First of all let me say that I'm trying to get an intelligent neutral unbiased discussion out of this thread.
But the purpose of this thread is to find the criteria that makes "competition" (fighters) good "competition".
I personally think, and you can agree or disagree because this is a mater of opinion that if Wlad was involved in slug fests where the balance is always swinging in different directions but at the end he comes out on top that his competition would automatically be better in the eyes of the observer.
But because his fights are boring due to the fact that there is nothing his competitors can do to overcome his fighting style those competitors automatically become bums.
Before fighting the undefeated Peter, Peter was the next Tyson, he had a highlight reel of spectacular KO's, looked exciting but not a bum by any means....yet
But than he gets in the ring with Wlad and goes from hero to zero in an instant.
But Peter still is a dangerous fighter, or was rather, keep in mind that a defeat can do a lot of psychological damage to a person. He didn't get any worse. He was still responsible for knocking guys out left right and center.
Maybe there are certain fighters that just perfected the art of boxing a certain way that makes their competition look terrible, and I mean LOOK.
Ricky Hatton is not a bum, he is a very good competitive fighter, but Mayweather made him look like a bum, or rather he makes everyone look like bums.
Same with Wlad I think. Let's pretend he did not exist. The fighters we have to do would keep on fighting we'd have different champs, Youd have Peter, Gomez, Haye mixing it up and I bet it would be exciting. People would be entertained. And the Era would not be seen as weak because it would produce entertainment and entertainment overshadows pure boxing.
And that's what it all comes down to in the end. Entertainment. Few care about actual boxing. People wanna see knockouts, blood and guts.
Few appreciate Mayweather never getting hit or Wlad utilizing his jab and strength to such an extent that he doesnt need to rely on anything else.
I personally don't like Wlads fighting style, its borring. I like to see more variety and I have honestly watched only 1 of his fights live in the last 5 years.
But as someone who stepped in the ring I understand that there is nothing you can do against a guy that fights like him. And thats what happens to his opponents.
He doesnt make mistakes. And when people execute everything perfectly things are usually boring. Its the mistakes and how we correct them that makes for a good show.
Did everyone forget that before the first fight Peter was tailor made to beat Wlad? He was the guy with KO power who swung wild and knocked mans out. And after the Sanders loss that what the experts said was needed to win against Wlad.
So now that someone with power is no longer suited to beat Wlad what kind of fighter is?
I think its someone like Wlad himself but 2x better. Someone with his size his strength but more tools. But I think that will be in the next generation of fighters when guys that big will have the tools that lets say Ali had.
Its all evolution. 50 years ago guys the size of Wlad were freak shows unable to put anything decent together. Today guys his size have real athletic ability.
The benchmark heights for sprinters was what? 6'0 - 6'1"? Now its changed.
Same with boxing.