My current Heavyweight Top 10

[Enayze]

What makes Klitschko #1 in your opinion?

How about that he doesn't dodge anyone, lose to middleweights, and get decisions in which he should've lost? Something the other three title holders cannot claim.

[NiGe2011]

I think what really seperates Klitschko in this heavyweight division is not really a matter of talent per say, but just in this unpredictable heavyweight era he is very consistent. Beating the guys we expect him to, and in convincing fashion. We have yet to see him in there with one of the top five or six guys in the division though (at least now that his title reign has begun).

[Enayze]

I think what really seperates Klitschko in this heavyweight division is not really a matter of talent per say, but just in this unpredictable heavyweight era he is very consistent. Beating the guys we expect him to, and in convincing fashion. We have yet to see him in there with one of the top five or six guys in the division though (at least now that his title reign has begun).

Corrie Sanders at the time was ranked no.3 by Ring Magazine and no.2 by the WBC. I think he consists as a top 5 guy. Kirk Johnson also ranked no.5 by the WBC at the that time, and a solid top ten opponent. Danny Williams after beating Tyson also slipped into the top ten, and the no.7 WBC ranking.

[Neuraxis]

TOS a top 10 heavyweight? Come on...

What's wrong with TOS? 8 may be a stretch, but he is clearly top 15.

[NiGe2011]

You are certainly correct about the Corrie Sanders and Kirk Johnson thing, and I was actually thinking about that as I was posting. But I think we also saw that they were not really deserving of that ranking pretty quickly, Sanders only being the first of a few guys to expose Wladimir and Johnson really not having fought anybody of consequence. What I meant was that we had not seen Klitschko defend his title against Ruiz, Byrd, Rahman, Brewster, Barrett or the likes. Though it does deserve mentioning that he had that one fight with Byrd which I am not even going to get into here so as to avoid contreversy. I mean, don't get me wrong, I think Vitali is deserving of his #1 position, I also think that we have yet to see him in with any of the major challenges yet- he has done a decent job picking his fights so as to ensure that he would look good. And not all the blame can be heaped on Klitschko, it also has to go on these guys and Don King who constantly talk about fighting Klistchko but have not been able to get the deal done.

[Neuraxis]

My top 15 heavyweights
1. Vitali Klitschko
2. Lamon Brewster
3. James Toney
4. Chris Byrd
5. Hasim Rahman
6. Wladimir Klitschko
7. John Ruiz
8. Calvin Brock
9. Monte Barrett
10. Nicolay Valuev
11. Samuel Peter
12. DaVarryl Williamson
13. Andrew Golota
14. Jameel McCline
15. Luan Krasniqi

inactive/retired
Sanders, Johnson, Whitaker, Mesi.

[Neuraxis]

Facts are facts he has done more and is more active than any of the other heavyweights and has fought better opposition.

Heavyweight champion 1
Wladimir Klitschko
Andrew Golota

Heavyweight Champion 2
Kirk Johnson
Danny Williams
Larry Donald
Corrie Sanders

Heavyweight Champion 3
Tony Tucker
Evander Holyfield
Kirk Johnson
Hasim Rahman
Fres Oquendo
Andrew Golota

Heavyweight Champion 4
Jimmy Thunder
Vitali Klitschko
David Tua
Evander Holyfield
Fres Oquendo
Andrew Golota
Jameel Mccline

Who has the better resume? Pick a number not a name.

3-4 clearly are top ones.

You are clearly overrating who has the better resume. What matters most is what you have done for me recently. If all we did was compare resumes then this guy would have to be ranked in the top 3.

Axel Schulz
Monte Barrett
Chris Byrd
Frans Botha
Ray Mercer
Jameel McCline
DaVarryl Williamson

[Neuraxis]

You are certainly correct about the Corrie Sanders and Kirk Johnson thing, and I was actually thinking about that as I was posting. But I think we also saw that they were not really deserving of that ranking pretty quickly

So I guess you missed Kirk Johnson outboxing Ruiz in a losing effort as well as beating Maskaev, Donald, Savarese, and Nicholson. And Sanders outboxing Rahman in a losing effort as well as beating Sprott TKO 1, Czyz TKO 2, Cole KO 1, and Wlad TKO 2.

[NiGe2011]

So I guess you missed Kirk Johnson outboxing Ruiz in a losing effort as well as beating Maskaev, Donald, Savarese, and Nicholson. And Sanders outboxing Rahman in a losing effort as well as beating Sprott TKO 1, Czyz TKO 2, Cole KO 1, and Wlad TKO 2.

No I didn't miss it, actually I was kind of banking on it. Don't get me wrong, I think they are both solid fighters- I wouldn't be able to justify putting Vitali at the #1 spot if I did not. But what you say actually speaks volumes for what I am trying to say, Kirk Johnson performed well in a losing effort to Ruiz- and also has beaten some obviously second tier heavyweights. Sanders performed well in a losing effort against Rahman, and has also KO'ed a bunch of second tier heavyweights. But that is pretty much what they were limitied to, is being game guys who fought closely against the best of the divion, who were also able to beat most of the lesser guys at heavyweight with ease. However, the guys who were the top five or so guys at heavyweight were the guys that are beating the Sanders and Johnsons of the division- guys like Ruiz and Rahman, who Vitali has not defended his title against yet. I am not saying that he would not beat them- just that I would like to see him in there against these fighters. Even the most dire hard Klitschko fan must be willing to admit that a victory over Ruiz, Byrd, Ruiz, or Brewster means more then a win over Sanders, Johnson, or Williams.

[Neuraxis]

No I didn't miss it, actually I was kind of banking on it. Don't get me wrong, I think they are both solid fighters- I wouldn't be able to justify putting Vitali at the #1 spot if I did not. But what you say actually speaks volumes for what I am trying to say, Kirk Johnson performed well in a losing effort to Ruiz- and also has beaten some obviously second tier heavyweights. Sanders performed well in a losing effort against Rahman, and has also KO'ed a bunch of second tier heavyweights. But that is pretty much what they were limitied to, is being game guys who fought closely against the best of the divion, who were also able to beat most of the lesser guys at heavyweight with ease. However, the guys who were the top five or so guys at heavyweight were the guys that are beating the Sanders and Johnsons of the division- guys like Ruiz and Rahman, who Vitali has not defended his title against yet. I am not saying that he would not beat them- just that I would like to see him in there against these fighters. Even the most dire hard Klitschko fan must be willing to admit that a victory over Ruiz, Byrd, Ruiz, or Brewster means more then a win over Sanders, Johnson, or Williams.

They would mean more, but a couple of those fights would be easier for VK than the Sanders fight was.