KLITSCHKO VS. THE LEGENDS.*
For those who are tired of watching Waldimir Klitschkodust off his competition, The RING is offering a temporary balm this month. No, we haven't finally talked him into fighting his brother Vitali. But we are reviewing an old journalistic chestnut and matching him against some legendary figures from boxings past.*
"Dream bout" articles are tricky. Would kiltschko and these phantoms of yore go 15 rounds or 12? Do they use up to date gloves or old style gloves with unattached thumbs? Is the referee from this era or an old time ref who allows the fight to continue through blood and multiple knockdowns? But even if the bouts take place under some sort of "unified rules of boxing eras" matching THE RING heavyweight champion against the legends is difficult for other reasons. For one, even klitschko's keenest admirers agree that he has ruled over a poor era of heavy weights. They'd also admit that his chin would probalby fail him in a shoot out. Still, some think klitschko might do well against the men who preceded him on the throne. *"It sounds like sacrilege but I think waldimir would beat many of the old time greats" said veteran boxing journalist Graham Houston, who has covered boxing since 1960. "Klitschko, to use the modern term, would be a bad style matchup. He's just to big".*
On the other hand ESPN's Teddy Atlas is among those who don't feel Klitschko's style or size count for much. The Klitschko who suffered some embarrassing loses early in his career is the real Klitschko, according to atlas, "and that guy doesn't have the character to compete with the the great fighters of the past." We told you this would be easy along with atlas THE RING asked other boxing panelist for their take on Wald vs the Greats.*
Klitschko vs the legends cont
Mike Tyson*
At times Tyson was a brilliant knockout artist. At others, he was a reckless slob. Either way, a fighter had to be constantly aggressive to beat him, which isn't something we see from Klitschko, who is miserly with his right hand. A bout with Klitschko would've been similar to Tyson's dull 12 rounder with James BoneCrusher Smith who opted to clinch Tyson rather thank fight. TYSON had a tendency to doze off when opponents were tying him up, but as he did with Smith, Tyson would damage Klitschko enough on the inside to impress the judges. The result might be different if we were discussing the later period Tyson, the one who struggled and ran out of gas against Kevin Mcbride. But that's not the Tyson people think about when matching him in dream bouts. The vintage Tyson, the firebrand who threw hooks and uppercuts like he was hopping to tear a man's head off, would have intimated Klitschko into freezing up. Klitschko is at his best when when he is certain the coast is clear. Where Tyson was concerned, an overly cautious fighter like Klitschko wasn't going to have much success.*
VERDICT TYSON DEC
LENNOX LEWIS*
Lewis was nearly Klitschko's size and like Klitschko, he liked to break down opponents before putting them away. There are other similarities both a cerebral fighters, both like working behind a jab to set up their right hand and both hired Emanuel steward after suffering knockout losses. Lewis' losses came when he underestimated an opponent and was caught napping. But Lewis would be ready for Klitschko in a chess match for a few rounds before turning up the aggression and finally answering the question of how pile driving right hands does it take to topple a giant Ukrainian.*
VERDICT LEWIS KO 10 * *
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Klitschko vs the legends. Cont
JOE FRAZIER
Frazier was a fighting machine, wading into opponents, battering their bodies and winging left hooks at their heads. But because his style was all forward motion, he had trouble with big heavy handed fighters. Hence, Klitschko might land some bombs and maybe even drop joe a couple of times. But Klitschko's habit of waiting for the perfect moment to strike would be disastrous against Frazier. "Smokin Joe" would regroup and start battling Klitschko down the stretch. By the late rounds, Frazier would be gaining steam, hitting the target hard and often.*
VERDICT FRAZIER DEC
GEORGE FOREMAN
Weather it was the young intimidator who tried to blow down everything that stood in his way or the wily veteran who became a star again in his 40's Forman could give Klitschko nightmares. Forman could take a punch and walk through Klitschko's jab until he could land one of his bludgeoning punches. If Klitschko tried to hold him, Forman would shove him off. In Forman's younger days he suffered from stamina problems and was troubled by smart boxers, but even the immature version of Forman would connect with enough haymakers to melt Klitschko.*
VERDICT FORMAN KO 10
LARRY HOLMES
