Vitali - Highest KO%

[SteveO]

An observation: Taking into account the 4 main sanctioning bodies, Vitali Klitschko's 92% KO ratio was the highest of all the heavyweight champions.
From his 35 wins in 37 contests he only went the distance once (against Timo Hoffmann). The two fights he lost were both through injury: A shoulder injury against Chris Byrd, and facial cuts against Lennox Lewis; he was ahead on the scorecards in both those contests at the time of the stoppage.
The only other heavyweight champions that had a KO ratio over 80% were:
Rocky Marciano 88%, Herbie Hide 87%, Frank Bruno 84%, Wladimir Klitschko 84%, George Foreman 84%, Francesco Damiani 82% and Lamon Brewster 80%.

[The Great John L]

An observation: Taking into account the 4 main sanctioning bodies, Vitali Klitschko's 92% KO ratio was the highest of all the heavyweight champions.
From his 35 wins in 37 contests he only went the distance once (against Timo Hoffmann). The two fights he lost were both through injury: A shoulder injury against Chris Byrd, and facial cuts against Lennox Lewis; he was ahead on the scorecards in both those contests at the time of the stoppage.
The only other heavyweight champions that had a KO ratio over 80% were:
Rocky Marciano 88%, Herbie Hide 87%, Frank Bruno 84%, Wladimir Klitschko 84%, George Foreman 84%, Francesco Damiani 82% and Lamon Brewster 80%.

Okay, he had some great stats. And he lost the only two significant fights he had during his entire career. He could be the biggest underachiever in the history of the sport.

[HomicideHenry]

The real question is this, for all these Vitali Klitschko nut huggers:

Can you sincerly see V. Klitschko holding that high of a KO percentage in the eras prior to his own?

I sure as hell don't.

[pundit]

The real question is this, for all these Vitali Klitschko nut huggers:

Can you sincerly see V. Klitschko holding that high of a KO percentage in the eras prior to his own?

I sure as hell don't.

What about Rocky Marciano's era.....

[pundit]

He didn't hold the real title

Please explain.

[Collins2000]

An observation: Taking into account the 4 main sanctioning bodies, Vitali Klitschko's 92% KO ratio was the highest of all the heavyweight champions.
From his 35 wins in 37 contests he only went the distance once (against Timo Hoffmann). The two fights he lost were both through injury: A shoulder injury against Chris Byrd, and facial cuts against Lennox Lewis; he was ahead on the scorecards in both those contests at the time of the stoppage.
The only other heavyweight champions that had a KO ratio over 80% were:
Rocky Marciano 88%, Herbie Hide 87%, Frank Bruno 84%, Wladimir Klitschko 84%, George Foreman 84%, Francesco Damiani 82% and Lamon Brewster 80%.

The fact that Herbie Hide is 3rd on the list says everything...

[pundit]

An observation: Taking into account the 4 main sanctioning bodies, Vitali Klitschko's 92% KO ratio was the highest of all the heavyweight champions.
From his 35 wins in 37 contests he only went the distance once (against Timo Hoffmann). The two fights he lost were both through injury: A shoulder injury against Chris Byrd, and facial cuts against Lennox Lewis; he was ahead on the scorecards in both those contests at the time of the stoppage.
The only other heavyweight champions that had a KO ratio over 80% were:
Rocky Marciano 88%, Herbie Hide 87%, Frank Bruno 84%, Wladimir Klitschko 84%, George Foreman 84%, Francesco Damiani 82% and Lamon Brewster 80%.

The fact that Herbie Hide is 3rd on the list says everything...

Vital Klischko vs. Herbie Hide KO2

[HomicideHenry]

He never won the title from Lewis, he won the WBC belt from relatively unknown Corrie Sanders who beat his glass jawed brother Wladimir. He never actually won the title from the true lineal champion.

Besides, Klitschko never unified the titles, let alone unify any of the titles. He was supposedly to fight then WBO champion Lamon Brewster, but then he was forced to face WBC Interim Hasim Rahman, but retired.

Klitschko made one lone defense against mediocre Danny Williams.


Hardly anything thrilling.



As far as Marciano's era, it wasn't a great era, but it wasnt a bad one either. Charles, Walcott, LaStarza, Baker, the come back Louis, Cockell, Cooper, Machen, young Patterson, Jackson, Satterfield, Holman Williams, just to name a few. You could make arguments that Walcott and Charles were on the downside, but then again Marciano was no spring chicken either as he made a late start in boxing anyways.

