Vitali Klitchko's 5 Best Wins?

[Willow The Wisp]

Vitali was an excellent, excellent professional heavyweight. Tall, powerful, strong and fairly durable. In addition to his accomplishments in the ring, he is a heroic figure in the Ukraine in the face of the unprovoked invasion of a sovereign nation, by the murderous Russian regime who have reacted to the erosion of their eastern block nations geographical buffer zone; by killing their neighbors.
Total respect for Vitali Klitschko.


That said; it was Wladimir who did far, far more of the work during their respective careers. A simple comparison of the brothers bears this out in neon lights.
Their ranking against each other isn't especially close.

And if anyone thinks that Vitali might have won between them; I believe strongly that Wilder would have caught and easily dispatched Joshua and reigned for several years during the last era.
But our theories are only so valuable in our analysis.

[Bronson66]

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 magazinewhen Vitali 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 #1 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 Forum 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. The all time head to rankings would be a different read, but in this man's opinion, Vitali would rate highly head to head there as well.

Leaving aside the joke alphabet ratings.How many Ring ranked challengers did Vitali defend against?

[Bronson66]

Vitali was an excellent, excellent professional heavyweight. Tall, powerful, strong and fairly durable. In addition to his accomplishments in the ring, he is a heroic figure in the Ukraine in the face of the unprovoked invasion of a sovereign nation, by the murderous Russian regime who have reacted to the erosion of their eastern block nations geographical buffer zone; by killing their neighbors.
Total respect for Vitali Klitschko.


That said; it was Wladimir who did far, far more of the work during their respective careers. A simple comparison of the brothers bears this out in neon lights.
Their ranking against each other isn't especially close.

And if anyone thinks that Vitali might have won between them; I believe strongly that Wilder would have caught and easily dispatched Joshua and reigned for several years during the last era.
But our theories are only so valuable in our analysis.

Zelensky and Vitali dont get along ,I've no idea what that's about.Vitali is a fine man and I'm behind Ukraine 100%.

Vitali would be a hard nights work for anyone,that being said his resume is very underwhelming, when guys like the following:
Arreola
Hide
Peter
Sanders
Adamek
Are your best wins, you really can't be called a great,because you never strived for greatness,by taking on and beating the best of your era.
Fighters who were ranked when he was that he some how never met.
1999 Vitali no7
Also ranked
Holyfield
Grant
Jefferson
Tyson
Ibeabuchi
Golota
Maskaev
Tua

2002 Vitali no7
Also ranked
Holyfield
Tua
Ruiz
Rahman
Tyson

2003 Vitali no1
Also ranked
Jones Jnr
Toney
McCline
Tua
Tyson
Ruiz
Oquendo

2004 Vitali Champ
Also ranked
Ruiz
Rahman
Oquendo
McCline
Golota

2008
Vitali no2
Also ranked
Povetkin
Chagaev
Dimitrenko
Maskaev
Ibragimov
Valuev

2009

Vitali Champion
Also ranked
Povetkin
Chagaev
Haye
Boytsov
Valuev
Thompson
Dimitrenko

2010
Vitali no1
Also ranked
Haye
Povetkin
Chagaev
Boytsov
Valuev
Dimitrenko


2011
Vitali no 1
Also ranked
Povetkin
Dimitrenko
Helenius
Chagaev
Pulev
Boytsov

2012
Vitali no 1
Also ranked
Povetkin
Haye
Helenius
Chagaev
Fury

That's a hell of a lot of ranked contenders he somehow missed.
Fanboys like Z & Leonard will tell you none of them wanted to fight him.
If you believe that you'll believe the Mexicans are going to pay for that wall ! lol

[Dr Z]

Leaving aside the joke alphabet ratings.How many Ring ranked challengers did Vitali defend against?

Title challengers he fought that were ranked by ring magazine:


1999 RTD by 9 Chris Byrd (#10 at Heavyweight) * shoulder injury, Later Byrd would be the #1 ranked contender. Vitali was way up 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)


I count NINE.

