Life after the Klitschkos

[handsofstone]

I know everyones always moaning about Vitali and Wladamir being boring and them killing Heavyweight boxing blah blah blah.....but nobody can deny their extremely talented boxers and model pros who would be in the top 10 in any decade(yes that includes the 70s) and yes they do tend to plod through some fights but they can punch and knock almost everybody out and they`ve fought everyone available so we cant blame them for the state of boxing its not their fault that their too good for everybody else,but back to my point, whats it gonna be like when they do call it a day :?? I personally think it will be the first time EVER,from ANY era when everyone knows that the world champion and the best heavyweight in the world and that includes the one that YOU thinks best,isnt talented.
you think its bad now? wait until they retire,the standard will be the worst EVER,even if it makes the Heavyweight scene slightly more competitive
THOUGHTS :??

[Horse]

Wladimir might stick around for 5+ years, we don't know what the non-Klitschko heavyweight situation will be like then.

[ThereByTheGrace]

I like the Klitschko's but they've had their time and I would be happy if they took a step back for a few years then came back and fought the new champions at that time.

But that wont happen for a few reasons:

- They would have to leave Germany/Eastern Europe to fight and win it back.
- They can fill a 50k seater stadium fighting nobodies (I ask all of you any other fighters that have consistently fought in front of 40k plus crowds in the past 20 years)
- They are getting paid money for old rope


For me, they are dedicated fighters who are perfect role models in and out of the ring. I think they'll be sorely missed and remembered as some of the greatest HWs (except in America) where the majority are just jealous of their phenomenal achievements.

[Horse]

I'd like both Klitschkos to keep going until they lose, so they can pass some credibility on to the next generation.

[Horse]

I agree, Horse. It's always better when the young lion kills the old lion rather than the old lion simply skulking off and dying under a bush - or in a plane crash, or on Strictly Come Dancing, or wherever.

The best entertainment from the Klitschkos would likely come in the period they fought whilst clearly on the slide. It would at least give some of the better fighters half a chance to beat them.

People might become genuinely excited before a Klitschko fight because they think there is a good chance they might lose.

[m1kee50]

I don't think you can ask a fighter to prolong his career to a point where you as a fan are saying 'please keep fighting, your skills haven't eroded enough yet'. No-one asks a footballer who retires from the Premier League to keep playing until he can't get a game with Alfreton, and that is a much less risky sport.

I'd be quite happy if both brothers simply vacated their titles and let the other fighters compete for them, and I'd be happy if they cracked on, but as long as they wish too, not to the whim of people who aren't getting punched for a living and never intend to.

[jessi]

I love watching them and will miss them, i think wlad has a while to go yet !
I would like to see haye get a shot at Vitali and maybe price, fury, or even povetkin get a shot at wlad !

[danconnollyeire]

I think it could go a couple of ways. Maybe Price and Fury picking up seperate belts and demonishing everyone, making the divison look BS and doing a Floyd-Pacman and not fighting each other. Or fighting eachother and the loser fading or have a I, II, III battles where they both win titles which would be great. I don't see anyone else stepping to the forefront so I could see someone like Price dominating for years

[Deadendgeneration]

The sad thing is, barring someone coming from left field, there isn't anyone likely to beat even the diminished Vitali any time soon.

[danconnollyeire]

The sad thing is, barring someone coming from left field, there isn't anyone likely to beat even the diminished Vitali any time soon.

I genuinely feel Haye could, if his output was good. But then he'd just walk away or fight Wlad

[Coco]

Hayes would never get past the jab, doesn't have the chin or work rate to stay on the inside and if he did effectively rush in at points he would be grabbed.
He had much more chance of taking Vlad out with the one shot. Vitali has a granite chin.

[Chambers2]

I can't wait for them retire. They're great at what they do, but they bore the shit out of me, too safety first

At least there's a chance of a bit of excitement in the post-Klits fights

I'd much rather watch Chisora Vs Povetkin than a Klitschko Vs Anybody

[Deadendgeneration]

Hayes would never get past the jab, doesn't have the chin or work rate to stay on the inside and if he did effectively rush in at points he would be grabbed.
He had much more chance of taking Vlad out with the one shot. Vitali has a granite chin.

This, limited though Vitali may be now compared to a few years ago. Haye hasn't half half the output necessary to beat him. Haye to make it the distance but lose almost, if not, every round.

