Where do you rank Wladimir Klitschko among the ATG HWs?

[Lackeos]

Prime Evander would school him every day of the week along with most of the elite heavyweights of the past 50 years.

Holyfield didn't school Lennox and Bowe.

[Lackeos]

Charley Powell was an even bigger, better athlete than Haye with more sound boxing skills, but no-one cites wins over him as top notch.

Charlie Powell had poor boxing skills. He lost to several scrubs throughout his nonexistent prime. He would not be a top 25 heavyweight today. David Haye would have never lost to fighters like Roger Rischer and John Riggins. With this statement, you have proven that you are incapable of rendering a quality opinion pertaining to boxing.

[tiny_acres]

Charley Powell was an even bigger, better athlete than Haye with more sound boxing skills, but no-one cites wins over him as top notch.

Charlie Powell had poor boxing skills. He lost to several scrubs throughout his nonexistent prime. He would not be a top 25 heavyweight today. David Haye would have never lost to fighters like Roger Rischer and John Riggins. With this statement, you have proven that you are incapable of rendering a quality opinion pertaining to boxing.

Man these comments are getting better by the minute.

[Evander]

Last 30 years and change, without a review I'd put him top 5 on numbers alone.

[birdman77]

Based on the @$$ beatings he suffered at hands of 3 borderline contenders is never gonna get him any higher than 20 for me. Lennox got knocked out by ultra tough McCall and heavy handed Rahman -- which is prolly a wash to the Corrie Sanders k.o. I think Vitali was the significantly more dangerous bro w/ATG chin, punching power, and subtle skill that propels him into higher tier

[Ricky_]

He's not even the best Klitchko.

I used to think the same thing.But I am now convinced that Wlad is the better of the brothers.

Wlad is now more polished technically, but Vitali would hand him his ass.

[Tony1244]

I picked top 10, but top 5 may be more realistic when all is said and done.

[Bard of Boxrec]

Prime Evander would school him every day of the week along with most of the elite heavyweights of the past 50 years.

Holyfield didn't school Lennox and Bowe.

Lucky he'd be facing Wladimir Klitschko then!

[evrenb]

Its kinda hard to rate a guy against the elite of the heavyweight division when their best win is David Haye.... I think Wlad is decent and uses his size well, but I do think he is being overrated off the back of some very ordinary scalps. People have been talking about how he would crush guys like Holyfield due to his size and I really don't see it. Prime Evander would school him every day of the week along with most of the elite heavyweights of the past 50 years. I'd say he is lower top 20 to top 25.

Holyfield could beat him. Exactly that type of fighter. Well schooled, tough and super competitive. Wlad would fall apart by round 8.

[punchoutsb]

Based on the @$$ beatings he suffered at hands of 3 borderline contenders is never gonna get him any higher than 20 for me. Lennox got knocked out by ultra tough McCall and heavy handed Rahman -- which is prolly a wash to the Corrie Sanders k.o. I think Vitali was the significantly more dangerous bro w/ATG chin, punching power, and subtle skill that propels him into higher tier

What a ridiculous attitude. First of all, only the Sanders fight qualified as an @$$ beating. Second of all, his losses keep him out of your top twenty...can you name me 20 heavyweights that don't have similar losses to fringe contenders or worse? Not everybody has a resume like Muhammad Ali, with every loss coming to world class guys (aside from Spinks).

[cjdragon]

I voted top 15, which is pretty darn good when you think about it.
But I am intentionally being very conservative...he'll likely end up in my own, personal top 10 list after he retires.
Oh and he's definitely (my opinion) top 3 in punching power...believe it or not Pulev had a very good chin. We'll have to see if he's the same fighter after being flattened like that...I mean that was a vicious KO. Not to mention the bombs he took earlier in the fight.

[JCS]

Borderline Top 10 based on wins/losses NOT imaginary 1-on-1 fights. It's safe to say that all of the older Heavyweights are going to have a problem w/ a 6'6" 245lb beast.

I see what both sides are saying... but I think at worst, he's in the mid-upper teens.

[jake-snake]

How would you rate Vitali Klitschko as he beats Wald all day every day and its been that way since they were kids

[Crease]

I would rate him in the top 15.

He disposed of the top contender in his division within 5 rounds. I would say that is pretty impressive. I was starting to get very critical of Wladimir when he was giving World Title shots to guys like Leapai & Pianeta - who, quite frankly, just are nowhere near deserving of these shots... But at least Pulev was the top ranked opponent and deserved his shot.

So, in my view, I would have to say fair play to Wlad and I hope that he keeps fighting top contenders (Tyson Fury next?)

[Horse]

Borderline Top 10 based on wins/losses NOT imaginary 1-on-1 fights. It's safe to say that all of the older Heavyweights are going to have a problem w/ a 6'6" 245lb beast.

I see what both sides are saying... but I think at worst, he's in the mid-upper teens.

When I imagine ATG H2H fights, I take the era the boxer fought in into consideration and perhaps add a bit of height and weight etc. to one of the fighters.

Is that not what most people do?

[JCS]

Borderline Top 10 based on wins/losses NOT imaginary 1-on-1 fights. It's safe to say that all of the older Heavyweights are going to have a problem w/ a 6'6" 245lb beast.

I see what both sides are saying... but I think at worst, he's in the mid-upper teens.

When I imagine ATG H2H fights, I take the era the boxer fought in into consideration and perhaps add a bit of height and weight etc. to one of the fighters.