[Bronson66]

Title challengers he fought that were ranked by ring magazine:


1999 RTD by 9 Chris Byrd (#10 at Heavyweight) * shoulder injury, Later Byrd would be the #1 ranked contender. Vitali was way up 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)


I count NINE.

Williams wasn't ranked,

WBA	10	31.07.2004	03.08.2004
WBC	10	01.07.2004	22.07-08.08.2004
IBF	NR	30.06.2004	by 02.08.2004
WBO	N/A	N/A	N/A
Ring	NR	05.05.2004	by 10.08.2004
WBA	NR	30.06.2004	03.07.2004
WBC	NR	30.04.2004	by 06.06.2004
IBF	NR	31.05.2004	by 09.06.2004
WBO	N/A	N/A	N/A
Ring	N/A	N/A	N/A
WBA	NR	30.04.2004	05.05.2004
WBC	NR	30.04.2004	by 06.06.2004
IBF	NR	31.05.2004	by 09.06.2004
WBO	NR	01.05.2004	by 26.05.2004
Ring	NR	11.02.2004	by 25.05.2004

Landed	296	44
Thrown	519	193
Pct.	47%	23%

Vitali Klitschko 250 lbs beat Danny Williams 270 lbs by TKO at 1:26 in round 8 of 12

• Date: 2004-12-11
• Location: Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
• Referee: Jay Nady

and Solis was no10.

• Vitali Klitschko entered as The Ring Magazine No. 1 heavyweight contender and Solis was the No. 10 contender. Vitali's brother Wladimir was the magazine's heavyweight champion.
• Kevin Johnson wasn't ranked by the Ring.

WBA	6	28.08.2009	28.08.2009
WBC	6	~01.08.2009	by 09.08.2009
IBF	12	~15.08.2009	by 25.08.2009
WBO	13	01.07.2009	12.07-02.08.2009
Ring	NR	31.08.2009	by 04.09.2009

[JAB5239]

Title challengers he fought that were ranked by ring magazine:


1999 RTD by 9 Chris Byrd (#10 at Heavyweight) * shoulder injury, Later Byrd would be the #1 ranked contender. Vitali was way up 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)


I count NINE.

Let's call it nine. I mean it isn't, but let's call it that. So on average Vits defended against the number 6 contender. Not exactly ATG numbers, especially considering he lost his two biggest fights and never looked to rematch one of them. No hall of fame wins........uh, it is what it is, but it isn't special.

[The Defecator II]

"Best win" isn't really applicable to tender Vittals. "Least meh win" is probably the most appropriate question

[Dr Z]

Williams wasn't ranked

Kevin Johnson wasn't ranked by the Ring.

Dead wrong. Yes, they were.

[Bronson66]

Dead wrong. Yes, they were.

No they were not as I proved, now run along you simpleton!

[Dr Z]

No they were not as I proved, now run along you simpleton!

NOPE! Stopi posting mis information, and lose you hating ways...

Proof:

https://www.boxingscene.com/articles...rs-pt-2-vitali

• 04/01/2000 - RTD by 9 Chris Byrd (#10 at Heavyweight)
• 06/21/2003 - TKO by 6 Lennox Lewis (Champion at Heavyweight)
• 04/24/2004 - TKO8 Corrie Sanders (#3 at Heavyweight)
• 12/11/2004 - TKO8 Danny Williams (#9 at Heavyweight)
• 10/11/2008 - RTD8 Sam Peter (#2 at Heavyweight)
• 03/21/2009 - TKO9 Juan Carlos Gomez (#9 at Heavyweight)
• 09/26/2009 - RTD10 Chris Arreola (#6 at Heavyweight)
• 12/12/2009 - UD12 Kevin Johnson (#10 at Heavyweight)
• 09/10/2011 - TKO10 Tomasz Adamek (#2 at Heavyweight)