I'd say 90% of the guys in Marciano's era would beat the modern day contenders.

[Collins2000]

An observation: Taking into account the 4 main sanctioning bodies, Vitali Klitschko's 92% KO ratio was the highest of all the heavyweight champions.
From his 35 wins in 37 contests he only went the distance once (against Timo Hoffmann). The two fights he lost were both through injury: A shoulder injury against Chris Byrd, and facial cuts against Lennox Lewis; he was ahead on the scorecards in both those contests at the time of the stoppage.
The only other heavyweight champions that had a KO ratio over 80% were:
Rocky Marciano 88%, Herbie Hide 87%, Frank Bruno 84%, Wladimir Klitschko 84%, George Foreman 84%, Francesco Damiani 82% and Lamon Brewster 80%.

The fact that Herbie Hide is 3rd on the list says everything...

Vital Klischko vs. Herbie Hide KO2

Yes, I remember it well; Vitali's finest win wasn't it?

[pundit]

He never won the title from Lewis, he won the WBC belt from relatively unknown Corrie Sanders who beat his glass jawed brother Wladimir. He never actually won the title from the true lineal champion.

What is a "true lineal champion".
Shannon Briggs in 1997?

[Seamus]

I know most posters on this forum disagree with me, so instead of some long winded argument that goes nowhere, I'd like you all (that is those who believe 180-190 lb fighters would dominate todays Heavyweights) to please just give me the name of any HW 210 or under in the world today, who you expect might dominate the division in the near future.

[Collins2000]

I know most posters on this forum disagree with me, so instead of some long winded argument that goes nowhere, I'd like you all (that is those who believe 180-190 lb fighters would dominate todays Heavyweights) to please just give me the name of any HW 210 or under in the world today, who you expect might dominate the division in the near future.

Alternatively you could give us the name of any heavyweight 210 or above who you expect might dominate the division in the near future.

[Seamus]

That's not the same because, each of the 4 major belt holders could lose in there next defense, and the guy who takes there belt is also going to be well over 210. Wlad is the most dominant HW out there right now, and he typically weighs in over 240. If you think someone else is better, well that guy is also going to be well above 210. 9

[BrocktonBlockbuster49]

The real question is this, for all these Vitali Klitschko nut huggers:

Can you sincerly see V. Klitschko holding that high of a KO percentage in the eras prior to his own?

I sure as hell don't.

What about Rocky Marciano's era.....

whats so funny? marcianos era was much much better. marcianos era actually had dangerous legit contenders.

[BrocktonBlockbuster49]

I know most posters on this forum disagree with me, so instead of some long winded argument that goes nowhere, I'd like you all (that is those who believe 180-190 lb fighters would dominate todays Heavyweights) to please just give me the name of any HW 210 or under in the world today, who you expect might dominate the division in the near future.

in case u didnt notice, a natural 195lber with no punch was heavyweight champion for the past 5 years!

[pound per pound]

He didn't hold the real title, so who cares? Horace Notice had some good stats, too.

Mr. Decagon,

What's a real title these days? WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO....bah. Modern boxing is fragmented. No man holds more than 2 belts. And those who hold two world title belts are few in number. Half the lineal titles are vacant.

So you see belts don't mean as much today. Lineal titles or Ring Magazine titles to me mean a bit more. Vitlai was the Ring Magazine champion, and had a claim to the lineal title. This is as high as you can go in modern times.

As for Vitali's knock out record, it is impressive in any era.

[Les Darcy]

The real question is this, for all these Vitali Klitschko nut huggers:

Can you sincerly see V. Klitschko holding that high of a KO percentage in the eras prior to his own?

I sure as hell don't.

Actually, I could, and this is why. I think he'd do the same to the level off opposition that he'd beat, ie, knock them out. However, he'd lose more fights, and not just a couple, but a lot more. I don't think his KO % would be damaged at all, he's a big guy who beats up on inferior opponents, but he'd run into more fighters who could take him apart. Instead of going 35-2 (24) he'd probably be 35-10 (34) or something similar.

[Seamus]

Chris Byrd wasn't exactly dominant, and he typically weighed over 210, which is quite large by 50's standards. I keep hearing how terrible this current crop of HW's is, and if that's the case I just want to know what 200-210 lb fighter I should be looking for to clean out Valuev, Maskaev, Briggs and Wlad in the future.

