If Wladimir was American and black, would he be more accepted as a top heavyweight?

[abadger]

If Wlad was American full stop he would be seen as a 'legend' who 'showed amazing heart to come back from those early KOs and rule his division'. He would be an absolute megastar and the fans would routinely bracket him with the likes of Tyson, Holyfield, Lewis etc.

[Flawless]

Why should American media care about someone who isn't American

[abadger]

Why should American media care about someone who isn't American

American boxing media should care about the HW champion of the world, but I agree, there is no reason why Wlad should be a big star in the US, that just isn't how it works.

[Pullcounter]

It seems to me Wladimir klitschko has always received more criticism than he deserves. The boxing writers and commentators, as well as some boxing fans, have always been very hard on him.

He's from the Ukraine and unlike the top heavyweights of the past 50 years like Ali, Holmes and Tyson, he's white.

If he was American and black, who he be better accepted?

wlad would be even more hated or ignored if he were black.

[The Hammer]

If Wlad was American full stop he would be seen as a 'legend' who 'showed amazing heart to come back from those early KOs and rule his division'. He would be an absolute megastar and the fans would routinely bracket him with the likes of Tyson, Holyfield, Lewis etc.

Great post.

The truth has been said.

[The Hammer]

Wlad is not and never will be Ali or Larry Holmes. Lets get realistic here. Ali and Holmes never lost to fighters like Ross Purity,Lamon Brewster or Corrie Sanders in their primes. And those were all KO losses for Wlad.By the same token,Gerry Cooney split the purse 20 million dollar purse with Larry Holmes without earning it in the ring. He also graced the cover of major magazines although Holmes was the champ. It's not a disadvantage to be a white heavyweight and never has been.

Don King kept Cooney inactive for a year and a half before the Holmes fight, and for two years afterwards, when Cooney was in his prime, in order to ruin him as a fighter. Don King didn't want a white heavyweight champion.

[joseph5620]

Yes, but Ali actually looked good in doing it. Wlad looks like a big clumsy fighter compared to Ali. Holmes was really criticized as champion, so he shouldn't be used as an example.

Exactly and Lennox Lewis was critisized more than Wlad and he had a better resume.So I don't get the "white" thing. When you get knocked out by sub par fighters that you're supposed to beat, you are going to get critisized. That's the world I'm living in.

[joseph5620]

Don King kept Cooney inactive for a year and a half before the Holmes fight, and for two years afterwards, when Cooney was in his prime, in order to ruin him as a fighter. Don King didn't want a white heavyweight champion.

Don King had nothing to do with Cooney being inactive. At least try to be factual when you post. King didn't promote Cooney, he promoted Holmes.If you want to blame somebody, blame Cooney's management for putting him in with old men and stiffs to protect his weak chin.Cooney became inactive after the Holmes fight because he became a coke snorting alcoholic. He said that himself by the way. To his credit he has turned his life around and is a positive, productive, human being today,so I'm not judging him. But there is no need to make up stories about him to make your point and believe me I'll know when you are. You comparing Klitschko to Holmes and Ali says it all anyway.

[warp1432]

No. Look at Hopkins, Mayweather, and Winky. Both these guys get tons of criticism for being "boring"

Top that off with a boring division and there you go

[joseph5620]

Don King kept Cooney inactive for a year and a half before the Holmes fight, and for two years afterwards, when Cooney was in his prime, in order to ruin him as a fighter. Don King didn't want a white heavyweight champion.

One more thing lol. Cooney and Holmes were first scheduled to fight in March of 82 but COONEY pulled out because of a shoulder injury.So what did that have to do with King? Also, it was not a year and half long layoff anyway.Your information is false.