Wladimir Klitschko: Who would he beat?

[El Kabong]

OK I'm going to be honest about a few things here

#1 If Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster got to fight more of the top tier fighters they would have been much more impressive fighters. They are still solid fighters, granted for a short period of time but Sanders was a threat to anyone who set foot in the ring with him, and nobody can argue that.

#2 If you look at the skill set of Wladimir Klitschko you will see he's built to beat a fighter "like" Tyson...could he keep his composure under Tyson's attack maybe not, but Wlad has everything you need to beat Tyson.

I think Wlad could have handled anyone considered 2nd tier in the era's of Ali, Holmes, Lewis, Tyson, Holyfield.....and I think personally he would have beaten Riddick Bowe (5 out of 10 times as previously stated) because as great as the guy fought, he never once faced a power puncher, and he didn't use his physical attributes to his advantage.

You guys also need to acknowledge that Wladimir Klitschko has fought more southpaws than any other heavyweight champion has had to. That's a very difficult thing to ask, Ali to my knowledge only fought 1, I'm not sure if Lewis fought any or even Tyson for that matter.

And to answer your question ICB Wladimir's never fought anyone on Spink's level because he's never even thought of fighting a light heavyweight much less considering such a fight to be an accomplishment. But to be totally honest I don't see Chris Byrd as any different than Spinks, he was just a full time heavyweight instead of being a light heavyweight first.

[rjj tszyu]

OK I'm going to be honest about a few things here

#1 If Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster got to fight more of the top tier fighters they would have been much more impressive fighters. They are still solid fighters, granted for a short period of time but Sanders was a threat to anyone who set foot in the ring with him, and nobody can argue that.

#2 If you look at the skill set of Wladimir Klitschko you will see he's built to beat a fighter "like" Tyson...could he keep his composure under Tyson's attack maybe not, but Wlad has everything you need to beat Tyson.

I think Wlad could have handled anyone considered 2nd tier in the era's of Ali, Holmes, Lewis, Tyson, Holyfield.....and I think personally he would have beaten Riddick Bowe (5 out of 10 times as previously stated) because as great as the guy fought, he never once faced a power puncher, and he didn't use his physical attributes to his advantage.

You guys also need to acknowledge that Wladimir Klitschko has fought more southpaws than any other heavyweight champion has had to. That's a very difficult thing to ask, Ali to my knowledge only fought 1, I'm not sure if Lewis fought any or even Tyson for that matter.

And to answer your question ICB Wladimir's never fought anyone on Spink's level because he's never even thought of fighting a light heavyweight much less considering such a fight to be an accomplishment. But to be totally honest I don't see Chris Byrd as any different than Spinks, he was just a full time heavyweight instead of being a light heavyweight first.

I'll agree he has the tools to beat Tyson, but I think i'd go with prime Tyson to beat current Wlad due to his brilliant head movement, that would get him past the jab IMO and Tysons power once he did get in. Then again Douglas didn't have a great chin (look at what Evander did to it) and he got by Tyson and used his jab well.

All in all though i'd go with prime Tyson!

[El Kabong]

generalbulldog, I have been known to question the greatness of Ali, but I always give him respect. As for what I said about Chris Byrd....
Ali
Height: 6'3
Weight: 212
Reach: 80"

Wlad
Height: 6'7
Weight:243
Reach: 81"

4 inches, 30 pounds, 1" in reach...Ali never came across a fighter like that and any power Ali had came from his speed and accumulation of damage/fatigue on his opponent. Chris Byrd was a big stretch, but who has Wlad fought that was a skilled boxer, had little KO power, fast hands, and a very solid chin? Chris Byrd. Am I saying Ali would get his ass kicked like Chris Byrd ? no (I may have been 4 years ago, but not right now), I'm saying Ali would be undersized and out gunned...not that he wasn't used to that but he may have been used to that bigger person in the ring lacking in technical boxing skill and this would not be the case if they fought. However improbable it is to consider Wlad winning this fight it's not impossible.

I'll agree he has the tools to beat Tyson, but I think i'd go with prime Tyson to beat current Wlad due to his brilliant head movement, that would get him past the jab IMO and Tysons power once he did get in. Then again Douglas didn't have a great chin (look at what Evander did to it) and he got by Tyson and used his jab well.

