BoxRec

I can actually see top 20 all-time for Wlad. Top 15 is a bit of a stretch.

Riddick Blowe wrote:I can actually see top 20 all-time for Wlad. Top 15 is a bit of a stretch.

I'd say wlad is top 20, top 40 or 50 for vitali.

Kalan wrote:Only a hater would believe Vitali Klitschko isn't top 20... He's a 3 X Heavyweight Champion and fought until he was 41 with no permanent damage.

He's the ONLY Heavyweight Champion with 2 or more successful title defenses who's NEVER been knocked down.

He is the ONLY retired Heavyweight Champion who's NEVER been behind on points after ANY of his fights.

VItali knocked out 2 Heavyweight Champions who knocked his brother Wladimir Klitschko down 7 times...

He stopped 2 of the 4 Heavyweights who knocked his brother out..

He took 4 years off to rehab his badly injured legs... and coming back at age 37, he went straight for the World Title with no tuneups and won it.

He has the 2nd highest KO ratio of all retired Heavyweight Champions.

Of course Vitali Klitschko deserves a place in the ATG top 20.

Tony1244 wrote:

x2x wrote:THE greatest heavyweight ever, except for his brother Vitali who was even better. They totally dominated the heavyweight division at a time when it was far bigger and stronger and international in scope that it had ever been before. No one has dominated a sport like they did since the great Babe Ruth ruled baseball in the 1920's and 30'.

Ali and Louis dominated the HW as well. Louis had the most title defenses (25) I believe.

As I posted earlier; Wlad's record compares very favourably to Joe Louis':
Wlad had 29 world heavyweight title fights (Louis had 27). Wlad won 25 of those fights.
Louis' reign as champion lasted 11 years 252 days,
Klitschko had 2 reigns as champion which, when combined, add up to a total of 12 years 2 days.

Wlad is about top 13-18 I'd say. Top ten too high, top twenty shade too low

Loki wrote:

Ron C wrote:Pretty crazy. I actually just got a tattoo of him finished today. Come home and read this lol

Wow. Picture?

Yeah!
Love to see it.
Is it an action scene or portrait?
I like people who are that passionate

Kalan wrote:Only a hater would believe Vitali Klitschko isn't top 20... He's a 3 X Heavyweight Champion and fought until he was 41 with no permanent damage.

He's the ONLY Heavyweight Champion with 2 or more successful title defenses who's NEVER been knocked down.

He is the ONLY retired Heavyweight Champion who's NEVER been behind on points after ANY of his fights.

VItali knocked out 2 Heavyweight Champions who knocked his brother Wladimir Klitschko down 7 times...

He stopped 2 of the 4 Heavyweights who knocked his brother out..

He took 4 years off to rehab his badly injured legs... and coming back at age 37, he went straight for the World Title with no tuneups and won it.

He has the 2nd highest KO ratio of all retired Heavyweight Champions.

His best win - by far - is Corrie Sanders

Avenging your brother's defeats to sub standard foes is not a measure of greatness.

Having said this, in an actual fight, prime for prime, Vitali probably wins.

good call. very happy how his career
ended in praise in defeat for showing
heart in a great fight.

Riddick Blowe wrote:I can actually see top 20 all-time for Wlad. Top 15 is a bit of a stretch.

Shoe in for top 10. Most defences barring Louis.

SteveO wrote:

Kalan wrote:Only a hater would believe Vitali Klitschko isn't top 20... He's a 3 X Heavyweight Champion and fought until he was 41 with no permanent damage.

He's the ONLY Heavyweight Champion with 2 or more successful title defenses who's NEVER been knocked down.

He is the ONLY retired Heavyweight Champion who's NEVER been behind on points after ANY of his fights.

VItali knocked out 2 Heavyweight Champions who knocked his brother Wladimir Klitschko down 7 times...

He stopped 2 of the 4 Heavyweights who knocked his brother out..

He took 4 years off to rehab his badly injured legs... and coming back at age 37, he went straight for the World Title with no tuneups and won it.

He has the 2nd highest KO ratio of all retired Heavyweight Champions.

Of course Vitali Klitschko deserves a place in the ATG top 20.

Agree.

