Can Wladimir Klitschko break Joe Louis's 25 title defense record?

There's no reason to believe that there was anybody from Eastern Europe that would've been competitive in the Ali-Foreman-Frazier-Holmes era. Yes, there is, because as soon as Soviet Bloc'ers were allowed to compete in Pro Boxing they steamrolled.

Same thing that happened when Soviets/Eastern Europeans competed against our elite boxers in the Olympics Leave us alone with your Olympics. Pro Boxing and Olympics are different sports. Necrophile Clay lickers make me really sad. But then again, it makes perfect sense. Worshipping corpses are the only thing they have left.

Haha, you are really funny. First you start off with Instead of only being knocked out by big fat slow plodding bums, he would be getting knocked out by quick, slick, agile bums. and A decomposing Joe Louis in his grave would be able to defeat Ross Parity. and Glass jaw Wlad wouldn't last a round with Joe Louis, and Vitali would just quit LOL. But you also mention: Only in the deluded world inside your head. It's so funny when I am arguing with HARD FACTS (pictures, real world records, real world definitions) and you answer with some of your favorite fantasies, which obviously include rotting corpses. Tell me, is the rotting body of Joe Louis the only male body you fantasize about? One eyed halfway blind Joe Frazier along George Foreman BOTH knocked out the best heavyweights Eastern Europe had to offer in the Olympics 1) Spare me Olympics. 2) Joe Frazier was not yet half-blind at the Olympics. What do you think they would have did to them as fully developed pros if they were allowed to compete? What would have happened if they would have allowed Soviets to turn pro and to compete can be seen in our times: Utter domination against helpless Americans.

If he wants to he can do anything.

I would feel safe in wagering that in the next 50 years we will not see another Heavyweight Champion defend his belt as many times as Wlad will have done by the time he retires. That alone should help to put his legacy into perspective for those who look back a few decades from now without the same bias that many posters here hold against Klitschko. As I wrote Wlad surpassed already all champions that lived to date (since 18xx). Only if one includes sub-200 opposition (which Wlad isn't allowed to box) or bums (like some of Ali's or Holmes or Louis' opponents) then these guys have a slight edge. In fact HAD WLAD FOUGHT opponents like Frazier (blind on left eye) or Cleveland Williams (atrophied leg after a gun shooting) it would be the final proof how the division sucks. And of Louis' 27 title fights * 9 were 190+ lbs * 7 were 180+ lbs * 1 was 170+ lbs of the remaining 10 * 4 came off a loss of the remaining 6 * 2 were against bums (Farr, Roper) The remaining 4 were * Galento (a former cruiser) * Nova (a former cruiser) * Buddy Baer That's Joe Louis' world title record in a nutshell. In terms of real heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko's record is so much better than Louis'. It's an insult to compare Louis to Klitschko. And the ONLY reason why people dare to compare these two is because of the misnomer "heavyweight". Take a look at this pic and you know how Joe Louis' record would have been evaporated the minute he stepped into a ring with a modern heavyweight: http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/6359/joelouisphoto01.th.jpg This is what they called a heavyweight fight back then (Louis standing on some box here BTW): http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/531/louis3333.th.jpg Louis would be demolished by B-level cruisers these days. Add to it that these guys fought mainly American opposition (since Soviet Bloc'ers were FORBIDDEN to box) the record of Louis, Ali (and even Lennox) is far less worth than Klitschko's. Ali's belts are approximately as much worth as the EBU belts nowadays. Louis' belts probably even less. It's pretty safe to assume that in the next decades there won't be any champ like Wlad, since he already surpassed the greats of the last century.

No..........

He'll probably end up with around 20 which is still pretty damn impressive. Unfortunately his haters will probably try to taint that feat much like people did with Louis and the "bum of the month club".

It might depend on what kind of opponents he takes either contenders who pose a threat or bums. How does it matter? Many of Louis' 25 defenses were against guys who had no business fighting for the Heavyweight Title. In this day and age most of the fights would not have even been sanctioned. The record has nothing to do with quality of opposition and any Heavyweight who defends his title 25 times if obviously going to end up running into a fair amount of fighters who have little or no business sharing the ring with him. I would feel safe in wagering that in the next 50 years we will not see another Heavyweight Champion defend his belt as many times as Wlad will have done by the time he retires. That alone should help to put his legacy into perspective for those who look back a few decades from now without the same bias that many posters here hold against Klitschko.

