Heavyweights not getting Credit - why ?

Fighters of the past took their damage... Frazier was pretty damaged, so was Ali. Wlad is simply safety first, so is Haye. Obviously no one should be forced to lay it on the line and risk long term effects, but you can't wonder why the HW's aren't as popular as they used to be either. People want to see KO's in the HW's. Toe-to-toe wars at HW are dangerous for sure, and rarely happen now, for good reason - Mago/Perez is a good example, but that's not really what's expected... just people expect overmatched opponents to be put to sleep quickly as opposed to long, drawn out mismatches. Wlad doesn't want to risk it, so be it... I totally sympathise with this opinion. Contenders and champs viciously KO the undermenscen opponents. But when it comes to top vs top, it's always going to be edgey now, and it is unfortunate. It'll become increasingly a game of chess. Guys like Wilder who is exclusively a KO guy will still bring excitement, either because he KO's his opponent fast, or because when he gets matched against a better quality opponent who also hits very hard (like possibly Stiverne), he will get KO'ed. Unfortunately, when someone like Wilder DOES get exposed, we probably wont see much more from him. Such is the way. This is what sucks about it all.

It is true what you say. If Vladimir had beat Lennox, nobody would be able to dispute his greatness. His longevity is what does it for him, instead. There are still good fights for him to boost further, Pulev is credible, for instance. True if he had beaten Lewis, he would have undoubtedly gotten more credit. Instead he got knocked out by Corrie Sanders....

wlad-povetkin alex leapai is considered a good challenger fatasses like solis are considered contenders

Again I agree with much of what you said. The HW's today are "tentative" about going for broke. This "characterises" HW boxing today. In previous eras, HW boxers could exchange punches flat out with minimal regard for defence. Because the punches were bareable. Guys like Louis, Ali, Frazier and Foreman could afford to be punching bags because for the most part because their opponents were weak. Today, no HW WANTS to expose himself to that. And no HW SHOULD expose himself to that. Because the punches are now so hard that not only is the risk of getting KO'ed far higher and possibly determined by a single big shot, but the health implications are now even more detrimental. A HW boxer's career can be finished long before the accumulated effects of multiple punches appear, through the trauma sustained in even an individual fight. It might make for more tentative and boring fights, but as the boxers get stronger, it's not going to get rougher, it's only going to get increasingly strategic. Fighters of the past took their damage... Frazier was pretty damaged, so was Ali. Wlad is simply safety first, so is Haye. Obviously no one should be forced to lay it on the line and risk long term effects, but you can't wonder why the HW's aren't as popular as they used to be either. People want to see KO's in the HW's. Toe-to-toe wars at HW are dangerous for sure, and rarely happen now, for good reason - Mago/Perez is a good example, but that's not really what's expected... just people expect overmatched opponents to be put to sleep quickly as opposed to long, drawn out mismatches. Wlad doesn't want to risk it, so be it...

Wlad is a HOFer, but mainly for longetivy and having HW on lockdown. But his resume is lacking. Not entirely his fault, there just hasnt been much at HW. And Im sorry, relative to the other weight classes, there are a lot of bums at HW. It seems like you can get by with a lack of skill at HW. And most HWs simply arent that busy during fights, lack of stamina etc. Really Wlad has been able to thoroughly dominate HW for years with just the jab and grab style and the occasional straight right. I cant think of the last time he threw a memorable hook or any combination besides the ol' 1-2. I dont doubt Wlad can do it, he just hasnt had to. Pulev seems a step above the other HWs. We may have wanted that from Povetkin too, but after an interesting first 2 rounds or so, where I thought he was at least challenging Wlad, Povetkin (and the ref) acquiesced to being jabbed and grabbed to an easy decision. Im hoping Pulev brings more. But frankly, Id rather seek out links to flyweight fights from Japan than watch the HWs

Well if they're all KO punchers then you'd have to say most aren't very good at getting the KO, which is the point - they don't let it all hang out and go for broke. And if Wilder continues his KO streak once he steps up competition, then you can expect some hype. Haye is a very good puncher(so is Wlad), but again, he isn't really motivated to put on a show, and on the biggest stage against Wlad, they both fought not to lose, and that simply hurts them. Again I agree with much of what you said. The HW's today are "tentative" about going for broke. This "characterises" HW boxing today. In previous eras, HW boxers could exchange punches flat out with minimal regard for defence. Because the punches were bareable. Guys like Louis, Ali, Frazier and Foreman could afford to be punching bags because for the most part because their opponents were weak. Today, no HW WANTS to expose himself to that. And no HW SHOULD expose himself to that. Because the punches are now so hard that not only is the risk of getting KO'ed far higher and possibly determined by a single big shot, but the health implications are now even more detrimental. A HW boxer's career can be finished long before the accumulated effects of multiple punches appear, through the trauma sustained in even an individual fight. It might make for more tentative and boring fights, but as the boxers get stronger, it's not going to get rougher, it's only going to get increasingly strategic.

Well if they're all KO punchers then you'd have to say most aren't very good at getting the KO, which is the point - they don't let it all hang out and go for broke. And if Wilder continues his KO streak once he steps up competition, then you can expect some hype. Haye is a very good puncher(so is Wlad), but again, he isn't really motivated to put on a show, and on the biggest stage against Wlad, they both fought not to lose, and that simply hurts them. It was the biggest HW fight in quite a while and a moment where a KO from either would've increased standing/interest/sensation/hype and they both just let the hype die in the ring that night.

