Wlad Only Has Two Punches...

[El Kabong]

Well in all due respect, nobody knew how Ruslan would respond when hurt...he could react as most fighters do and tie up or get on the bike, but he COULD have responded like a Miguel Cotto and just went off and Wladimir is smart enough to realize that and there is very significant danger in jumping on a hurt fighter when they aren't ready to go....look how Lamon Brewster responded after Wlad threw everything at him.

Wladimir is a smart fighter and he keeps getting KO's so it doesn't really matter how he goes about getting them does it? He gets the KO, he dominates the fight, and he avoids major risk....he's very smart and because of that he's going to be very hard to beat.

I feel bad for whoever fights him next, he seems very pissed off at David Haye and I think he's going to take it out on whoever is infront of him be it Povetkin, Arreola, Haye or Valuev.

[Howlin Mad Missy]

You don't need to use more than two punches if your opponent is landing zero punches.

Your right he doesnt need to. But thats what separates good fighters from great fighters. Mike Tyson didnt need to knock almost all his opponents out either, he could have pummeled them to a decision, but that would hurt his status as a fighter imo. Wlad can keep doing what hes doing and get in the HOF but its in a less than immpressive way imo. Thats why I couldnt rate him up there with the ATGs.

It's difficult to compare. I can appreciate the attitude of why make a fight any harder than it needs to be? - so he uses the jab, footwork and the occasional right hand.

He has imposed his game plan, his will on the opponent. It's up them to make him change.

It is a skill to be that controlling, more considered that charging across the ring looking to knock someones head of like Tyson

Anyone else notice how often Wlad stood on his foot whilst delivering punches? It's the reason Chagaev got knocked down.

That's a skill - you know you're doing it.

[Slowmotion426]

Wlad brings out a fuller range of punches when necessary. He adapts to his opponnent and uses what works. He's the best.

[USA LOVES THE KLITSCHKOS]

Wlad has a lot of tools and he brings them all but he uses the one that he feels fits the job.

[littlebif]

Wlad has a lot of tools and he brings them all but he uses the one that he feels fits the job.

He brings the jab and the odd right hand.It does get the job done though.There must be a heavyweight out there that will make him fight, slip the jab and throw combinations that would give Wlad fits.Haye has the speed but not sure if he will be able to get past the jab.

[Hulk]

He may be the best heavyweight in the world in terms of wins and on paper, but he only has two punches. A good jab, and a great right hand. His hook that he throws from time to time, is one of the worst ive ever seen from a champion. Its a wide slap that he puts nothing behind and doesnt turn into. He doesnt throw uppercuts either. Also, I think is worth mentioning that he threw not one punch to the body. Not one. Look, he should stay on the outside and keep him at the end of his punches, but when you are leading so much in a fight and you have hurt the guy over and over and have the power to stop him, you have to throw more than one two, one two. I just dont think he has anything else. Yes he wins fights, yes he is physically gifter, but he is not as complete a fighter as many make him out to be.

I noticed all of that as well. I would argue though that his hook is not bad.
So he's got 3 punches.

And he NEVER goes to the body. You know why? Cus when you go to the body you leave your head open and he's not about to do that.

Wlad is content to jab his opponent to death until he quits on his stool. Thats how he's been winning lately.

And its not all that exciting to watch.

[Conrad]

Just got back from Dusseldorf myself after flying out for the fight. Although I ended up geting wasted in an Irish Bar and never actually bothered going to the fight, so watched it in the bar. (Met Hatton in said bar day after the fight too, got my pic with him. Ricky Fatton is back belive me! )

The sentiment in here pretty much reflects how I feel about Wlad. Considering the sheer size of the man I just couldn't believe how scared he was to impose himself. Even after he knocked Ruslan down he went straight back to his cautious one two one two. He was repetitive and a bore to watch. Both myself and all the other brits in the pub who hadn't bothered to go to the fight agreed that it was a good decision to give the fight a miss.

I was hugely skeptical of Haye having a chance against Wlad but now I'm more convinced he can beat him. Haye has the athleticism and movement to get underneath that jab and the power to put Wlad down.

[Myk_Myk]

Only 2? What does that say about the heavyweights who cannot figure him out?

They are either too small or too lazy. Hes just so big and strong that everything usually goes out the window when he lands the first right hand. He also knows his range very well, I give him credit for that and his timing.

It seems so weird to me when Vlad fights these shorter guys. The best analogy I have to compare him to a snake charmer. Once he starts popping them in the face with that hard jab, after backing off a couple of times, they start to fall into a pattern of just standing there right in the range of it and his right! Byrd, Ibragimov, Chagaev, and I can't remember if Rahman at least tried moved to around and give angles.

The taller guys it makes more sense that they have to go after him more or less on the same terms, but time and again I expect these smaller guys to dip in, get inside, turn Vlad, and use angles. Instead they just stand right at the end of his punches and get hammered!

[mofo2]

We can debate wether WLAD has only 2 punches..but for me the bigger picture is his workrate in fights.

He does'nt bring the fight to his opponents who struggle with his power quickly enough..He has'nt the killer instinct to press fighters who are hurting with the jab and the straight right we are discussing.

You only need to look at Chagaev...he was struggling from the 1st round with the strength of the shots landing, but he never applied any sustained power to take him out of there early.

There are so many debates about fighters taking on opponents in their prime from various era's and for me Wlad does himself no favours in winning over the doubters who think he has'nt the ability to beat any of the real HW Greats! He's lethargic and slow and does'nt inspire and is limited in ability,he's the best out there at the moment but against a HW that has good lateral movement,boxing skills and power he's fucked!!

