Vladimir Klitschko really this good or just bad contenders??

[littlebif]

Lennox Lewis didnt get any respect until he retired and he had the same style.

Lewis did use the safety style in some fights but he still throw the right hand behind the jab which you can count on your hands how many times Wlad throws it even when his opponent has nothing left he still doesnt want to expose himself by throwing it.

Watch the destruction of Golota,Grant and Ruddock fights and say he had the same style as the Klitschkos.He wasnt always a safety first fighter.

[Taeth]

I look back at previous heavyweights, and I struggle to find very many heavyweights over the history of the sport that would have been these two at their best.

I think they would have steam rolled Frazier, Marciano, Patterson, Liston, Louis, Foreman. I see absolutley no way how these guys could get in on guys taller and stronger than them with that kind of jab.

I don't think Holmes and Ali's moving on the outside styles would be super effective because at least Wlad who is always in balance would walk them down with his jab.

Norton might present problems for Wlad because he is awkward, but Vitali would destroy.

Honestly besides Lennox Lewis I can't think of a fighter who even in their prime I would give a better than 50/50 chance against these brothers.

I also find it insulting or ignorant to say Wlad hasn't fought quality opposition in the last little run Ibragimov, Chagaev, Peter(at the time), Byrd, Brock, Chambers, and the list goes on were all highly competent fighters. But Wlad has great timing and highly underrated speed, and I can't think of a punch in the history of the heavyweight division that landed more consistently than Wlad's jab, and that jab lands like most heavyweights crosses.

[Balboa]

I look back at previous heavyweights, and I struggle to find very many heavyweights over the history of the sport that would have been these two at their best.

I think they would have steam rolled Frazier, Marciano, Patterson, Liston, Louis, Foreman. I see absolutley no way how these guys could get in on guys taller and stronger than them with that kind of jab.

I don't think Holmes and Ali's moving on the outside styles would be super effective because at least Wlad who is always in balance would walk them down with his jab.

Norton might present problems for Wlad because he is awkward, but Vitali would destroy.

Honestly besides Lennox Lewis I can't think of a fighter who even in their prime I would give a better than 50/50 chance against these brothers.

I also find it insulting or ignorant to say Wlad hasn't fought quality opposition in the last little run Ibragimov, Chagaev, Peter(at the time), Byrd, Brock, Chambers, and the list goes on were all highly competent fighters. But Wlad has great timing and highly underrated speed, and I can't think of a punch in the history of the heavyweight division that landed more consistently than Wlad's jab, and that jab lands like most heavyweights crosses.

That's beautifully said. The brothers Klitschko are extremely underrated because they're not bloody messes at the end of their fights (when did you anti-Vitali fans start to MAYBE like Vitali? Why, after his bloody performance against Lennox!!) and you never seem them struggle life and death inside the ring.

Sadly their true worth won't be realized until long after they've retired i suspect.

[Rantcatrat]

I look back at previous heavyweights, and I struggle to find very many heavyweights over the history of the sport that would have been these two at their best.

I think they would have steam rolled Frazier, Marciano, Patterson, Liston, Louis, Foreman. I see absolutley no way how these guys could get in on guys taller and stronger than them with that kind of jab.

I don't think Holmes and Ali's moving on the outside styles would be super effective because at least Wlad who is always in balance would walk them down with his jab.

Norton might present problems for Wlad because he is awkward, but Vitali would destroy.

Honestly besides Lennox Lewis I can't think of a fighter who even in their prime I would give a better than 50/50 chance against these brothers.

I also find it insulting or ignorant to say Wlad hasn't fought quality opposition in the last little run Ibragimov, Chagaev, Peter(at the time), Byrd, Brock, Chambers, and the list goes on were all highly competent fighters. But Wlad has great timing and highly underrated speed, and I can't think of a punch in the history of the heavyweight division that landed more consistently than Wlad's jab, and that jab lands like most heavyweights crosses.

Strong Post. And I agree with most of it. The skills of the Klitschkos are underrated.

I disagree with Lyle about HBO's business reasons for not airing every Klitschko fight. The truth is most casual fans of boxing are Latino and the heavyweight division, other than Arreola, lacks any recognizable Latinos. Recall HBO aired the Arreola heavyweight title fight with Vitali and the Arreola v. Adamek fight and for that matter, most recent Arreola fights. To get the casual fan to tune in and get your ratings up, you need either a Latino heavyweight or opponents that are more recognizable to the casual fan - Haye or Adamek (if he wins) v. the Klitschko's WILL be on HBO. Guaranteed. Two Russians just doesn't excited the American masses even if they happen to be the best heavyweights out there. But, that's no jab at the Klitschko's because they do their thing to perfection and can't be beat, it just means their wins may not make it to american tv.

