hasn't improved a bit since 2005--and there is no comparison in terms of skill. And this from someone who thought Valuev was underrated for a long time before he (kind of) won a "major" belt.

Tell Mrs. Landmine not to worry about me! I'll be over next Thursday like always... hehe.