
Originally Posted by
Majesty

Originally Posted by
Bilbo
Why does he need an excuse though? He's the universally recognised heavyweight champion of the world, he makes millions and has a massive massive fanbase in Europe, Germany and the Ukraine especially.
As long as he keeps winning, doesn't get hurt and keeps his health what more does he want?
The onus isn't on him to change its on his opposition to work out an effective gameplan and beat him.
Why moan at Wlad for winning, and not Chagaev, Rahman, Thompson, Ibragimov, Austin etc for not offering him any challenge?
Because there is no challenge in the heavyweight division. Look at the list of names.
I don't bash Wladimer for winning I bash him for winning the way he does against people he has every advantage over and should be knocking out.
How did Rahman last even as long as he did against him? Rahman has been done for the last 5 years. And how did Rahman, or Thompson or Austin even get a shot at Wladimer?
Like I said its a division where its not about fighting the best its about fighting the most popular and right now no one at heavyweight is popular. The guy that gets the most press up there is someone who is a Cruiserweight(David Haye) and Arreola who obviously isn't ready for the step up at this point. Even when Mike Tyson had a weak heavyweight division he steamrolled through them all because he could. Wladimer for all intents and purposes should steamroll everyone he fights.
Why doesnt he?
Rahman got a shot because he was last minute replacement, he wasn't who Klitschko was supposed to be fighting. Thompson totally deserved his shot, he had won an eliminator by travelling to Germany and knocking out Krusneqi. Austin was a shit opponent granted, but Ibragimov and Chagaev were the other world champs so what more do you expect they can't exactly fight better opposition when it doesn't exist.
Haye was seen as a big challenge but he pulled out not Wlads fault and he still fought the best possible alternative in Chagaev even though he has hepititis, personally I'd have avoided him on those grounds and brought in Oleg Maskaev.
As for Tyson destroying opponents well that was his style. I don't understand your apparent inconsistency here either. You long defended Cory Spinks against Larry Merchant when he ridiculed his performance against Jermain Taylor as you said Spinks was fighting a smart gameplan to his strengths and giving himself the best (perhaps only) chance of winning the fight.
Well several years ago Wlad was wild and destructive and did throw caution to the wind, with the result that he got sparked 3 times!
Now he's doing exactly what Cory Spinks does (at least before his legs went), box clever and minimise the risks. He has a dominating jab that he can effectively neutralize his opponents with so he makes use of it, and thus protects his chin.
You say he should use his physical advantages but isn't that EXACTLY what he is doing? He has the height and length to control his fights from a distance and not risk getting drawn into a brawl.
Tyson was the complete opposite, a small short armed ball of fire with lighting speed and reactions and devasting power. So he got inside with his head movement and fucked them up.
Wlad uses his physical assets to dominate from a distance. He's still stopping all of the guys he fights, only Ibragimov has gone the distance since Sam Peter and his style is clearly working for him so why in the world would he change it?
As I said before it's a puzzle for the other heavyweights to figure out. By all means you can root for him to lose and say he's boring but he's not going to change and risk losing to please you and nor should he.
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