Bruno v Wlad K

[Bodyshot3]

I like my mythical fights to have a bit of a "what if" quotient and this feels like one in my guts.

Wlad has the far better career in terms of longevity of reign, belts accumulated and earnings.
He's miles ahead of Frank on these counts and physically and technically he holds some key advantages.

But Bruno brings game-ending hitting power - those big overhand hooks and (at his best) a properly sickening jab into the bargain that often set up the big bombs. And Wlad could be both dropped and stopped by someone prepared to have a dig who also had a dig...which was Bruno in the right place.

The older, more seasoned Bruno could also fight rough and retained the bull-like strength not to be clinched by Wlad and either drive him to a corner or get an arm free and keep punching in the hold. Frank got good at this.

It seems like Wlad according to the form book/titles won....but Bruno coming out hard and fast, bowling a few bombs like Sanders and it gets very interesting for my money; even with all Manny Steward's corrections.

[Woldemar]

Prime , focused Wlad would stop Bruno in 9-11 rounds.

[Noxy]

I was a big Bruno fan. I don’t see him beating Wlad though. When he was on his game, Wlad was fairly fearsome. Sure Bruno has a puncher‘s chance but I think it more likely that Wlad stops him late.

[margaret thatcher]

A dude here once said it was ridiculous to pick Wlad in this, because his resume wasnt good enough

It's an interesting fight, seems like one where both could go down

[DrDuke]

Wlad was a much better boxer than Bruno. Wlad would outjab Frank. And Bruno's holding wouldn't help him here, ha-ha. Wlad would outbox Frank, break him down and knock him out in about 8-10 rounds.

[AntonioMartin]

Wlad in a boring fight..like Wlad vs Haye.

[Bodyshot3]

Thanks fellas

I still think the fight has some real bite despite Wlad's vastly superior credentials....

....and not least if Bruno got any kind of early, successful start to shake Wlad up a bit and back him up too.

The opening rounds feel absolutely crucial....if Wlad is able to box from range early doors and begins to unhinge Frank with his jab and also begins to land some bombs of his own it is easy; but if he gets cracked early and never really able to settle it feels like a different, shock outcome.

[Ambling Alp II]

The "shock outcome" is very likely. This would probably go down to who hit who first.

[Bodyshot3]

Thanks as ever Ambling

The fight does feel a bit more edgy than the form book would actually suggest....Bruno could always crack and he could start fast when he fancied it and Wlad was vulnerable to someone coming right at him and from the get-go.

Those opening exchanges feel crucial....does Frank unleash the big shots and get the big Ukrainian backed-up and wobbled or does Wlad keep the range and begin to thump home jabs and hooks before stepping-in and finishing things relatively easily later down the line when Frank could be vulnerable?

If push came to shove.... I would argue that if Sanders could pull the trick, then surely Frank has a great chance too?
I predict Bruno quite possibly being one of those sinkholes in Wlad's otherwise excellent record.

[margaret thatcher]

Thanks as ever Ambling

The fight does feel a bit more edgy than the form book would actually suggest....Bruno could always crack and he could start fast when he fancied it and Wlad was vulnerable to someone coming right at him and from the get-go.

Those opening exchanges feel crucial....does Frank unleash the big shots and get the big Ukrainian backed-up and wobbled or does Wlad keep the range and begin to thump home jabs and hooks before stepping-in and finishing things relatively easily later down the line when Frank could be vulnerable?

If push came to shove.... I would argue that if Sanders could pull the trick, then surely Frank has a great chance too?
I predict Bruno quite possibly being one of those sinkholes in Wlad's otherwise excellent record.

You going for a Bruno win?

[Bodyshot3]

He's got a great shot.....I think Frank might have been one of Wlad's wrong 'uns.

[margaret thatcher]

So you picking him then mate?

[Bodyshot3]

I am finally coming off the fence MT
Yup, Bruno cracks Wlad and he is one of the blemishes on the WK record.

[margaret thatcher]

[Bodyshot3]

Took me a while didn't it
But I'd fancy Bruno to land one and Wlad being on queer street and Frank could finish blokes.

All gut instinct and Brit bias of course!

[Cojimar 1946]

Wladimir had a stretch of 9 years and 20 fights in which he rarely lost a round fighting numerous top contenders some of whom were clearly better than the guys who had upset him in earlier years.

He seems to have eliminated the weaknesses that lead to his earlier losses so I'm not sure how they factor in regarding his chances vis a vis Bruno.

I think Bruno would be an underdog vs guys like Pulev and Povetkin frankly.

[Ambling Alp II]

You might have him as underdog against them, but "Frankly", Bruno would beat them.
There is a mathematical formula for figuring out the importance of title defenses. Take that number (in this case 20) and multiply it by zero.

[DrDuke]

The likes of Povetkin, Haye and Pulev would deal with Bruno. There is simply a noticeable gap in class with them and him. It either wouldn't be any surprise, if the likes of Chagaev and Ibragimov would handle Bruno.

