Enclosed are my top 15 ranked heavyweights by 20-year intervals. The criteria for the

[JAB5239]

Alright it's died down a bit so I'm gonna ask another:

Why Vitali over Wlad?

Never, not in my opinion. He was more fun to watch, that's it. Wlad beat better comp and reigned much longer.

[Marchegiano]

Never, not in my opinion. He was more fun to watch, that's it. Wlad beat better comp and reigned much longer.

I agree. I like Vitali's fights more but recognize Wlad's achievements are both greater and more numerous.

That said, I did not notice Z had them 1A-1B. So the answer to the question is he doesn't either.

New question though, why/how could they be ranked equally?

I think Wlad's done enough to be the clear number 1 of the era.

[Anthony342]

Alright it's died down a bit so I'm gonna ask another:

Why Vitali over Wlad?

Tougher, better chin, hit harder.

[Dr. Z]

I agree. I like Vitali's fights more but recognize Wlad's achievements are both greater and more numerous.

That said, I did not notice Z had them 1A-1B. So the answer to the question is he doesn't either.

New question though, why/how could they be ranked equally?

I think Wlad's done enough to be the clear number 1 of the era.

Head to head, I think Vitali would eventually break though Wlad's defense and that would be it. But brothers should not fight for money. If you have brother, you've got a friend for life and someone who always has your back. Besides fantasy fights should not count much in ratings.

Whie its true Wlad has better over all wins, history wasn't as kind to Vitali's resume. Lewis avoided the re-match, and other fighters like Valuev and Haye backed away from the chance to fight Vitlai. So Wlad beat better opponents.

Vitali did much better vs common opponents like Sanders, Peter and Purity.

So one has the better resume, the other a better record vs common opponents. 1A and 1B

[Marchegiano]

Head to head, I think Vitali would eventually break though Wlad's defense and that would be it. But brothers should not fight for money. If you have brother, you've got a friend for life and someone who always has your back. Besides fantasy fights should not count much in ratings.

Whie its true Wlad has better over all wins, history wasn't as kind to Vitali's resume. Lewis avoided the re-match, and other fighters like Valuev and Haye backed away from the chance to fight Vitlai. So Wlad beat better opponents.

Vitali did much better vs common opponents like Sanders, Peter and Purity.

So one has the better resume, the other a better record vs common opponents. 1A and 1B

I favor Big V h2h too. Vitali's a hard fight for anyone in history.

[Marchegiano]

Tougher, better chin, hit harder.

All true, but Vitali was never lineal or unified.
Chin and such is kinda eye of the beholder whereas awards are
not bias.

[Dr. Z]

All true, but Vitali was never lineal or unified.
Chin and such is kinda eye of the beholder whereas awards are
not bias.

Lineal is a fading concept. Vitali was Ring Magazine Champion, which is close to the same thing.

Tunney took the lineal title to his grave.

Being unified means everybody would fight you. Wlad and Vitali were 1 and 2 for much of the decade, so united champion was not going to happen.

I would like to see a World Boxing Super Series at heavyweight. Whomever wins that would be lineal in my book, and the best of the era without a doubt.

As fas we are stuck watching Fury and Joshua either fight old men in the top ten, or fringe contender types, which sucks.

While Fury has the win over Joshua, I do not think it will age well if Wilder fights a top 10 type and gets Ko'd/

[QueensburyRules]

All true, but Vitali was never lineal or unified.
Chin and such is kinda eye of the beholder whereas awards are
not bias.

- -Lineal champ bogus. See Ali/ Jeffries.

TBE TUE fighter of the decade embarrassing Americans.

[Anthony342]

All true, but Vitali was never lineal or unified.
Chin and such is kinda eye of the beholder whereas awards are
not bias.

Yes, but Vitali was better than Wlad is what I'm saying and what the question was. If the question was who had the better career, then yes, it would definitely be Wlad. Was Vitali ever even knocked down though? His 2 stoppage losses were both between rounds from a separated shoulder and a gnarly eye gash. So I'd say Vitali had the better chin. Plus Vits was willing to keep his arms at his sides because of his lack of fear of being hit and willingness to time opponents.

[Dr. Z]

Yes, but Vitali was better than Wlad is what I'm saying and what the question was. If the question was who had the better career, then yes, it would definitely be Wlad. Was Vitali ever even knocked down though? His 2 stoppage losses were both between rounds from a separated shoulder and a gnarly eye gash. So I'd say Vitali had the better chin. Plus Vits was willing to keep his arms at his sides because of his lack of fear of being hit and willingness to time opponents.

Vitali is an interesting fight when you consider this:

• He has one of the highest KO % in the history of the division among champions.
  
• He has the best rounds won to rounds lost ratio in the history of the division, even better than Ali or Homes. He never lost more than 3 rounds on any professional score card.
  
• He was never floored by a punch ever.
  
• He came back in his mid 30's out of the ring for a few years to win his belt back and defend it impressively retiring at age 41.
  
• He entered the hall of fame on his first year of eligibility, leading his class in votes.

Unfortunately for him, he's remembered ( Or trolled ) for losing to Lewis, up 4-2 on al cards and never got the re-match he wanted. Lewis was gassing. Max Kellerman, who was biased against Klitschko in his early broadcasting days said, Lewis crashed down hard on his stool at the end of the 6th round, and he never saw him so tired.

The Byrd fight was a bit of a fluke. He was well ahead and retired with a torn shoulder that required surgery.
If there was a re-match here Vitali would win the fight. When Don King had Byrd signed fighting in a forgetful round robin vs. Rhaman, Ruiz, Golota, and company there was no way he would risk this lone heavyweight belt vs Vitali.

Politics took away some of his prime years.