Klitschko on retirement.

Vitali yes, but i'm sure not you or any other actual fan of the sport who knows their stuff would really class any of the 'belt holders' who often held on to their paper titles for a defence or two at most as legitimate champions or could really stake their claim as champ. You really think Povetkin was ever classed as a champion by a large portion of fans? The guy was less of a champ than even Haye when holding the WBA 'regular' belt. Let's not over-exaggerate the "brutal knockout" stoppage, which you well know was less the product of 'brutal punches' as much as Wlad falling over the referee's leg and being so tired as to hardly being able to get up at the bell and completely exhausted definitely unable to continue fighting. However, that's irrelevent, a loss is a loss, and that particular defeat was good for him. Regarding fantasy points or not, in this era my view is that 'the' man is the guy who has the majority of the belts, or who has the overall fan's view as 'the champ'. With Wlad it is arguable because of Vitali, but I wouldn't say any other fighter in his reign was really classed as a better champ except for maybe at the beginning back in 06. I know what you mean, but that wasn't the case at the time. Wlad had won his belt of Chris Byrd who was every bit a champion as Shannon Briggs who Ibragimov won his title off. And Ibragimov was actually quite a good fighter. At that time, nobody knew Wlad was going to be as dominant as he became with his KO losses still fresh in the memory. Not saying Ibragimov was as talented as Wlad, because he clearly wasn't, but they were equal in terms of champion status. No but Povetkin was the official #1 challenger in the division which means when him and Wlad fought it would have been for the legitimate lineal championship - because Vitali had retired and previously held that position. I get that they are brothers, and in no way am I suggesting they should have fought because that's idiocy, but Wlad only had the opportunity to fight the #1 after Vitali retired - which made it for the lineal title. But he was brutally knocked out? It looked pretty brutal to me. I don't buy into the whole drugged water excuse or whatever. That's just nonsense. In my view, and what is generally accepted, is that the man who beat the man is the actual champ. In Wlad's case there's no base to say he was the actual man in 2006 because there were other belt holders who he hadn't fought. But I considered Wlad the actual champion from around 2009 I think - also because he was clearly fighting and beating the best competition in the division. Still, he's not getting fantasy lineal championship wins based on what you and I think. If Wilder defends his belt 20 times against bums ala Sven Ottke, I'm sure everybody would think differently. I know I would.

Wilder destroys Wlad in less than one round. Wilder's the true champion of our hearts!

The man's gotta go for the Joe Louis record. If you're that close, there's no turning back! If he can fight into his late 40s he may have a chance. Chances are he'd get brutally KO'd again long before then.

I built 8-steps ladder of "who-fought-who" from Klitschko to Louis. Wladimir Klitschko-Hasim Rahman-Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson-Larry Holmes-Muhammad Ali-Archie Moore-Rocky Marciano-Joe Louis. Can someone build a shorter ladder? ))

Why not? Why was Sultan Ibragimov not just as much a champion as Wladimir was? Or Vitali? Wladimir shouldn't get fantasy points for whatever reason, he's only been THE champ since Chagaev or some say even Povetkin - which I tend to agree with. What we can't take away from Wlad is that he's had a fantastic career, with incredible dominance nobody would have thought 11 years ago on this day when he was brutally knocked out by a relatively average heavyweight Lamon Brewster. But he turned it around. Vitali yes, but i'm sure not you or any other actual fan of the sport who knows their stuff would really class any of the 'belt holders' who often held on to their paper titles for a defence or two at most as legitimate champions or could really stake their claim as champ. You really think Povetkin was ever classed as a champion by a large portion of fans? The guy was less of a champ than even Haye when holding the WBA 'regular' belt. Let's not over-exaggerate the "brutal knockout" stoppage, which you well know was less the product of 'brutal punches' as much as Wlad falling over the referee's leg and being so tired as to hardly being able to get up at the bell and completely exhausted definitely unable to continue fighting. However, that's irrelevent, a loss is a loss, and that particular defeat was good for him. Regarding fantasy points or not, in this era my view is that 'the' man is the guy who has the majority of the belts, or who has the overall fan's view as 'the champ'. With Wlad it is arguable because of Vitali, but I wouldn't say any other fighter in his reign was really classed as a better champ except for maybe at the beginning back in 06.