[The Great John L]

Chris Byrd wasn't exactly dominant, and he typically weighed over 210, which is quite large by 50's standards. I keep hearing how terrible this current crop of HW's is, and if that's the case I just want to know what 200-210 lb fighter I should be looking for to clean out Valuev, Maskaev, Briggs and Wlad in the future.

An in shape James Toney (a nearly 40 yo blown up MW) would weigh about 205 and would probably have a pretty fair shot at beating the four feared monsters currently laying claim to the 4 “significant” HW titles. But as you noted, many of the current HW contenders are fat and several (including Toney) are quite obese, so there really aren’t many that actually come into the ring in fighting shape. The four guys you mentioned are quite large -- one probably from a medical condition, and one (at least) from “dietary supplements”. Indeed, it is a very notable list of fighters that currently lay claim to the HW division.

Did anyone else fondly remember the nickname given to Foreman by Ali while they were watching Wlad fight last weekend?

[pundit]

I know most posters on this forum disagree with me, so instead of some long winded argument that goes nowhere, I'd like you all (that is those who believe 180-190 lb fighters would dominate todays Heavyweights) to please just give me the name of any HW 210 or under in the world today, who you expect might dominate the division in the near future.

in case u didnt notice, a natural 195lber with no punch was heavyweight champion for the past 5 years!

He was heavyweight .... ahem... cough..... cough..... "champion" for the past 5 years. Soundly demplioshed in previous fights by much bigger men, and got a shot at the "title" only because Don King paid LL a million to put down the IBF belt (while keeping the WBC title).

[overhand_right]

Klitschko def a big man with some power, but i doubt he could have scored so high a KO percentage had he been involved in better match making, or tougher previous era's.

Almost all his opponents were ageing or disinterested US imports. The lone eyebrow raising stoppage on his entire record is Larry Donald. Hide, Mahone, Sullivan, washed up Norris, Bean, Sanders, Johnson, Williams... Its a mixed bag of good names, but no one outstanding.

He was good, in a crude clumsy but effective sort of way, but his stats are misleasing in the extreme.

BTW- for those who don't know, SteveO is an old school Boxrec legend!!! Hello mate!!!!!!!!!!

[pundit]

The real question is this, for all these Vitali Klitschko nut huggers:

Can you sincerly see V. Klitschko holding that high of a KO percentage in the eras prior to his own?

I sure as hell don't.

What about Rocky Marciano's era.....

whats so funny? marcianos era was much much better. marcianos era actually had dangerous legit contenders.

Old, slow and tiny tiny tiny men......

[dempseyfire]

Chris Byrd wasn't exactly dominant, and he typically weighed over 210, which is quite large by 50's standards. I keep hearing how terrible this current crop of HW's is, and if that's the case I just want to know what 200-210 lb fighter I should be looking for to clean out Valuev, Maskaev, Briggs and Wlad in the future.

Byrd was a completely artificial 210. He was a smaller man than Marciano, who although he weighed 186, trained down to that weight. Compare Byrds and Rocky's other measurements . . .the likes of Marciano and Dempsey were TRUE heavyweights. Byrd was a blown-up light HW basically.

Next 200 lber to clean out the division? Brother, have you seen the HW division recently? We can't find anybody weighing ANYTHING cleaning out ANYTHING. Anyone can lose to anyone right now. That's just b/c of pure lack of talent than anything to do with size.

And as someone pointing out, Toney weighing 210 a few years ago would've cleaned house. Too bad he's an old, cigar smoking Jenny Craig candidate.

[SteveO]

Hi Overhand - thanks for the kind words :-)
I just thought I'd try a topic that hadn't been covered before.
Of course Vitali is not one of the great heavyweight champions, I doubt he would make many peoples 'top 20', but it just goes to show how funny statistics can be.
Personally, I believe he would have been beaten by Ali, Louis, Holmes and several others.

[Seamus]

You guys still aren't even attempting to answer the question. When a fighter comes in the ring, his weigh in weight is what's being counted, not his so called ideal weight. So what if Toney started at MW, or Byrd started at LHW, those aren't the weight divisions there in now. Jose Luis Castillo doesn't have 2 LW belts right now, because he came in 3 lbs over the limit. The sanctioning bodies obviously didn't take his ideal or former weight into consideration.

I'm not even starting a who could beat who argument in a hypothetical matchup. I just want to hear some serious suggestions regarding what top HW prospects there are out there, who weigh 210 or under.