Would I have tuned in to see the Povetkin fight? Of course.

And I have to agree with Hitman that Wlad needs to make his fights more exciting even if it means exposing himself to more danger if you want to see them on american television more often. It wouldn't hurt for him to knock his opponent out before the 7th round here and there and it's not like he can't do it. He dominates them.

[El Kabong]

Well I think Greenburg made his decision because #1 Recently Wlad has been fighting in Germany a lot and it fucks with the TV schedule and #2 If you're not going to show THE Heavyweight Champion then why bother with the division.

As for Bert Sugar I don't think he's ever had anything good to say about Wladimir

I think Wlad should start to open up earlier and more often, I think the hook off the jab is something that he needs to utilize more (and he will vs Peter as Sam doesn't throw a sharp right cross) and perhaps Wlaqd can put his punches together a bit more, the way he used to do. You know given the state of the division right now and his confidence there aren't too many fighters that would be dangerous for Wlad to fight in his old style....maybe Arreola, maybe Sam Peter, and some others with power or with a solid chin and a good workrate might trouble him but Wlad could go back to fighting in more of a crouch and not really have too much to worry about....and personally I think he should start to mix the two styles (Aggressive and Outside/Safety) during his fights....usually once the first right cross lands his opponents start looking for a way out.

[JonnyFolds]

I look back at previous heavyweights, and I struggle to find very many heavyweights over the history of the sport that would have been these two at their best.

I think they would have steam rolled Frazier, Marciano, Patterson, Liston, Louis, Foreman. I see absolutley no way how these guys could get in on guys taller and stronger than them with that kind of jab.

I don't think Holmes and Ali's moving on the outside styles would be super effective because at least Wlad who is always in balance would walk them down with his jab.

Norton might present problems for Wlad because he is awkward, but Vitali would destroy.

Honestly besides Lennox Lewis I can't think of a fighter who even in their prime I would give a better than 50/50 chance against these brothers.

I also find it insulting or ignorant to say Wlad hasn't fought quality opposition in the last little run Ibragimov, Chagaev, Peter(at the time), Byrd, Brock, Chambers, and the list goes on were all highly competent fighters. But Wlad has great timing and highly underrated speed, and I can't think of a punch in the history of the heavyweight division that landed more consistently than Wlad's jab, and that jab lands like most heavyweights crosses.

Strong Post. And I agree with most of it. The skills of the Klitschkos are underrated.

I disagree with Lyle about HBO's business reasons for not airing every Klitschko fight. The truth is most casual fans of boxing are Latino and the heavyweight division, other than Arreola, lacks any recognizable Latinos. Recall HBO aired the Arreola heavyweight title fight with Vitali and the Arreola v. Adamek fight and for that matter, most recent Arreola fights. To get the casual fan to tune in and get your ratings up, you need either a Latino heavyweight or opponents that are more recognizable to the casual fan - Haye or Adamek (if he wins) v. the Klitschko's WILL be on HBO. Guaranteed. Two Russians just doesn't excited the American masses even if they happen to be the best heavyweights out there. But, that's no jab at the Klitschko's because they do their thing to perfection and can't be beat, it just means their wins may not make it to american tv.

Would I have tuned in to see the Povetkin fight? Of course.

And I have to agree with Hitman that Wlad needs to make his fights more exciting even if it means exposing himself to more danger if you want to see them on american television more often. It wouldn't hurt for him to knock his opponent out before the 7th round here and there and it's not like he can't do it. He dominates them.

I'm confused. Latinos have never had a heavyweight champ outside of Ruiz. So there never was a heavyweight pool to begin with. The reason they were airing Arreolas fights is b/c he was KO MFers out left and right, wasting no time with it.

True the Klitschkos don't have any competition right now. But, I am 100% sure HBO would televise Wlad/Povetikin, Vitali/Haye or Adamek/Haye. The Klits are fighting as at least 5:1 favorites in every single fight. And they can't stop anyone. They just whittle them away. It takes so long for them to throw 250 punches (249 jabs).

I know two <Ukranians, not Russians> that could fight, and every single boxing fan would not pass it up, not even for PPV. MAYBE this is what bothers boxing fans the most and the brothers.

