Wladimir Klitschko - The closest thing to Muhammad Ali

[Uturn]

I dont think he resembles him atall but i can see where your coming from (if im thinking right) Wlad/Ali both like to keep there opponents at distance and jab.

[patrishaTNTryan]

true. so how long u been a fan of boxing?

I used to watch with my dad from about the age of about 10. He is a big fight fan and more knowledgable than me.

I don't profess to know a great deal and I just say things as I see them. After all we are all entitled to our opinion.

[Jim Jeffries]

70's Ali a bit perhaps with the keeping opponents at range with the jabbing and holding when they break past it. Pre ban 66-67 Ali was an entirely different animal, so quick, so fluid, almost unhittable. We were robbed of 3 years of the best Ali, unfortunately.

[Special K]

I bet Wlad would KO Norton and Bugner - two guys Ali couldn't stop, and he had 60 rounds to do it. I'd put my mortgage on current Wlad KTFO both those chumps in the one night. I doubt Frazier would last or work inside either, he'd be battered just like Chag.

Wlad the great!

[knn]

Before I answer, let me state that there is obviously no faster way to get bad karma than to say something about Muhammad, the god of boxing. Obviously the Ali-happy posters who cannot engage in a normal discussion (ab)use the karma system if they cannot counter-argue.
This was a warning to new posters who think that Wlad is comparable to Ali.

The only difference is that Ali never held his guard up. He left his chin up in the air but still almost never got caught because of his incredible reflexes.

I disagree. Ali was constantly hit, that's why he got Parkinson.

• Only Chuvalo and Sam Peter have worse no-defense than Ali and it seems (except during his times when he wasn't overweight) that he was nearly completely blind to incoming punches: I urge everyone to watch Ali vs Norton III. You have not seen anything as bad as Ali's reflexes in any modern heavyweight fight (except fat Sam Peter): Basically everything lands (even the slowest punches). Any round any time.
• Or against Foreman: Ali has no other idea and no reaction except clinching or leaning back and keep his gloves up ("rope-a-dope"). Completely no reflexes. It worked because Foreman gassed (probably because of poisoning as Ali's trainer stated). It's an insult to compare good Wlad's reflexes to Ali's nonexistent reflexes.

He was ofcourse the faster man.

• He was not. Only as a cruiser he was. As a heavy he was plodding along like Sam Peter after 12 rounds, e.g. Foreman vs Ali or Ali vs Ron Lyle. You have not witnessed recently anything as pathetic and slow as Ali. WATCH HIS FIGHTS AND STOP FANTASIZING. WATCH THEM. Not some Youtube footage of Ali's best moments. And not some early cruiser fights of him. Watch his heavyweight fights.
• Ali is one of the most featherfisted champs of all times. Wlad is one of the hardest punching champs of all times. Also no comparison. If you rave about Ali's speedpunching then let me tell you that it compares to Chris Byrd's speedpunching which also usually has not much of an effect, except that the opponents that Chris Byrd KOed were 30lbs (median) heavier than Ali's.
• I also disagree about their looks. Ali had a good physique as a cruiser. As a heavy he was overweight. Also no comparison to Wlad.
• I also disagree about Ali's domination. Current Wlad DOMINATES his opponents IN EVERY ROUND. Ali lost lots of rounds to his opponents and got gift decisions.
• Moreover Ali was a dirty clincher ("Dirty Clay"): Choking, head-down-pushing, insulting, trashtalking. You have not witnessed anything as dirty as Ali's clinching in modern heavyweight.

That Ali got Parkinson and that Ali had so little KOs can be summarized as "Lack of attacking skills and lack of defensive skills". I actually don't think that his punch itself was weak: I think it was his constant back-pedalling that unpowered his own punches.

• His only defense was chin and running away (= "floating" = run backwards to be 5 feet away from his opponents). Again no comparison to Wlad.
• Ali was mainly a pumped-up cruiser, who even boxed in the sub-cruiser division (Olympics 1960). You have to compare Ali's cruiser record to nowadays cruisers (like David Haye).

Having said all that, let me add that I think that Rocky Marciano was even worse.

Last not least a quote from your boxing god Muhammad:

Ali: "I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest."

Most of you have all been fooled, not by "Ali, the greatest", but by "Ali, the greatest talker".

Yes, yes, I already know: "Worst post ever", "You obviously never watched Ali", "Get out of here", "LOL, you are not serious!", "Most experts would disagree", **insert your favorite smilies here)), "Ross Puritty anyone?", "What HOFer has Wlad beaten?", "Wlad's nuthugger".
You Ali-nostalgists are so predictable.

But the one thing that is missing is that you actually watch Ali while NOT ON YOUR KNEES.

[The_Demon]

haha i assume this is a joke?

[Burning Desire]

I'm not dis*****g that, but if you were to pick a heavyweight who most resembles Ali then it would have to be Wladimir right.

No i think that would be Larry Holmes.

[bodyshot]

KNN:

Ali-Norton III, Ali-Foreman, and Ali-Lyle all took place at the end of Ali's career. He had been a pro for 15 years when he fought those guys, of course his reflexes had slowed by then. You might as well attempt to assess Duran's skills based on his performance in the Leonard and Lawlor fights. The Ali that fought from 60-67 was head and shoulders above Wladdy in every category except power: handspeed, footwork, defense, ring generalship, fightplan versatility, killer instinct, excitement, personality...you name it.

They were both dominant fighters and they both outboxed effectively. That's the end of the comparison.

[GJC]

Before I answer, let me state that there is obviously no faster way to get bad karma than to say something about Muhammad, the god of boxing. Obviously the Ali-happy posters who cannot engage in a normal discussion (ab)use the karma system if they cannot counter-argue.
This was a warning to new posters who think that Wlad is comparable to Ali.

As you will hopefully have the good grace to confirm that whilst I agree with nothing you say I do not resort to the cowardice of the red k?
I and others wish that the same could be said of klit fans

It's an insult to compare good Wlad's reflexes to Ali's nonexistent reflexes.

You so nearly said something I totally agreed with until you added that non

[Esquire Dale]

That thought went through my mind during the fight with Chagaev.

Wlad was in control for nearly every second, anticipating what his opponent would do, just like Ali was in many of his fights.

Exept he thew 10 punches a round and looked boring as ****.

He doesnt float like a butterfly, sting like a bee

He stomps like a giant, stinks like a bum.

How ****ing dare you compare that guy to Ali. In fighting style or as a person.

This is the funniest wlad fanboy thread i've ever seen.

Comparing that guy to ali.. ****ing hell man how far gone are some of these germans?