Loki wrote:

Riddick Blowe wrote:I can actually see top 20 all-time for Wlad. Top 15 is a bit of a stretch.

Shoe in for top 10. Most defences barring Louis.

In combination...

A guy who was stopped four times, three of them at his best or close to his best by sub-standard foes, knocked down around 13 times total, almost beat by Sam Peter, reigned in a dire era, was limited technically, had a history of spoiling and fouling, and doesn’t have a marquee win…doesn’t belong in the top 10 all-time.

How does this perceived standing change if he had got stopped vs Peter and disqualified vs Povetkin? He becomes just a big strong guy who was good at demolishing bums but had 7 losses and his best win was a blown-up cruiserweight.

Ossyrules wrote:Wlad is about top 13-18 I'd say. Top ten too high, top twenty shade too low

I agree with you, but BoxRec rates Wladimir No. 6 all time heavyweight.

Ron C wrote:Pretty crazy. I actually just got a tattoo of him finished today. Come home and read this lol

You got a tattoo of Wlad?

RScarf1 wrote:

Ossyrules wrote:Wlad is about top 13-18 I'd say. Top ten too high, top twenty shade too low

I agree with you, but BoxRec rates Wladimir No. 6 all time heavyweight.

Boxrec also rates Floyd Mayweather the best pound for pound of all time.

Ron C wrote:Pretty crazy. I actually just got a tattoo of him finished today. Come home and read this lol

Photo evidence?

Impractical Poster wrote:

Ron C wrote:Pretty crazy. I actually just got a tattoo of him finished today. Come home and read this lol

You got a tattoo of Wlad?

As the man said...Pretty Crazy

Kalan wrote:

Tony1244 wrote:

x2x wrote:THE greatest heavyweight ever, except for his brother Vitali who was even better. They totally dominated the heavyweight division at a time when it was far bigger and stronger and international in scope that it had ever been before. No one has dominated a sport like they did since the great Babe Ruth ruled baseball in the 1920's and 30'.

Ali and Louis dominated the HW as well. Louis had the most title defenses (25) I believe.

Fine.. but those defenses came against guys like Jack Roper, Red Burman, Harry Thomas, Tony Galento, and Tony Musto... Sports writers had a name for the caliber of opponent Louis defended the title against, "The Bum of the Month Club." ... I don't see any of those boys getting close to a title shot today.

True, some of those guys were better known as actors.

Riddick Blowe wrote:

Kalan wrote:Only a hater would believe Vitali Klitschko isn't top 20... He's a 3 X Heavyweight Champion and fought until he was 41 with no permanent damage.

He's the ONLY Heavyweight Champion with 2 or more successful title defenses who's NEVER been knocked down.

He is the ONLY retired Heavyweight Champion who's NEVER been behind on points after ANY of his fights.

VItali knocked out 2 Heavyweight Champions who knocked his brother Wladimir Klitschko down 7 times...

He stopped 2 of the 4 Heavyweights who knocked his brother out..

He took 4 years off to rehab his badly injured legs... and coming back at age 37, he went straight for the World Title with no tuneups and won it.

He has the 2nd highest KO ratio of all retired Heavyweight Champions.

His best win - by far - is Corrie Sanders

Avenging your brother's defeats to sub standard foes is not a measure of greatness.

Having said this, in an actual fight, prime for prime, Vitali probably wins.

Vitali Klitschko's resume includes: Kirk Johnson, Corrie Sanders (Heavyweight Champion), Larry Donald, Herbie Hide (Heavyweight Champon), Lennox Lewis (ahead on points on all cards following the fight), Chris Byrd (ahead on points on all cards following the fight), Tomasz Adamek (2-Division World Champion), Shannon Briggs (2 time Heavyweight Champion who is younger than Vitali by 2 years.), Odlanier Solis (Olympic Gold Medal winner), Juan Carlos Gomez (World Cruiserweight Champion), Sam Peter (Reigning World Heavyweight Champion) --- won 15 World Heavyweight Championship Fights while never getting knocked down during his entire career... Vitali always ended ahead on points following all his fights... Was never was out-pointed, never out-boxed, and never knocked down... Was a 3-time Heavyweight Champion... Never fought anyone who weighed less than 210 pounds... Was beaten only twice, both defeats due to injuries while leading on points on all scorecards following both fights... Has the 2nd Highest KO ratio of any Heavyweight Champion who's not currently active (87%)... Fought to age 41 and still displayed superb skills by winning his last 13 fights... Showed no ill effects other than leg injuries from 210 amateur boxing matches, 36 professional Kickboxing matches, and 47 professional boxing matches... Won his first 27 professional fights by KO, which included 3 World Heavyweight Championship Fights...