All in all though i'd go with prime Tyson!

But you do see it's not crazy to think Wlad has a shot vs Tyson and that's all I'm saying.

[sumkalambay]

Lyle you obviously don't know anything about Tyson because he's the worst possible match-up for Wlad. He'd beat up Wlad so badly it would be nasty to watch. Tyson had more technical skill in his left pinky than Wlad has in his entire arsenal.

[El Kabong]

Lyle you obviously don't know anything about Tyson because he's the worst possible match-up for Wlad. He'd beat up Wlad so badly it would be nasty to watch. Tyson had more technical skill in his left pinky than Wlad has in his entire arsenal.

I know Mike Tyson got rocked by Bruno, Bonecrusher Smith, Buster Douglas, and Holyfield...all of which we can assume that don't hit as hard as Wladimir.

I know Tyson had trouble with Tony Tucker, Buster Douglas, and Lennox Lewis all of whom were tall lanky boxer/punchers

I mean I get where you are coming from it could be like Tyson-Golota but it could just as easily be like Tyson-Douglas.

Yes Mike had great head movement he cut off the run really well but in hindsight he didn't work all that great on the inside, he allowed for fighters to tie him up, he could get stymied by the jab alone, and the longer you lasted with him the less likely Tyson was to win.

I know no one Wlad has fought has had Tyson-esque head movement but a lot of guys have just stopped looking for a win and started looking for a way out after a few rounds of eating that jab.

It's not a sure thing either way is all I am saying I'd say 60-40 out of 100 fights Tyson-Wlad. That's not unreasonable is it? I mean it may be unreasonable to the people who think Tyson could beat anyone ever in the history of but hey I'm just trying to be reasonable here

[jon09]

Lyle you obviously don't know anything about Tyson because he's the worst possible match-up for Wlad. He'd beat up Wlad so badly it would be nasty to watch. Tyson had more technical skill in his left pinky than Wlad has in his entire arsenal.

I know Mike Tyson got rocked by Bruno, Bonecrusher Smith, Buster Douglas, and Holyfield...all of which we can assume that don't hit as hard as Wladimir.

I know Tyson had trouble with Tony Tucker, Buster Douglas, and Lennox Lewis all of whom were tall lanky boxer/punchers

I mean I get where you are coming from it could be like Tyson-Golota but it could just as easily be like Tyson-Douglas.

Yes Mike had great head movement he cut off the run really well but in hindsight he didn't work all that great on the inside, he allowed for fighters to tie him up, he could get stymied by the jab alone, and the longer you lasted with him the less likely Tyson was to win.

I know no one Wlad has fought has had Tyson-esque head movement but a lot of guys have just stopped looking for a win and started looking for a way out after a few rounds of eating that jab.

It's not a sure thing either way is all I am saying I'd say 60-40 out of 100 fights Tyson-Wlad. That's not unreasonable is it? I mean it may be unreasonable to the people who think Tyson could beat anyone ever in the history of but hey I'm just trying to be reasonable here

Vlad is that you?

[Hulk]

Lyle you obviously don't know anything about Tyson because he's the worst possible match-up for Wlad. He'd beat up Wlad so badly it would be nasty to watch. Tyson had more technical skill in his left pinky than Wlad has in his entire arsenal.

I know Mike Tyson got rocked by Bruno, Bonecrusher Smith, Buster Douglas, and Holyfield...all of which we can assume that don't hit as hard as Wladimir.

I know Tyson had trouble with Tony Tucker, Buster Douglas, and Lennox Lewis all of whom were tall lanky boxer/punchers

I mean I get where you are coming from it could be like Tyson-Golota but it could just as easily be like Tyson-Douglas.

Yes Mike had great head movement he cut off the run really well but in hindsight he didn't work all that great on the inside, he allowed for fighters to tie him up, he could get stymied by the jab alone, and the longer you lasted with him the less likely Tyson was to win.

I know no one Wlad has fought has had Tyson-esque head movement but a lot of guys have just stopped looking for a win and started looking for a way out after a few rounds of eating that jab.

