Doug Fischer: "Wlad Klitschko would've been dangerous to ANYBODY in history even Ali"

from Dougie's Monday mailbag Posted Aug. 23, 2010 at 02:20am by Doug Fischer This current version of Klitschko would have been a dangerous outing for all of the former champs you mentioned, even Ali. I think prime Lewis would have connected with Wlad’s shaky chin before he connected with his questionable whiskers and score a mid-rounds KO. The prime Holyfield would have given him a very tough fight but Klitschko’s long jab and new-found ability to hold on the inside would have neutralized the great overachiever enough for Wladdy to win a decision. I think the prime Bowe out hustles Wladdy with his infighting ability and scores a close decision in a very good matchup of big men. The fight would mostly be an intense chess match dictated by their excellent jabs, but I think both would have their wobbly moments, which would add drama to the bout. I think the vintage Iron Mike’s fast hands and feet, bob-and-weave-style, and ability to quickly close off the distance would result in an early rounds KO loss for Wladdy. Tyson’s short stature would work in his favor and his body-head combinations would quickly overwhelm Klitschko, IMO. I think prime Ali wins a boring decision or stops Klitschko late. Prime Foreman could beat Wladdy with his telephone pole jab and superior chin, but his shaky stamina could bite him in the ass if Klitschko boxes a cautious fight. This is a tough matchup to figure out. Foreman was more effective against smaller guys (Frazier) and generally had trouble with big/tall fighters with good jabs (Ron Lyle, Ali). He never faced anyone as tall and powerful as Wladdy, whose got a punishing jab. However, Foreman was good at catching shots with his gloves and cutting the ring off on mobile opponents. He could be sloppy when he went to the body, but he did so with conviction. I don’t see Wladimir standing his ground with Foreman the way Lyle did or taking the kind of punishment along the ropes as Ali did. I’m going to go with Foreman by mid-rounds KO in a pretty wild affair. http://www.ringtv.com/blog/2237/dougies_monday_mailbag/

Comments (20)

i don't know how to compare today era to muhamad ali

15y ago

Iceta_Lives

I don't think he'd be a hard fight for Foreman, Frazier, or Ali. All the other guys on the list he'd probably give a good fight to. But Ali, Frazier, and Foreman destroy Vlad with ease. Come on guys. We're talking about a guy who lost to Ross Puritty, Corrie frigging Sanders, and Lamon Brewster.

15y ago

qwerty07

The only heavies Wlad would lose to are the agressive ones like Tyson. I think if people try to outjab Wlad they would lose because Wlad has all the physical advantages.

15y ago

IMDAZED

If Joe Louis ever got into a ring with Wlad...he would find himself outside of it very quickly. Wlad would knock him out of it go home and eat a burrito. Wlad "The Legend Killa"Klitschko cant be beat by the old timers. Find me one guy from the past with the rippling muscles, the speed, the balance, the power of Wlad Klitschko. Shavers was a bum...love when people talk about that cruiser bum beater like he was something special. Dude had no chin, couldnt box, he could throw a punch that was it, he hit somewhere less than Shannon Briggs and somewhere heavier than Hasim Rahman. In fact Rahman was better than Briggs. Has the better KO, has the better record, has the better fighters on his resume. Had a better chin, was a better boxer. His losses were to guys like Tua, Ruiz, Holy, Lewis, and Wlad....not to guys with LOSING records like Shavers. The deification of the older fighters on here is ridiculous. Can you name any top fighter that Klitschko has KO'ed early? Just one, thanks.

15y ago

THorton

I wish there were odds on when this guy was going to get banned. I would have been rich.

15y ago

Dynamite_Kid

Be nice to see a fight where he needs to! You know since you said that, i have been on youtube to check out his jab again, it seems he paws with a lot more than i used to think, particularly against Ibragimov, that was just ridiculous Lol, they were just patting each others left hands down.

15y ago

GJC

Yeah, although i would say that Wlad is capable of snapping it6 when he wants/needs to. Be nice to see a fight where he needs to!

15y ago

Dynamite_Kid

Good analysis DK but don't we call that a pawing jab ;) Yeah, although i would say that Wlad is capable of snapping it6 when he wants/needs to.

15y ago

Jim_Jeffries

I can't see Wlad beating Ali, Foreman, Tyson, Liston or Bowe, at least with any consistency. I'll have to reread Fischer's comments though, saying someone would be dangerous to is not the same thing as saying you would favor them against. -Mostly pawing against southpaws.

