BoxRec

Thats very old for a boxer and he looked old against Fury. Wish the guy the best against Joshua.

Happy birthday Wlad!

Unbelievable that he and his brother kept on at this level into their 40s.

His career is winding down, but he had a great one and remains a true professional.

Happy birthday champ, and you will once again be heavyweight champ after the Joshua fight.

At his advanced age, Wladimir could have taken an easier route to a belt, and chosen to fight Ruiz or Parker for the WBO or someone like Browne or Briggs for a WBA.

But instead he is taking on the most dangerous opponent, the biggest puncher in the heavyweight division.

Freedom2013 wrote:At his advanced age, Wladimir could have taken an easier route to a belt, and chosen to fight Ruiz or Parker for the WBO or someone like Browne or Briggs for a WBA.

But instead he is taking on the most dangerous opponent, the biggest puncher in the heavyweight division.

He took the biggest cash out payday on offer, no more no less. I can't fault him.

Just like Louis passed the torch to Marciano so Klitschko will pass on the torch to Joshua. His fights have been boring as fuck the last several years but he has always done things right. He has never ducked anyone. For that alone he deserves respect.

Baby Face Finster wrote:He has never ducked anyone. For that alone he deserves respect.

When you have 3 major world titles and fight only twice a year.. Klit was never gonna vacate his titles, he literally had to fight mandatory after mandatory.. probably 1 voluntary every 2 years.. even then, most of the opponents were ranked top 10..

If Wladimir was to beat Joshua, how damaging do you believe it would be to the young up-starts career, with Wladimir being the age he is and how he looked in his last fight?

IT wrote:If Wladimir was to beat Joshua, how damaging do you believe it would be to the young up-starts career, with Wladimir being the age he is and how he looked in his last fight?

It'd set back Joshua another two-three years.

After all, if Klitschko wins, he'll probably go after Deontay Wilder or the Parker-Fury winner. Joshua would have to go back to the drawing board, especially if he loses badly.

I suspect that if Tyson Fury does return, what we'll probably see is a world title eliminator between Joshua-Fury for the right to fight Klitschko for the heavyweight championship; provided if Wlad doesn't retire first, and those two duke it out for the vacant title and then go after Wilder.

Loki wrote:Unbelievable that he and his brother kept on at this level into their 40s.

Wlad hasn't had a fight in his 40s.

Asterix wrote:

Loki wrote:Unbelievable that he and his brother kept on at this level into their 40s.

Wlad hasn't had a fight in his 40s.

..meaning Vitali?

I prefer Wlad to Joshua. However, that said, I think he'll be gunshy against Joshua and will probably get knocked out in pretty unpleasant fashion.

greg wrote:

Asterix wrote:

Loki wrote:Unbelievable that he and his brother kept on at this level into their 40s.

Wlad hasn't had a fight in his 40s.

..meaning Vitali?

No, Vitali did. Wlad hasn't yet had a fight in his 40s (he was 39 in his last fight), so we can't speculate on him keeping "on at this level" yet. He may get blown out in a round or dominated. Wlad's level in the Fury fight was nowhere near his previous. He did not look World class at all.

Asterix wrote:

Loki wrote:Unbelievable that he and his brother kept on at this level into their 40s.

Wlad hasn't had a fight in his 40s.

He's fighting Joshua and will be 40.

HomicideHenry wrote:

IT wrote:If Wladimir was to beat Joshua, how damaging do you believe it would be to the young up-starts career, with Wladimir being the age he is and how he looked in his last fight?

It'd set back Joshua another two-three years.

After all, if Klitschko wins, he'll probably go after Deontay Wilder or the Parker-Fury winner. Joshua would have to go back to the drawing board, especially if he loses badly.

I suspect that if Tyson Fury does return, what we'll probably see is a world title eliminator between Joshua-Fury for the right to fight Klitschko for the heavyweight championship; provided if Wlad doesn't retire first, and those two duke it out for the vacant title and then go after Wilder.

Could this be echoes of the first Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling fight?

Loki wrote:

Asterix wrote:

Loki wrote:Unbelievable that he and his brother kept on at this level into their 40s.

Wlad hasn't had a fight in his 40s.

He's fighting Joshua and will be 40.

You're being premature with your praise. 39 year old Wlad looked very poor. Let's wait and see. He hasn't yet had a fight in his 40s.

SteveO wrote:

Baby Face Finster wrote:He has never ducked anyone. For that alone he deserves respect.

True that, always in good nick too, in terms of professionalism he puts a lot of the modern day HW's who are 10 or 20 years younger to shame.

I thought he deserved to win against Fury. That was a BS decision. Nice breakfast he's eating. Eggs are good for you, including the yolk. He's in great shape, especially for his age, but I don't know if he can beat Joshua.

IT wrote:If Wladimir was to beat Joshua, how damaging do you believe it would be to the young up-starts career, with Wladimir being the age he is and how he looked in his last fight?

I guess the manner in which he lost would affect the answer but I don't think it would necessarily be as devastating to Joshua as you might think.

He strikes me as quite a mature young man who talks about his determination to train relentlessly in order to keep winning, but although he is fiercely determined and very confident, he isn't afraid to talk about the possibility of losing, and he's aware enough to know that not many of the greatest of boxers managed to avoid defeat throughout their careers.

We talk about his power and his strength but I get the distinct impression that he is psychologically well equipped for his chosen profession too. Hopefully he won't need to test my theory any time soon.

Baby Face Finster wrote:Just like Louis passed the torch to Marciano so Klitschko will pass on the torch to Joshua. His fights have been boring as fuck the last several years but he has always done things right. He has never ducked anyone. For that alone he deserves respect.

Well said that man