Is that not what most people do?

Doubtful. I wouldn't. At that point, it is complete fantasy land.

[Horse]

Doubtful. I wouldn't. At that point, it is complete fantasy land.

It's all a fantasy anyway. I just try to make it more fair, instead of the modern guys having a big advantage.

[GilFilmore]

I rank Wladimir higher than Lennox Lewis

[davie]

It depends how you work it out?

If you're talking about if you stuck him in against everyone, he's easily top 5, there are only a small number of men in history could have lived with him in the ring.

But he's a lot bigger than a lot of guys in history and if you take that into account and look at resumes and consider the competitive eras people fought in he drops down to near the 10 mark.

I picked top 15 from the poll but i think i can make a case for top ten. Length of reign, dominance and he's now faced easily the best in his division.

The issue i have is i dont see how he climbs that table much further. He has little else to prove and beating stivern/fury/wilder will do little for his legacy in my opinion.
I suppose if he can break records like longest reign or most defences he has to leap frog Holmes or Louis, but there are no opponents out there better than haye/povetkin/pulev to effectively enhance his reputation.

And given that, I can pick 5 guys from the ATG list, who would comfortably have beaten all the best guys Wlad has on his record.

[Horse]

The issue i have is i dont see how he climbs that table much further. He has little else to prove and beating stivern/fury/wilder will do little for his legacy in my opinion.
I suppose if he can break records like longest reign or most defences he has to leap frog Holmes or Louis, but there are no opponents out there better than haye/povetkin/pulev to effectively enhance his reputation.

It depends on what these fighters go on to achieve. Fury, Stiverne & Wilder might all be better than Pulev and they are worth beating.

One of the main potential future boosts to his ATG status will be beating the fighter(s) that go on to dominate the division after he retires. So, he'd better try to get his hands on the best of the bunch before he goes.

[tiny_acres]

The issue i have is i dont see how he climbs that table much further. He has little else to prove and beating stivern/fury/wilder will do little for his legacy in my opinion.
I suppose if he can break records like longest reign or most defences he has to leap frog Holmes or Louis, but there are no opponents out there better than haye/povetkin/pulev to effectively enhance his reputation.

It depends on what these fighters go on to achieve. Fury, Stiverne & Wilder might all be better than Pulev and they are worth beating.

One of the main potential future boosts to his ATG status will be beating the fighter(s) that go on to dominate the division after he retires. So, he'd better try to get his hands on the best of the bunch before he goes.

Great point.

[HomicideHenry]

It depends how you work it out?

If you're talking about if you stuck him in against everyone, he's easily top 5, there are only a small number of men in history could have lived with him in the ring.

But he's a lot bigger than a lot of guys in history and if you take that into account and look at resumes and consider the competitive eras people fought in he drops down to near the 10 mark.

I picked top 15 from the poll but i think i can make a case for top ten. Length of reign, dominance and he's now faced easily the best in his division.

The issue i have is i dont see how he climbs that table much further. He has little else to prove and beating stivern/fury/wilder will do little for his legacy in my opinion.

I suppose if he can break records like longest reign or most defences he has to leap frog Holmes or Louis, but there are no opponents out there better than haye/povetkin/pulev to effectively enhance his reputation.

And given that, I can pick 5 guys from the ATG list, who would comfortably have beaten all the best guys Wlad has on his record.

Sometimes people's ranking elevates over time, when people in later era's re-examine older eras and figure out that certain fighters were better than originally realized. Of course, also, the exact opposite is true too--- guys who were held in high regard in their own era, later get knocked down the totem pole by later generations because they view their era as being weak in comparison to others.

It remains to be seen, and maybe in twenty-thirty years we will have a better view of this era. Who knows, maybe by that time guys like Fury or Stiverne or Wilder or Povetkin will be considered "rough, tough" types who could have given alot of people in the past a hard time in the ring--- after all, when one looks at Louis's era people in his time said "The Bum of The Month", but in today's time we find more people saying there were alot of good fighters in that mix too.

When I was a kid, Larry Holmes was pretty much written off, and most said he wasn't even top ten worthy. I'm almost 30 now and there is a growing minority who believe Holmes was either #1 or is a solid top five guy. The same goes for Lennox Lewis--- alot of hate on the man when he retired, and now the perception is changing that he was a top ten heavyweight and a growing minority is out there that he could be top five. The same will be said and done with Vladimir, I am sure.

[man]

i think he could be anywhere between 5 to 20 and
we never know due to lack of ATG competition. but
to me he seems to finally have added heart to his
physique and skill … which boosts his rating IMO.

until recently he would not have been as aggressive
after being hit. the wlad of today is difficult for any
boxer in history.

[davie]

The issue i have is i dont see how he climbs that table much further. He has little else to prove and beating stivern/fury/wilder will do little for his legacy in my opinion.
I suppose if he can break records like longest reign or most defences he has to leap frog Holmes or Louis, but there are no opponents out there better than haye/povetkin/pulev to effectively enhance his reputation.

It depends on what these fighters go on to achieve. Fury, Stiverne & Wilder might all be better than Pulev and they are worth beating.

One of the main potential future boosts to his ATG status will be beating the fighter(s) that go on to dominate the division after he retires. So, he'd better try to get his hands on the best of the bunch before he goes.

Good point.
I don't think fury/stiverne/wiler will go on to be greats.
But I have been known to be wrong on occasion

[Bard of Boxrec]

I rank Wladimir higher than Lennox Lewis