[Ezzard]

The Klit boys are fine by me. I grew up in the 1980s so I’m used to poor HW fights. Wlad and Vitali fights are miles better than Tubbs-Page.

I’d like to see Haye in with them again. Just feel if he’d have gambled a little more he might have had more success… Might have got KO’d too.

I just wonder if Haye regrets not throwing the dice...at least a little harder…

But Fury and Price look lively contenders.

[loaded_gloves]

model pros who would be in the top 10 in any decade(yes that includes the 70s)

Wlad in any top 10? I doubt it. Fighters used to have the technical knowhow to slip jabs and hit back in days gone by, and Wlad has a poor track record with tough guys who stay in range, duck shots and swing back hard.

15 knockdowns against and more to come.

[handsofstone]

model pros who would be in the top 10 in any decade(yes that includes the 70s)

Wlad in any top 10? I doubt it. Fighters used to have the technical knowhow to slip jabs and hit back in days gone by, and Wlad has a poor track record with tough guys who stay in range, duck shots and swing back hard.

15 knockdowns against and more to come.

name me a top 10 from any year then and i`ll tell you who i think he would beat,im not doubting fighters arent as tough these days but the fringe contenders would all be too short for Wlad

[JC]

model pros who would be in the top 10 in any decade(yes that includes the 70s)

Wlad in any top 10? I doubt it. Fighters used to have the technical knowhow to slip jabs and hit back in days gone by, and Wlad has a poor track record with tough guys who stay in range, duck shots and swing back hard.

15 knockdowns against and more to come.

name me a top 10 from any year then and i`ll tell you who i think he would beat,im not doubting fighters arent as tough these days but the fringe contenders would all be too short for Wlad

Slightly off topic but this got me thinking about when the strongest HW top ten might have been.

Looking at the ring rankings 1991 is up there with the best of them IMO

Evander Holyfield
Mike Tyson
Riddick Bowe
Razor Ruddock
Ray Mercer
George Foreman
Tim Witherspoon
Tony Tucker
Lennox Lewis
Michael Moorer

[handsofstone]

Yeah thats a cracking list mate,you would think Klits would beat half of them though ay

[Shirow]

I reckon the brothers could be favoured against Moorer, Tucker, Mercer and Ruddock knowing what we know about them now and i wouldn't be totally shocked at a win against some of the others.
You have to remember that good competition leads to improvement. If the Klits had genuinely challenging opponents they would raise their game. How much room for improvement there is we'll never know due to the piss poor division currently.

I'm amazed the shape that Wlad came in against Mormeck if there was ever an excuse to come in unshaven with a gut for the inevitable quick KO it was that. I hear he's fight Fres Oquendo next too and i expect him to somehow convince himself to take that seriously too.

[lillywhite14]

Vitali could be beat soon if he carries on. He hasn't been hit properly since his comeback.

Of course, it depends if he takes on someone capable of hitting him I guess!

Wlad? Fast forward three years and he is still the man, beating all comers, relatively easy. Nobody out there can beat him, including all those coming through.

The next proper top notch heavyweight champ after the Klits isn't pro yet, and quite possibly hasn't even taken up boxing yet!

[SamWise72]

I think Price looks more promising than either of them, and if Fury starts going to the gym and listening to a decent trainer, he could be as good (look at the progress Wlad has made - at one point he looked like the terminator coming forward, and Bambi if anyone actually hit him. He might be a snoozeathon these days, but in terms of winning fights, it's a big step forward).

[lillywhite14]

Yeah but that's based on bias though mate.

Look back over Price's career and look back at Wlads at a similar stage. Different level entirely.

[lillywhite14]

Yeah but that's based on bias though mate.

Look back over Price's career and look back at Wlads at a similar stage. Different level entirely.

Very true. Wlad was younger when he turned over but had already fought 36 times, beaten Chris Byrd and was WBO champ after being a pro for the same duration as Price has. Rightly or wrongly, Price is being moved very slowly in comparison.

Even adjusting for their respective ages, Price was a clear step below Wlad's level when both were amateurs.

Pople saying Price and Fury can become as good as the brothers is all well and good but nothing suggests they will. For Price, read Helenius ( or Pulev etc ) Similar level as an amateur, current hope for his own nation etc ( I bet their are plenty in Finland who see Helenius as better than Price for example )

In reality neither are going to be good enough to compare favourably with Wlad.