It might depend on what kind of opponents he takes either contenders who pose a threat or bums.

Does Wlad have to have 25 consecutive title defenses or just 25 title defenses to break the record? The record is 25 straight title defenses of the Heavyweight title. Lineal wise, Klitschko is 23 away from breaking. Even on a curve, looking only at the IBF, he's 16 from making a general run (i.e. the difference between the Hopkins record and Monzon's at Middle). It's highly unlikely at 23. Just plain unlikely on the other (if for no other reason he might want to retire and count chips). He has a shot at the general (i.e. not lineal title) record for wins in Heavyweight title fights period if one includes the soft first WBO reign (soft because Lennox was generally accepted as THE champ). He needs ten more wins to past Louis's 25. No matter the final tally, it's impressive. Hello Canastota.

A fan of Wlad that tries to say he fought better opposition than Ali should be laughed at. Wlad's a good champion. Ali he is not. Yeah, what's missing is a half-blind fat dwarf on Wlad's record.

Are you actually trying to claim that Wlad has faced harder opposition than any heavyweight fighter in history? Cos that's pretty laughable. This thread is about title fights. Wlad broke the records of all HW champs to date when it comes to number of title wins against real heavyweight (200+ lbs) non-bummy opposition. And still counting.

Both Klitschkos have said several times that they'll never fight Holyfield unless he becomes a mandatory, they have too much respect to fight a washed-up version of him and beat him up. Toney and Mormeck would be jokes. would be fun to watch them beat up holyfield though...cos thats only way he will retire, unless he asks for a rematch!!!!!!! LOL

i think klit should speed up to to get closer ot that record by fighting people like 1. holyfield 2. toney 3. mormeck he can fit all these in 12 months and although are easy, will look good on his cv Both Klitschkos have said several times that they'll never fight Holyfield unless he becomes a mandatory, they have too much respect to fight a washed-up version of him and beat him up. Toney and Mormeck would be jokes.

i think klit should speed up to to get closer ot that record by fighting people like 1. holyfield 2. toney 3. mormeck he can fit all these in 12 months and although are easy, will look good on his cv

Big difference between 25 straight defenses of the undisputed title and what we are seeing now. Hmm no, back then there was only 1 title, it was much easier to be "undisputed", because it's not like the title was going to stay vacated until you beat 3 or 4 guys. That title is equal to being the #1 HW, and Wlad has been #1 for all of his reign, so...

As a Calzaghe fan you shouldn't have no room to talk. I like both Calzaghe and the Klits. I'm pretty sure being a Calzaghe fan doesn't invalidate my opinion. If I said Calzaghe had fought better opposition than Sugar Ray Robinson I would be quite rightly laughed at. A fan of Wlad that tries to say he fought better opposition than Ali should be laughed at. Wlad's a good champion. Ali he is not.

Big difference between 25 straight defenses of the undisputed title and what we are seeing now.

Streaks are offtopic here. Wlad already broke Louis record. Louis won 8x in real heavyweight fights. Nobody can seriously consider Billy Conn (174 lbs = sub cruiser) or Red Burman (188 lbs, who started at 148 lbs) a title defense comparable to real massive heavyweight. Compare apples to apples. Wlad long time ago surpassed Louis' heavyweight title wins. He surpassed Lennox, next he will surpass Ali's and then Larry Holmes. Actually when you delete sub-heavies and bums off the record (= those who lose 25% or more of their fights) Wlad has already surpassed ANY OTHER heavyweight champ in history, because Holmes had his title fights padded with bums like Ocasio (23-13) and Ali with bums like Coopman (36-16) name..............|title.wins|title.wins.heavyweight.200x2|title.wins.non-bums Wladimir.Klitschko|17........|17..........................|16................. Lennox.Lewis......|15........|15..........................|15................. Muhammad.Ali......|22........|19..........................|13................. Mike.Tyson........|12........|12..........................|9.................. George.Foreman....|5.........|4...........................|4.................. Rocky.Marciano....|7.........|0...........................|0.................. Joe.Louis.........|26........|8...........................|7.................. Evander.Holyfield.|10........|10..........................|9.................. Larry.Holmes......|20........|20..........................|13................. Get over it. Nobody has such a good record like Wladimir. And I didn't even count the KOs here. Are you actually trying to claim that Wlad has faced harder opposition than any heavyweight fighter in history? Cos that's pretty laughable.

What's he on now? In his current reign he's at 11 defenses, and he has a total of 16 titles defenses.