15y ago

GJC

Yeah but those two jab very differently, meaning Wlad and Liston, Liston was a type of guy who committed to the jab, meaning, if he missed the jab, you could slip away, cause he stepped in with it, Wlad is a guy that does not commit to the jab, he jabs from the backseat, he only throws the jab when he knows its 100% going to land, IMO Liston used it more as offensive weapon, Wlad does in a way, but its more of a defensive weapon first and foremost, to establish distance, then when he gets comfortable with throwing it, cause he is landing it, he will put right hands behind it and start to stepping it up. Now when fighting someone like Ali, it would make it easier for Ali to slip inside someone like Liston's jab, than it would to slip inside Wlad's, simply because of the way each fighter uses it. You try and slip inside a jab that someone does not commit to and they can drop the right hand counter on you, which is what Wlad is capable of doing, has done it before. Good analysis DK but don't we call that a pawing jab ;)

15y ago

Dynamite_Kid

Don't forget Liston has a longer reach than any of them. Thing is Wlad had a lot of weaknesses in his earlier career and he has compensated for them, lets be realistic he hasn't suddenly developed a granite chin. The problem is none of his opponents has had the skills to pose him any problems and you can't help but wonder if the also ran's of the past such as Bugner, Bruno and Cooney etc etc would have just as much success as Wlad against his opponents. Yeah but those two jab very differently, meaning Wlad and Liston, Liston was a type of guy who committed to the jab, meaning, if he missed the jab, you could slip away, cause he stepped in with it, Wlad is a guy that does not commit to the jab, he jabs from the backseat, he only throws the jab when he knows its 100% going to land, IMO Liston used it more as offensive weapon, Wlad does in a way, but its more of a defensive weapon first and foremost, to establish distance, then when he gets comfortable with throwing it, cause he is landing it, he will put right hands behind it and start to stepping it up. Now when fighting someone like Ali, it would make it easier for Ali to slip inside someone like Liston's jab, than it would to slip inside Wlad's, simply because of the way each fighter uses it. You try and slip inside a jab that someone does not commit to and they can drop the right hand counter on you, which is what Wlad is capable of doing, has done it before.

15y ago

GJC

When i first spoke about Ali vs Wlad, i thought Wlad could give him a lot of trouble if he utilized his reach, only i have discovered that there is only 1 inch reach advantage for Wlad, which makes me rethink, before i thought Ali would find it difficult to get something going offensively if Wlad was to dominate/dictate with his superior reach, but i thought it was considerable reach, its not, therefore, i dont think Ali would as much trouble getting off, particularly if he kept resetting Wlad, Wlad seems like someone who needs you to stay still, infact his movement when someone resets him is very robotic, and im not sure he would be able to react to the attacks quick enough of someone as fluid as Ali would could move to the side, but also then move foward quickly , get off a combination, then get away. Don't forget Liston has a longer reach than any of them. Thing is Wlad had a lot of weaknesses in his earlier career and he has compensated for them, lets be realistic he hasn't suddenly developed a granite chin. The problem is none of his opponents has had the skills to pose him any problems and you can't help but wonder if the also ran's of the past such as Bugner, Bruno and Cooney etc etc would have just as much success as Wlad against his opponents.

15y ago

Left_Hook_Tua

What is this sh*t about Riddick Bowe of all people? If anyone is gonna beat the Klitschko it's not the fattest, laziest and most cowardly of all the fighters listed. Riddick Bowe? LMAO. Show me a video of the Klitschkos throwing a Heavyweight Title Belt in a trash can and then we can talk. riddick bowe was pretty damn good. he just didn't take care of himself and was shot at a young age.

15y ago

La_Cucaracha

15y ago

Dynamite_Kid

15y ago

GJC

I think Wlad easily takes Bowe. Bowe struggled with all the really good fighters he fought and the best fighters out there he avoided. Golata took Bowe to school. Are you going to start talking about mythical primes? If so, then Wlad's prime started in 2006, so you cant count any fights before then. Sure you don't want to start his prime in 2005 he'd managed to find a way not to get the crap beaten out of him by then? English is really coming on, been taking a crash course?

15y ago

GJC

Would the nine of you who think Wladimir Klitschko beats Riddick Bowe please make yourselves known? That would be effin' awesome. Yeah note the poll isn't public, got to keep those alts undercover lol

15y ago

AKATheMack

I voted everyone of them. I dont think hes better than them all, but Id say he a decent chance to beat any of them.

15y ago

GJC

A few inch height disadvantage isnt much for someone with Ali's skills? Really? Howd Ali do against the only fighter an inch taller than him who weighed more...Joe Bugner? I mean a 23 year old less skilled, less powerful, less big, less tall Bugner took Ali to the wire Christ are you repeating this drivel in here too? OK 27 rounds with Bugner how many did Bugner win? 3/4? Bugner won the weigh ins though! Use some references rather than your imagination. He would be looking at over a 3 inch height disadvantage. Makes you wonder how Tyson ever won a fight! Mind that was 50/60 years ago wasn't it!

15y ago

Allucard

I agree with Fisher. People underrate Wlad because he's not american. What is exactly an underrated fighter? Is he someone who REGULARLY has 2-3 threads comparing him to ATG fighters, every single day but dominates in a much weaker era than even the weakest of them? That's what you call an underrated fighter? Or is it because most won't agree with such claims?

15y ago