I get what you are saying, but that's a bit silly if you think about it. Aside from Vitali, no-one during Wlad's reign could really legitimately stake a claim to be the true champ. Wlad had majority of the belts for his entire reign, and I think everyone would agree if Vitali was not around he would definitely be holding ALL the belts and be undisputed.. Why not? Why was Sultan Ibragimov not just as much a champion as Wladimir was? Or Vitali? Wladimir shouldn't get fantasy points for whatever reason, he's only been THE champ since Chagaev or some say even Povetkin - which I tend to agree with. What we can't take away from Wlad is that he's had a fantastic career, with incredible dominance nobody would have thought 11 years ago on this day when he was brutally knocked out by a relatively average heavyweight Lamon Brewster. But he turned it around.

The man's gotta go for the Joe Louis record. If you're that close, there's no turning back! So he should. He's only got 13 or so defenses left, then he'll match Louis' record.

If Wladimir can waste Jennings, Wilder and Fury and then retire, that is beyond doubt the greatest resume of any boxer to date undisputed and possibly will be for around a century. There is only one way to describe such a career. Simply unbelievable!

Only a fan of a fighter would claim being a title holder is the equivalent of being the undisputed champion (which is what Louis essentially was). Klitschko isn't going to beat Louis's record unless he defends another 16 times. Good luck with that. Wlad's opponents are garbage but instead of bum of the month we get 2 bums a year. Fact is there's always been another title holder around that could claim to be "the champ", Louis had none. Wlad = One of multiple title holders who could stake a claim. Louis = THE title holder. One, The, A. We don't care, that's just it. Wlad is on course to break Louis' recorded defences if he continues to stick around as the thread suggests, as he has no plans for retirement. This is all irrelevant anyway, it wasnt the true meaning of the thread. I made it to see who will go through the most scheriproct cream upon reading this, and you have won..... By a landslide margin.

Makes no difference if he stays or goes the HW division is dead and has been for a long time. Yeah over a hundred years now. #bestlifesupportinallofsport

Fact is there's always been another title holder around that could claim to be "the champ", Louis had none. Wlad = One of multiple title holders who could stake a claim. Louis = THE title holder. I get what you are saying, but that's a bit silly if you think about it. Aside from Vitali, no-one during Wlad's reign could really legitimately stake a claim to be the true champ. Wlad had majority of the belts for his entire reign, and I think everyone would agree if Vitali was not around he would definitely be holding ALL the belts and be undisputed. Louis was THE champ because there was only one belt around, which unfortunately isn't the case for this era. However, I think that status should be reserved for whoever holds the most portions of the belts, and is considered the number 1 fighter. Wlad has been regarded as that for pretty much all his reign...

He became lineal Champ after Chagaev he's a long way off Louis's record. Being a title holder in todays era can't be compared to when it was 1 belt per division. The fact is, YOU or any other fan can look at it whatever way you want, but the official records will recognise it as it is, and these defenses count whether you like it or not. Everyone can have their opinion on the subject, but the records deal in facts and not how someone wants to interpret someone's accomplishments.

Makes no difference if he stays or goes the HW division is dead and has been for a long time. Says the butthurt casual fan.

Makes no difference if he stays or goes the HW division is dead and has been for a long time. To a certain demographic of butthurt people in one country, it's dead. HW fighters are doing great globally.

Fantastic news

I just want him to knock down this current crop of US/UK hype jobs so they can join the others on the "always sucked, just kidding when I said they'd win" list. One more wave of epic dream spoiling.

He became lineal Champ after Chagaev he's a long way off Louis's record. Being a title holder in todays era can't be compared to when it was 1 belt per division. A title is a title, nobody is talking about lineage here. Only butt hurt detractors bring that up. Besides Louis' opponents were garbage, and he fought each month, Wlad in many ways has surpassed him on many levels.

If I was in his shoes and so close to setting such a monumental record/records in terms of beating the historical Joe Louis marks of longest reign and amount of title defenses, I would push through to get those if I possibly could...as long as he physically and mentally feels good, there would be really no point of stopping now after getting so far after 10 years.

The man's gotta go for the Joe Louis record. If you're that close, there's no turning back! Upon defeating the big oaf Fury and pummelling Wilder would you be happy for him to fight Joe Louis level opposition in surpassing his record ? Obviously he would have his mandatories along the way, but I would be cool with him mixing it with the likes of Glazkov, Joshua and a few Briggs' , Chisora's and Stiverne's along the way to bulk up his record like Louis did. Just to see him beat them in more convincing manner than other challengers defeated them. Ie Wlad putting Briggs away unlike his brother failed to do, destroying Chisora in a few rounds like nobody else has achieved, stopping Stiverne etc ....

The living Legend has spoken!