Holmes had a brilliant jab, a deadly accurate right hand and amazing recuperative powers. He had a nasty attitude, too, and would employ some dirty stuff to help gain a mental edge. Holmes was a rarity, in that he was a bully who had the skill and toughness to back up his bullying. Klitschko's size and conditioning would make the bout interesting, but Holmes jab would neutralize Klitschko's. Master technician Holmes would also find a way to defuse Klitschko's right. Given Wald's cautious nature, Holmes would out work him.*
VERDICT HOLMES DEC
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FLOYD PATTERSON
Not only was Patterson quick as a cat, he was a better then average puncher. Also he made boxing history by becoming the first man to regain the heavy weight champion ship twice. Still, he was small and prone to self doubt. The man who was so in awe of Sonny Liston might also have been intimidated by Klitschko's massive structure Patterson might have have been baffled by the mammoth presence in front of him that the Klitschko could take his time and nail Patterson with long range shots. You can bet on Patterson hitting the canvas a few times in this one, gamely taking punches untill the ref put a end to it.*
VERDICT KLITSCHKO KO 5
SONNY LISTON*
Liston had a brutal left jab and an intimidating presence. For a big man he was fast on his feet and was quite good at curing off the ring and cornering opponents. A fierce, aggressive predator, Liston wouldn't allow Klitschko to simply Stand in front of him and parry his jab. Liston would force Klitschko to fight. Klitschko isn't exactly fleet footed, so he wouldnt be able to avoid Liston as Muhammad Ali did in their two (highly suspicious) bouts. And once Klitschko felt Listons's power, he would come unglued. Plus, if Klitschko managed to get his way for awhile how long would it be before some nasty foreign substance mysteriously appeared on Liston's gloves? Strange things happened when Liston's fought. But in his prime no one escaped his gargantuan punches.*
VERDICT LISTON KO 6
MUHAMMAD ALI
The greatest wouldn't have had an easy time with Klitschko. Ali was the fastest heavy weight in history, with hand speed that would have baffled Klitschko, but one of Ali's failings was that he took opponents lightly and wasn't always in peak condition. This would give Klitschko a chance to make the bout close. Once Klitschko realized Ali didn't have the heaviest punches, he might open up more then usual. But even if Klitschko connected with some good punches, Ali was incredibly durable. Ali was also a great ring thinker few were better than he was at outsmarting and out scoring an opponent. Klitschko might win some rounds, and he'd also do better then anyone might imagine but it wouldn't be enough. Thinking he might be behind on points Ali would come on strong during the last few rounds, landing some crackling right leads over Klitschko's lazy left jab leaving the big man a little buzzed and wobbly, and bringing the fans to their feet with a dramatic finish.*
VERDICT ALI DEC
Btw I didn't write these these are a journalist from "RING MAGAZINE" copy right yada yada yada all I did was re type it for here. Idk if I need to do that just covering my ass so I don't get a nasty email or get banned.
Wald vs the greats cont:
JOE LOUIS:
Louis destroyed many oversized oppents. Klitschko is more athletic then the big men of Louis era but if Louis could hit you, he could knock you out. Louis sometimes had trouble with clever boxers, but he also usually knocked them out, too. Louis was dropped many times in his career, but they were normally flash kd's that momentarily gave his opponents a brief moment of optimism before he dismantled them. In the end, a Louis- Klitschko bout features a fighter with a dubious jaw against arguably the greatest puncher of all time. Louis was quicker on the inside, and a great finisher. It might take Louis a few rounds to find the range, but the moment he had wald hurt, he would have unloaded the kitchen sink on him.*
VERDICT: LOUIS KO 7*
ROCKY MARCIANO
"THE BROCKTON BLOCKBUSTER" seemed to have superhuman strength for such a small man. He was a viscous body puncher, threw looping over hand rights and had a left hook that many fighters would envy, all of which combined to help him win all 49 pro fights. He was also a fiend for conditioning and fought as if he feared the promoter would hold his paycheck if he lost.*
True, Marciano was prone to cuts, but Klitschko is a thumper not a cutter. Or guess is that Marciano-Klitschko bout would be ugly with Klitschko trying to smother Marciano gallantly trying to land something. If the ref didn't disqualify wald for excessive holding- which might happen had these two fought in the 1940's or 50's Klitschko could probalby happen if it happen in that time span wald could Prbly take more rounds.*
VERDICT KLITSCHKO DEC.*