Because HW's simply aren't that skilled for the most part, not today nor yesterday. The division has always been a bad one, even the "golden age" had a bunch of what you'd call "unskilled brawlers", but they came to fight at least. If anything, the HW's of old are overrated moreso than the HW's today not getting their credit. It's a division where "one punch changes the fight" has the greatest meaning due to lack of defense and added clubbing power. And the division has lacked that sort of one punch KO artist for a while, which is why it doesn't get the recognition. Lewis wasn't popular or given much credit either. He didn't inspire anyone with his performances, and that's been passed on to Wlad. All people still talk about is Tyson for the fights, and Ali for the showmanship. This is actually a good post I agree with. The HW division is necessarily always the most unskilled division. Because a HW boxer can be successful without having the total package. I have to disagree with your point about not having 1 punch KO guys today though. Today ALL HW boxers are pretty much 1 punch KO guys. Especially Wilder etc, who'se entire career depends on 1 early punch.

Because HW's simply aren't that skilled for the most part, not today nor yesterday. The division has always been a bad one, even the "golden age" had a bunch of what you'd call "unskilled brawlers", but they came to fight at least. If anything, the HW's of old are overrated moreso than the HW's today not getting their credit. It's a division where "one punch changes the fight" has the greatest meaning due to lack of defense and added clubbing power. And the division has lacked that sort of one punch KO artist for a while, which is why it doesn't get the recognition. Lewis wasn't popular or given much credit either. He didn't inspire anyone with his performances, and that's been passed on to Wlad. All people still talk about is Tyson for the fights, and Ali for the showmanship.

Wladimir was too busy getting knocked out during Lewis' reign.

You claimed he was a fat bum, and would get knocked the fook out by an average bar room brawler. I'd dig up the original post but i'm far too lazy. I suspect you were just trolling though! ;) Yeah dunno about your other statements I think your exaggerating as usual. But I did say he'd probably be knocked out by SOME (not the average) bar-room brawlers. There're some roided and rough dudes out there these days who would make Louis look like a little school boy. And let's face it, Louis was a sucker for a right hand! Now the 15 yr old kid in your display vid... Now THAT'S a fighter worthy of esteem who I doubt ANY bar-room brawler would want to mess with! That's a REAL HW!

Wlads in a league of his own. It will be truely exciting when he retires and we get to see who will take the throne. Wlads simply too much of a gentleman to lash out at pre fight press conferences, doesn't really talk much so fans can't really connect with him. Plus he hasn't met his match so same old result fight after fight it gets repetitive

I never called Louis a fat overweight bum you moron. Louis has a great record, hence not a bum. Louis was tiny and lean, hence, not overweight or fat. His opponents were mostly absolute, actual bums, simple as that, And perhaps I pointed out to you once that Louis looks nothing like the shredded CW's of today. But I never went so far as to call him FAT! Sick of the lies! :lol1: You claimed he was a fat bum, and would get knocked the fook out by an average bar room brawler. I'd dig up the original post but i'm far too lazy. I suspect you were just trolling though! ;)

I've never seen a boxing fan stupid enough to call Joe Louis a fat, overweight bum. Oh wait, yes i have!! ^^ I never called Louis a fat overweight bum you moron. Louis has a great record, hence not a bum. Louis was tiny and lean, hence, not overweight or fat. His opponents were mostly absolute, actual bums, simple as that, And perhaps I pointed out to you once that Louis looks nothing like the shredded CW's of today. But I never went so far as to call him FAT! Sick of the lies! :lol1:

Because MOST boxing fans are incredibly stupid and/or naïve that's why, in a nutshell. I've never seen a boxing fan stupid enough to call Joe Louis a fat, overweight bum. Oh wait, yes i have!! ^^

Because MOST boxing fans are incredibly stupid and/or naïve that's why, in a nutshell. be easy on yourself

Because MOST boxing fans are incredibly stupid and/or naïve that's why, in a nutshell.

Just outside the top 10 as it stands. As I said, Wlad is an ATG but he suffers from a poor era and those early losses. yea,,,,were pretty close then. I have him just touching the top 10 but I can definitely see an argument for him being just outside of that with his losses and the poor era

the problem in todays heavyweight era is, that most contenders do not risk to fight against other contenders, because the risk of losing the payday against klitschko is too big. Weve got pulev, povetkin, fury, wilder, jennings, etc. as top10 contenders, but not one of them has fought against another contender. Yes, for example Pulev beat thompson and ustinov, even though these guys are better than your average journeyman, they would never be a contender. So in conclusion, no one really earns his challenger status and no one is really prepared for klitschko.

yea,,,this era is very poor but you have to take into account wlads longevity and total domination in his fights. even in a poor era its easy to have a bad night or two but wlad hasn't even come close to losing in years. I don't have him in the top 8,,,but I think he deserves at least a borderline top 10 ranking with his dominance and longevity Just outside the top 10 as it stands. As I said, Wlad is an ATG but he suffers from a poor era and those early losses.