[Ambling Alp II]

What sport are we talking about? I hear Bruno was terrible at tennis.

[DrDuke]

What sport are we talking about? I hear Bruno was terrible at tennis.

I assume, the majority in this thread is likely to talk about boxing. So, you didn't guess it from the second attempt. Ok, the second one was tennis. I bet, the first one was bodybuilding, wasn't it?

[oogiebe]

The likes of Povetkin, Haye and Pulev would deal with Bruno. There is simply a noticeable gap in class with them and him. It either wouldn't be any surprise, if the likes of Chagaev and Ibragimov would handle Bruno.

Pov maybe, but no way on Haye and Pulev. Chagaev and Ibragimov are laughable mentions. Bruno was better than you remember, mate.

[DrDuke]

The likes of Povetkin, Haye and Pulev would deal with Bruno. There is simply a noticeable gap in class with them and him. It either wouldn't be any surprise, if the likes of Chagaev and Ibragimov would handle Bruno.

Pov maybe, but no way on Haye and Pulev. Chagaev and Ibragimov are laughable mentions. Bruno was better than you remember, mate.

Bruno was big and strong, but also he was robotic and quite vulnerable. That's why he had to rely on his dirty tactics. The biggest handled names of his resume were nearly all past prime. Who weren't, except McCall? His biggest win was McCall, he was lucky to have him as a champion to win the belt. His best performances were in the fights, which he lost, all by KO - Bonecrusher, Spoon, Lennox.

Povetkin is a faster, much tougher, more technical and diverse boxer. He won't be frustrated by Bruno's dirty tricks, he would punish Frank every time Bruno appeared in Povetkin's punching range. Povetkin is the fighter that should be outslicked and kept away. Bruno wasn't a type of a boxer to do it.

Haye would be too elusive and fast for Bruno. He would remain away and outbox Frank. Haye's chin was so-so, that's why Haye would have less chances than Povetkin, but still he just had a superior skillset, speed and reflexes.

Pulev looks a less tough matchup than Haye and Povetkin, but still his skills are more polished and he would outjab Bruno definitely. Pulev just could keep Frank outside and maul him with jabs-one twos.

As you can see, I was far less sure about Chagaev and Ibragimov, but still they were better technically than Frank and seemed not to be frustrated by bigger opponents. That's why I wouldn't be surprised, if they managed to outsmart and outbox Bruno.

[oogiebe]

The likes of Povetkin, Haye and Pulev would deal with Bruno. There is simply a noticeable gap in class with them and him. It either wouldn't be any surprise, if the likes of Chagaev and Ibragimov would handle Bruno.

Pov maybe, but no way on Haye and Pulev. Chagaev and Ibragimov are laughable mentions. Bruno was better than you remember, mate.

Bruno was big and strong, but also he was robotic and quite vulnerable. That's why he had to rely on his dirty tactics. The biggest handled names of his resume were nearly all past prime. Who weren't, except McCall? His biggest win was McCall, he was lucky to have him as a champion to win the belt. His best performances were in the fights, which he lost, all by KO - Bonecrusher, Spoon, Lennox.

Povetkin is a faster, much tougher, more technical and diverse boxer. He won't be frustrated by Bruno's dirty tricks, he would punish Frank every time Bruno appeared in Povetkin's punching range. Povetkin is the fighter that should be outslicked and kept away. Bruno wasn't a type of a boxer to do it.

Haye would be too elusive and fast for Bruno. He would remain away and outbox Frank. Haye's chin was so-so, that's why Haye would have less chances than Povetkin, but still he just had a superior skillset, speed and reflexes.

Pulev looks a less tough matchup than Haye and Povetkin, but still his skills are more polished and he would outjab Bruno definitely. Pulev just could keep Frank outside and maul him with jabs-one twos.

As you can see, I was far less sure about Chagaev and Ibragimov, but still they were better technically than Frank and seemed not to be frustrated by bigger opponents. That's why I wouldn't be surprised, if they managed to outsmart and outbox Bruno.

None of that changes my mind. But thanks.

[Ambling Alp II]

The likes of Povetkin, Haye and Pulev would deal with Bruno. There is simply a noticeable gap in class with them and him. It either wouldn't be any surprise, if the likes of Chagaev and Ibragimov would handle Bruno.

Pov maybe, but no way on Haye and Pulev. Chagaev and Ibragimov are laughable mentions. Bruno was better than you remember, mate.

They are all laughable. Bruno was no legend, but he had some boxing ability and was a much harder puncher than these guys.

[DrDuke]

The likes of Povetkin, Haye and Pulev would deal with Bruno. There is simply a noticeable gap in class with them and him. It either wouldn't be any surprise, if the likes of Chagaev and Ibragimov would handle Bruno.

Pov maybe, but no way on Haye and Pulev. Chagaev and Ibragimov are laughable mentions. Bruno was better than you remember, mate.

They are all laughable. Bruno was no legend, but he had some boxing ability and was a much harder puncher than these guys.

You've just successfully put the keyword "some" here. Cause all the mentioned competitors are / were better skilled.