[Master]

Wlad is that good and has built a good legacy.

BTW Lewis was in some thrilling fights against Mercer, Briggs, Grant, where he took chances.

[El Kabong]

Wlad is that good and has built a good legacy.

BTW Lewis was in some thrilling fights against Mercer, Briggs, Grant, where he took chances.

The Briggs fight was a great match...I think Briggs earned a knockdown that wasn't counted but I doubt it would have affected the outcome of the fight....it may have helped Lewis' legacy a touch since he ended up winning the fight and in all other cases once Lennox was down he was done. Great fight though.

Lennox took chances vs Vitali, I think that last round was a HUGE chance Lennox took, because I don't think he had any gas left in the tank and I think Vitali (although cut horribly and bleeding like a stuck pig) still had a little left...he had weathered the worst of it. Also a great fight.

[Beanflicker]

I think they also suffer from this romanticized vision a lot of boxing fans have of eras gone by. Now I'm not disputing the fact that the 70s were the golden age for HW boxing, I just fail to see how guys like Shavers, Chuvalo, Quarry, Bonavena, Henry Cooper, Doug Jones, Terrell, Bugner, ECT ECT were any better than the guys Wlad or Vitali fought.

Rocky Marciano tee'd off on mostly punching bags with arms, with a few washed up greats sprinkled in there, but no one would dare to dispute his greatness.

I guess like some other posters alluded to, the Klits won't get their respect until after they're gone.

[El Kabong]

In all honesty I was more disappointed in the way Wlad handled Rahman and Chagaev...I think he could have easily stopped them sooner.

The Ibragimov disaster was 100% on Sultan, he ran away from Wlad. I for one figured "Sultan stood toe to toe with Ray Austin, why not vs Wlad?" But apparently Sultan just tried to survive and that cause for an ugly fight.

[ICB]

I look back at previous heavyweights, and I struggle to find very many heavyweights over the history of the sport that would have been these two at their best.

I think they would have steam rolled Frazier, Marciano, Patterson, Liston, Louis, Foreman. I see absolutley no way how these guys could get in on guys taller and stronger than them with that kind of jab.

I don't think Holmes and Ali's moving on the outside styles would be super effective because at least Wlad who is always in balance would walk them down with his jab.

Norton might present problems for Wlad because he is awkward, but Vitali would destroy.

Honestly besides Lennox Lewis I can't think of a fighter who even in their prime I would give a better than 50/50 chance against these brothers.

I also find it insulting or ignorant to say Wlad hasn't fought quality opposition in the last little run Ibragimov, Chagaev, Peter(at the time), Byrd, Brock, Chambers, and the list goes on were all highly competent fighters. But Wlad has great timing and highly underrated speed, and I can't think of a punch in the history of the heavyweight division that landed more consistently than Wlad's jab, and that jab lands like most heavyweights crosses.

Wow are you kidding me Taeth ? Lennox Lewis was outjabbed by the likes of Frank Bruno, Ray Mercer. Larry Holmes was a better version of Lennox Lewis no question, he had a better jab, better chin, better athletically, faster hands, better footwork. The only thing Lennox Lewis has over Larry Holmes is size and power. But still Larry Holmes was no small fry at 6'3 either.

As for Muhammad Ali well its pretty much the same as Larry Holmes, except the size and power. But yet again Muhammad Ali was no small fry either, i don't see why you think Lennox Lewis is so perfect.

There's plenty of Heavyweight's better than Lennox Lewis, and i don't get where you get the word athletic from and use it too describe Lennox Lewis. At times he was very lumbering, Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, ETC. Were much better athletically and there's plenty more aswell.

Wladimir Klitschko to me is the new Lennox Lewis, although he's not as strong mentally, and he lacks variety. Where as Lennox Lewis could fight on the inside and had the uppercut.

I got nothing against Lennox Lewis, and he was very good. But the way you describe him at times im thinking is this the same fighter ?

[rjj tszyu]

Wladimir Klitschko is not great at all. He's not bad but any decent HW champ would KO him. The problem is there are no decent HW's around at the minute other than Haye and he just seems to be more at ease living the life of the champ rather than becoming it at the moment. If though you could put Wlad back into the 90's with Bowe, Holyfield, Tyson and Lewis though I would 100% guarantee all 4 would KO him without too much trouble.

I think the interesting fights in that era would be Wlad against the likes of Bruno, Morrison and Ruddock. I think they would be hard fights to call, but against the elite of that era?? He would get mauled.