It's not a sure thing either way is all I am saying I'd say 60-40 out of 100 fights Tyson-Wlad. That's not unreasonable is it? I mean it may be unreasonable to the people who think Tyson could beat anyone ever in the history of but hey I'm just trying to be reasonable here

hahaha Its admirable how you defend your fighter Lyle. Its just too bad you couldn't have chosen a better fighter to defend.

[Nameless]

Lyle you obviously don't know anything about Tyson because he's the worst possible match-up for Wlad. He'd beat up Wlad so badly it would be nasty to watch. Tyson had more technical skill in his left pinky than Wlad has in his entire arsenal.

I know Mike Tyson got rocked by Bruno, Bonecrusher Smith, Buster Douglas, and Holyfield...all of which we can assume that don't hit as hard as Wladimir.

I know Tyson had trouble with Tony Tucker, Buster Douglas, and Lennox Lewis all of whom were tall lanky boxer/punchers

I mean I get where you are coming from it could be like Tyson-Golota but it could just as easily be like Tyson-Douglas.

Yes Mike had great head movement he cut off the run really well but in hindsight he didn't work all that great on the inside, he allowed for fighters to tie him up, he could get stymied by the jab alone, and the longer you lasted with him the less likely Tyson was to win.

I know no one Wlad has fought has had Tyson-esque head movement but a lot of guys have just stopped looking for a win and started looking for a way out after a few rounds of eating that jab.

It's not a sure thing either way is all I am saying I'd say 60-40 out of 100 fights Tyson-Wlad. That's not unreasonable is it? I mean it may be unreasonable to the people who think Tyson could beat anyone ever in the history of but hey I'm just trying to be reasonable here

hahaha Its admirable how you defend your fighter Lyle. Its just too bad you couldn't have chosen a better fighter to defend.

Actually, his arguments make a lot of sense. NOt saying Wlad would have automatically beaten them all but in all honesty, I think he would have had all his chances. Sometimes the halo of peoples from the past shine to hard that we tend to see them a lot more than what they used to be. Tyson was very good but lacked discipline and struggled against slick guys, especially if they could make it to the fifth rounds where Tyson was then starting to fade dramatically. Maybe it would have been different is D'Amato would have lived longer. Maybe not, we'll never know, but fact, Tyson got beaten badly by Holyfield and LEwis because they were slick and rolling around him and he just couldn't deal with it. As for Ali and the others, I think Wlad would have had his chance, too. Most definitely.

[El Kabong]

hahaha Its admirable how you defend your fighter Lyle. Its just too bad you couldn't have chosen a better fighter to defend.

...yeah if only I could have hopped on the Mayorga bandwagon

[generalbulldog]

generalbulldog, I have been known to question the greatness of Ali, but I always give him respect. As for what I said about Chris Byrd....
Ali
Height: 6'3
Weight: 212
Reach: 80"

Wlad
Height: 6'7
Weight:243
Reach: 81"

4 inches, 30 pounds, 1" in reach...Ali never came across a fighter like that and any power Ali had came from his speed and accumulation of damage/fatigue on his opponent. Chris Byrd was a big stretch, but who has Wlad fought that was a skilled boxer, had little KO power, fast hands, and a very solid chin? Chris Byrd. Am I saying Ali would get his ass kicked like Chris Byrd ? no (I may have been 4 years ago, but not right now), I'm saying Ali would be undersized and out gunned...not that he wasn't used to that but he may have been used to that bigger person in the ring lacking in technical boxing skill and this would not be the case if they fought. However improbable it is to consider Wlad winning this fight it's not impossible.

Duly noted that Ali has never faced someone of Wlad's physical dimensions. But Ali was in a golden age of HWs and somehow he usually finds a way to win. I dont' think there is an debate that his resume is more impressive than Wlads?

In these mythical matchup let's say you put Wlad in 1967 against Ali without any of today's advancement in medical sports science and nutrition along with 15 round fights where he is known not to have great stamina, then really I don't fancy his chance against Ali. He may not even be 243. If you put an 25 year old Ali in 2006 against the 30 year old Wlad with all the nutritional supplements and advancement in medical sports science I see quite possibly him being even heavier (maybe around 220-225) and retaining all his quickness and speed, Ali still has to be the heavy favorite.

Wlad is very good for this era, but I just don't really fancy his chance against an Prime Foreman, ALi, etc.