Contrast that with Muhammad Ali who lost more than twice as many fights... Was beaten by a huge underdog who had only 7 fights... Was beaten by two 10/1 underdogs... Was floored 4 times... Fought 41 opponents who weighed less than 210... Was badly battered and beaten to trash... Had his jaw shattered and suffered other injuries... Fought many very small Heavyweights and even Light Heavyweights... Fought to age 39 but couldn't complete well because the many head shots he absorbed ultimately ravaged his ability to box effectively... Lost 3 of his last 4 fights...

Riddick Blowe wrote:

RScarf1 wrote:

Ossyrules wrote:Wlad is about top 13-18 I'd say. Top ten too high, top twenty shade too low

I agree with you, but BoxRec rates Wladimir No. 6 all time heavyweight.

Boxrec also rates Floyd Mayweather the best pound for pound of all time.

Good point. I salute you.

Boxrec is a lot closer with their # 6 ATG ranking for Wladimir... He's really number 3 behind Joshua and Vitali if you want to be totally honest about it.

Wlad had a somewhat wide and klunky stance and faulty footwork when he was KOing guys like Barrett, Jefferson, Mercer, McCline, and in the 1st Byrd fight.. His defense had major holes in it al a Foreman, Ali, and Louis.. But how many ATG's can you see beating a prime Wladimir after he'd been with Steward for 4 or 5 years ironing his flaws out and building on his strengths? His stance, footwork, timing, jab, and defense have been superb for the last 10 years..

I have to say, I don't think Jonathan Banks was much of a head coach to replace Emmanuel Steward... Wlad suffered some regression in the last 4 years under Banks.. And I don't think he ever beats his brother or Joshua, but I don't see anyone else beating him.

Kalan wrote:Boxrec is a lot closer with their # 6 ATG ranking for Wladimir... He's really number 3 behind Joshua and Vitali if you want to be totally honest about it.

Wlad had a somewhat wide and klunky stance and faulty footwork when he was KOing guys like Barrett, Jefferson, Mercer, McCline, and in the 1st Byrd fight.. His defense had major holes in it al a Foreman, Ali, and Louis.. But how many ATG's can you see beating a prime Wladimir after he'd been with Steward for 4 or 5 years ironing his flaws out and building on his strengths? His stance, footwork, timing, jab, and defense have been superb for the last 10 years..

I have to say, I don't think Jonathan Banks was much of a head coach to replace Emmanuel Steward... Wlad suffered some regression in the last 4 years under Banks.. And I don't think he ever beats his brother or Joshua, but I don't see anyone else beating him.

What about those who actually beat him? Like Purity, Sanders, Fury and Brewster?

Kalan wrote:Boxrec is a lot closer with their # 6 ATG ranking for Wladimir... He's really number 3 behind Joshua and Vitali if you want to be totally honest about it.

No. 3 all time heavyweight? With Joshua and Vitali No. 1 and No. 2? The Klitschko brothers are among the top three best heavyweights of all time? I disagree and I think most people on this forum would disagree as well.

RScarf1 wrote:

Kalan wrote:Boxrec is a lot closer with their # 6 ATG ranking for Wladimir... He's really number 3 behind Joshua and Vitali if you want to be totally honest about it.

No. 3 all time heavyweight? With Joshua and Vitali No. 1 and No. 2? The Klitschko brothers are among the top three best heavyweights of all time? I disagree and I think most people on this forum would disagree as well.

I agree

I think Wlad has a good case for being ranked ahead of guys like Jack Johnson (an important historical figure, but look at who he actually beat and how big they were) and Marciano. IMO he's not that far off top 10....

Vitali just doesn't have the resume to be a major player in ATG discussions that factor in accomplishments.

Crazy thing is if things fall right Wlad won't be a first ballot HOF fighter.