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Is Vitali Klitschko an all-time top-ten heavyweight?
There are two ways to rate people, head-to-head matchups vs the field of ring accomplishments.
For the purpose of this article, let's focus on ring accomplishments and use Ring Magazine, " the bible of boxing " as the standard for ranking them. You may think the heavyweights ranked contenders of modern times would wipe the ring canvas with the heavyweights ranked contenders of the 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, and 1950's as they are much bigger. Like three weight classes bigger and have more defined traditional skills than history's previous giants. Or maybe you feel that the contenders 60-100 years ago were better despite glaring differences in height, weight, and reach and sometimes records of the contenders themselves. Whichever you believe, we can use ring magazine ratings and records achieved as a benchmark for history regardless of which side of the argument you are on
Let's proceed using the standard of Ring Magazine heavyweight champions! Fighters such as Dempsey, Louis, Marciano, Liston, Ali, Frazier, Holmes, Tyson, Hoyfleid, Bowe, Lewis, V. Klitschko and W Kiltscho. All accomplished heavy weights. These 12 men are who I will use for the study and should be on most top 10 heavyweights list.
Quality of opposition fought. Based on my findings, Vitali was 8-2 against opponents ranked by Ring magazine when he fought them.
The list does not include former champions ( Wba, Wbo, Lineal, Ibf or Wbc) such as Herrie Hide or Shannon Brigs or former contenders, only Ring Magazine contenders who were ranked when Vitali fought them.
Unfortunately, Vitali could not have fought his brother, who often occupied the spot of Champion or the number 1 or 2 contender.
1999 RTD by 9 Chris Byrd (#10 at Heavyweight) * shoulder injury, Later Byrd would be the Home ranked contender. Vitali was way up on all three cards
2003 - TKO by 6 Lennox Lewis (Champion at Heavyweight) * cuts. Again Vitali was leading on all three cards.
2004 - TKO8 Corrie Sanders (#3 at Heavyweight)
2004 TKO8 Danny Williams (#9 at Heavyweight)
2008 - RTD8 Sam Peter (#2 at Heavyweight)
2009 - TKO9 Juan Carlos Gomez (#9 at Heavyweight)
2009 - RTD10 Chris Arreola (#6 at Heavyweight)
2009 - UD12 Kevin Johnson (#10 at Heavyweight)
2011 - KO1 Odlanier Solis ( Number nine at Heavyweight)
2011 - TKO10 Tomasz Adamek (#2 at Heavyweight)
Here Vitali is 8-2 or 80% winning record. Vitali has a better winning percentage among ring magazine champions than Dempsey, Louis, Liston, Frazier, Ali, Holyfield, Bowe, and Lewis. Only Marciano and Holmes have a better winning percentage. Louis, Foreman, Ali, Lewis, Wlad, and Tyson have more total wins over ranked contenders. I would need to check their records on ring magazine's top contenders for the percentage of opponents beaten. The point is Vitali rates in the top ten here among Dempsey, Louis, Marciano, Liston, Ali, Frazier, Holmes, Tyson, Hoyfleid, Bowe, Lewis, and W. Klitschko
Best rounds won to rounds lost ratio: Not only in the history of heavyweights but among all boxing champions. He was towering above Ali or Holmes on the scorecards, who, infact lost more rounds to lesser men. Vitali combined boxing ability, power, size, good footwork, smarts, defense, counterpunching, and ring generalship to the maximum by engaging his opponents and forcing them to fight on his terms. Vitali never trailed on any scorecard after three rounds and never lost more than three consensus rounds in any fight. This includes fights where he was injured ( Byrd and Chisora ). Very impressive. Rates number one overall among Dempsey, Louis, Marciano, Liston, Ali, Frazier, Forman, Holmes, Tyson, Hoyfleid, Bowe, Lewis, W Klitschko.
Never floored by a punch. Ever. Vitali and Oliver Mcall are the only two in the history of the lineal champions never to be floored by a punch, and Vitali fought plenty of punchers who landed hard to test his chin/durability such as Lewis, Hide, and Sanders. 47 pro fights. Rates Home overall among Dempsey, Louis, Marciano, Liston, Ali, Frazier, Holmes, Foreman, Tyson, Hoyfleid, Bowe, Lewis, W. Klitschko. In fact this accomplishment rates very highly in all of boxing history
One of the best knock artists of all time, with 87.23% KO ratio. It went down a little with age, and so would any champions. Better than Dempsey, Louis, Liston, Ali, Frazier, Forman, Holmes, Tyson, Hoyfleid, Bowe, Lewis, W Klitschko. This rates number two of all time among legendary champions.
Other feats:
One of the most active heavyweights on the punch stats, compared to Marciano or Frazier's activity level. Punch stats are not historical records, but this is impressive nonetheless. In boxing the guy who outlands the other wins at least 80% of the time. Often the punch stats are better than some of the official judges, and he be used sniff out bad judging.
**So far, we are talking about a guy who was incredibly difficult to outbox, was never floored that had had the power and stamina to stop anyone early or late, who stood 6'7" 1/2 tall, weighed 245-250 pounds in shape, an 80" reach**
An all time come back. Which boxer came back four years out of the ring, and no warm up fights not only to take his title back, but to win nine title defenses in a row at age 37-41. The answer is zero. Foreman came back to be Ring Magazine champion over 40, that's it.
Total Title Defenses.
1. Joe Louis 27 title wins NYSAC, NBA
2. Muhammad Ali 23 title wins NYSAC, WBA, WBC
3. Wladimir Klitschko 23 title wins WBA, IBF, WBO
4. Larry Holmes 20 title wins WBC, IBF
5A Lennox Lewis 15 title wins WBA, WBC, IBF
5.B Vitali Klitschko 15 title wins WBC, WBC
That's it. Everyone else is lower.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavyweight
Made the hall of fame in his first year of eligibility and was the leading vote receiver in his class. A very rare honor.
Using the above benchmarks and history and accomplishments, Vitali Klitschko is one of the top 10 all-time heavyweight champions. Since there is a lot of data here, I reserve the right to edit it, but I ask for proof of any errors found. You will get credit if you find one. Thanks to Mr. Cillf Rold's article, which I used as for part of the data, and Wikipedia. The all time head to rankings would be a different read, but in this man's opinion, Vitali would rate highly there as well.
- Dr. Z
Ivich
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