Who is really a threat to Klitschkos?

[Fulcrum29]

well keep in mind Vitali already announced that he is probably going to retire in 2009 so he only has one or two fights left AND his fights MIGHT already be lined up because he has no choice but to face Maskaev who the sanctioning body has been trying to force him to face for a while now. So if he faces Kevin Johnson then Maskaev that should probably do it for his career so Vitali would be gone and I can't imagine Wlad wanting to stay around much longer cus there's no one left to face so they might both be gone next year for all we know and then the division will open to whoever new wants to take it over whether it's David Haye or Valuev or whomever.

[street bully]

Vitali is a bad ass. I do not want to see him retire.

[Don Johnson]

David Tua!!!!!!!!

[Fulcrum29]

Vitali is a bad ass. I do not want to see him retire.

yea it's a shame but the truth is that he's already long past his expiration date. There is an interview dated from somewhere like 2003-2004 that says he will stay in boxing for 2 more years AT THE MOST. That means he already had planned to retire in like 2006 anyway (age 35 for him) but I suppose the fact that he got injured and took so much time off he felt he had to make up for that and so is now coming back at the old age of 38 but he's definitely on his last leg and probably only has 1 or 2 fights left in him. The brothers have achieved their dreams. Plus Vitali lost the Kiev Mayoral campaign by only a few % to the guy who won 31% to 23% or so...BUT that guy's approval rating is currently like 8% and people hate him and the next election if I'm not mistaken is due in 2010 so if Vitali ALMOST beat the guy and he's now hated by his people then he definitely stands a chance to win the next one so I'm sure Vitali wants to be ready for the 2010 to finally win the Mayoral seat.

[Dr. Ironfist]

The problem is no one. I think Vitali and Wlad would love to fight a guy who really challenged them. They both appear to be searching for that fight. They will fight anyone. Has anyone other than james toney fans ever accused them of ducking anyone in their careers. Vitali even went to court to get Lewis to fight him. Oh and they arent ducking James Toney, they just dont want to get criticized by 99% of the world for fighting a washed up James Toney.

The HW division is screwed for 15 years now. The main issue is there has always been a line of succession. For years HW's would lose and go back and forth with guys,get older and then lose to the next dominant force. Ali's legacy was made by beating Liston and even then there was a problem with the Rock having never been beaten and for years people brought up how great Rocky was and who would have won. Ali then lost to Holmes, Holmes lost to Tyson, Tyson to Holyfield, Holyfield to Lewis, but then what killed was Vitali losing to Lewis and then Lewis retiring. Lewis really screwed up the perception of the division. If Vitali beats Lewis or if Lewis came back and Vitali beat him, the division would not be considered as weak today and Vitali would be considered as an ATG already. There wasnt that progression. Not only that, but the way it looks now is there is a good chance Wlad and Vitali will both retire without having another loss...if that happens, what do you think that means for the perception of HW's. The fighters then will be guys benefitting on the retirement of so called "paper champions". (I think Vitali was beating lewis and forced him into retirement but many dont think so). I feel sorry for anyone getting into HW boxing because for years all people will say is none of these guys could beat a klitschko and the klitschko's couldn't beat Lewis. etc...I dont care where the fighter is from. He could be from Washington D.C. and be named Thomas Jefferson and fans wont buy into him.

It would literally take two Tyson like guys to bring the division back if the Klitschko's retire without losing again.

[Fulcrum29]

The problem is no one. I think Vitali and Wlad would love to fight a guy who really challenged them. They both appear to be searching for that fight. They will fight anyone. Has anyone other than james toney fans ever accused them of ducking anyone in their careers. Vitali even went to court to get Lewis to fight him. Oh and they arent ducking James Toney, they just dont want to get criticized by 99% of the world for fighting a washed up James Toney.

The HW division is screwed for 15 years now. The main issue is there has always been a line of succession. For years HW's would lose and go back and forth with guys,get older and then lose to the next dominant force. Ali's legacy was made by beating Liston and even then there was a problem with the Rock having never been beaten and for years people brought up how great Rocky was and who would have won. Ali then lost to Holmes, Holmes lost to Tyson, Tyson to Holyfield, Holyfield to Lewis, but then what killed was Vitali losing to Lewis and then Lewis retiring. Lewis really screwed up the perception of the division. If Vitali beats Lewis or if Lewis came back and Vitali beat him, the division would not be considered as weak today and Vitali would be considered as an ATG already. There wasnt that progression. Not only that, but the way it looks now is there is a good chance Wlad and Vitali will both retire without having another loss...if that happens, what do you think that means for the perception of HW's. The fighters then will be guys benefitting on the retirement of so called "paper champions". (I think Vitali was beating lewis and forced him into retirement but many dont think so). I feel sorry for anyone getting into HW boxing because for years all people will say is none of these guys could beat a klitschko and the klitschko's couldn't beat Lewis. etc...I dont care where the fighter is from. He could be from Washington D.C. and be named Thomas Jefferson and fans wont buy into him.

It would literally take two Tyson like guys to bring the division back if the Klitschko's retire without losing again.

Very true and insightful post.

[Inthewhitegirls]

No one.

Even Povetkin would get schooled and is imo the next best thing. He is just to small.

[El Angel]

Nobody, except for each other. That probably isn't gonna happen though.

['Sugar' Freddi]

The heavyweight division is suffering right now, but just imagine, I mean imagine how BAD would it be if it wasn't for the Klitschkos. The Klitschkos are keeping it alive and we better pray we have some new good heavyweights after they're gone.