STEP IN DAVID HAYE

[El Kabong]

I noticed all of that as well. I would argue though that his hook is not bad.
So he's got 3 punches.

And he NEVER goes to the body. You know why? Cus when you go to the body you leave your head open and he's not about to do that.

Wlad is content to jab his opponent to death until he quits on his stool. Thats how he's been winning lately.

And its not all that exciting to watch.

#1 He doesn't go to the body because he's 6'6 and he was fighting a guy who is 6'1, also if he is able to land AT WILL to the head then why bother?

#2 What boxer dead or alive wouldn't love to be able to dominate an opponent in such a simple fashion Wlad barely got touched and this is BOXING we're talking about "hit and don't get hit" so why all the hate?

Just because a guy is big doesn't mean he has to be a wild beast when he steps into the ring, infact, history tells us that the bigger they are usually the more cautious, the more controlling, and the more skilled you are then you'll have the better career than a big slugger who just throws punches all willy nilly....look at Michael Grant, Primo Carnera, and hell even a good big slugger like Gerry Cooney...if those guys could have boxed better then don't you think they would have had better careers Yes Wladimir IS an all-around fighter, he can knock you out with 1 punch and he can dominate you all fight long with his boxing skill and athletic ability....what more do you want other than that you want Wladimir to fight flaws first....run head on into danger and then see what happens and #1 That's the dumbest shit ever and #2 In doing that he's giving up all his best attributes and advantages and #3 That's not boxing.

Would you ask anyone else to give up their best attributes in a fight?? Would you tell Cotto to fight like Willie Pep? Would you tell Ali to load up on his punches and throw one punch at a time while walking down his opponent No! so why ask Wladimir to do something NOBODY with his skill sets would ever fucking do??

Also I can tell you David Haye has NO chance, I would say he has a puncher's chance but I doubt he even has that...it's going to be hard for David to even get a shot at Wladimir now....he's talked too much and come through with too little and Haye will get beaten by an average to club level heavyweight before then anyway

[Hulk]

I noticed all of that as well. I would argue though that his hook is not bad.
So he's got 3 punches.

And he NEVER goes to the body. You know why? Cus when you go to the body you leave your head open and he's not about to do that.

Wlad is content to jab his opponent to death until he quits on his stool. Thats how he's been winning lately.

And its not all that exciting to watch.

#1 He doesn't go to the body because he's 6'6 and he was fighting a guy who is 6'1, also if he is able to land AT WILL to the head then why bother?

#2 What boxer dead or alive wouldn't love to be able to dominate an opponent in such a simple fashion Wlad barely got touched and this is BOXING we're talking about "hit and don't get hit" so why all the hate?

Just because a guy is big doesn't mean he has to be a wild beast when he steps into the ring, infact, history tells us that the bigger they are usually the more cautious, the more controlling, and the more skilled you are then you'll have the better career than a big slugger who just throws punches all willy nilly....look at Michael Grant, Primo Carnera, and hell even a good big slugger like Gerry Cooney...if those guys could have boxed better then don't you think they would have had better careers Yes Wladimir IS an all-around fighter, he can knock you out with 1 punch and he can dominate you all fight long with his boxing skill and athletic ability....what more do you want other than that you want Wladimir to fight flaws first....run head on into danger and then see what happens and #1 That's the dumbest shit ever and #2 In doing that he's giving up all his best attributes and advantages and #3 That's not boxing.

Would you ask anyone else to give up their best attributes in a fight?? Would you tell Cotto to fight like Willie Pep? Would you tell Ali to load up on his punches and throw one punch at a time while walking down his opponent No! so why ask Wladimir to do something NOBODY with his skill sets would ever fucking do??

Also I can tell you David Haye has NO chance, I would say he has a puncher's chance but I doubt he even has that...it's going to be hard for David to even get a shot at Wladimir now....he's talked too much and come through with too little and Haye will get beaten by an average to club level heavyweight before then anyway

#1. Wlad fights like a big pussy.

#2. Are Bonita Fish big?

#3. Why did you take me out of your top friends on myspace!?

[Kel]

The fight was boring and I ain't a Wlad fan but you have to blame Chagaev for not giving Wlad a reason to use more than two punches. Chagaev was coming in straight so that's all Wlad had to deal with.

[Howlin Mad Missy]

Wlad brings out a fuller range of punches when necessary. He adapts to his opponnent and uses what works. He's the best.

That is one ugly av.

[Pugilistic]

Wlad only really uses his jab and right hand because he doesn't have to use any other punches. He's so dominant with them.

he also has a good left hook, i would like if he used it more often though.

I would also like to see him work an opponents body, he could of taken out alot of guys sooner if he went downstairs sometimes.

[Majesty]

The fight was boring and I ain't a Wlad fan but you have to blame Chagaev for not giving Wlad a reason to use more than two punches. Chagaev was coming in straight so that's all Wlad had to deal with.

No offense. But it's kind of a dumb mentality to save punches for when another fighter gives you reason to use them.

Which sounds better "well he is giving me all these openings but im gonna not take them and wait for him to hurt me before I use any other punches" or "he is giving me all these openings, I'm gonna exploit them now and get him out of there"

It's not that the openings weren't there, but the fact some fans are trying to defend Wladimer by saying he should be forced to use other punches is a little dumb because it makes no sense to wait until you are hurt to remember you had a left hook. Chances are once a fighter finds a way inside Wladimer's jab the rest of his offense isn't going to mean much. So why not just get them out there the instant the openings are there instead of delaying it .