Where does Wladimir Klitschko rank anong the all time HWs?

[Jim Jeffries]

Actually, yeah, it kinda does.

Actually, I haven't seen a credible boxing historian yet that doesn't have Larry Holmes in his top 5 ATG HW list.

Where do you have him? Because outside of 10 is insane.

[bojangles1987]

I'm sorry, but I can't take him seriously as a top 15 or 20 all time heavyweight. He doesn't hold ONE victory over another great heavyweight, I know they aren't there for him to beat, which is not his fault at all, but who knows how good he really is?

This is why I feel the Klitschko brothers have to fight each other, it's the only way to judge how they fit in the discussion of ATG heavyweights. There isn't any other competition. If David Haye or anyone else can change that, that would be great but until further notice I would have Wlad no where higher than 25-30.

[JAB5239]

He's about #15 now.

If he defeats three prime top HWs, namely Chambers, Povetkin and Haye, then he'll clearly be in the top 10.

I'd rate him as at least a top 20 all time heavy. But I don't think you can just assume he can jump to the top 10 with wins over the fighters you named. We'll have to wait and see how their careers unfold. None have established any real consistency against good fighters in my opinion, and if they were to become non en****** after Wlad I would find it very difficult in moving him any higher compared to fighters who beat men that fought more consistent contenders....if that makes sense.

[Earl-Hickey]

Probably like number 18 or something.

[JAB5239]

THE TOP 20 HEAVYWEIGHTS OF ALL TIME

1. Joe Louis
2. Muhammad Ali
3. Jack Johnson
4. George Foreman
5. Larry Holmes
6. Jack Dempsey
7. Sonny Liston
8. Jim Jeffries
9. Lennox Lewis
10. Mike Tyson
11. Rocky Marciano
12. Joe Frazier
13. Rid**** Bowe
14. Evander Holyfield
15. Sam Langford
16. Gene Tunney
17. James J. Corbett
18. Ezzard Charles
19. Jersey Joe Walcott
20. Max Schmeling

Out of this list I would only rank Wlad ahead of Tunney, Corbett and possibly Schmeling. Jmo.

[The Hammer]

A dearth of prime great opponents doesn't keep Larry Holmes out of top 5 ATG HW discussions.

Wlad is obviously not there yet, but to say he's not top 25 is a bit absurd.

And surely you're not going to use triangle theory and a fight that Vitali was winning handidly over a 37 yo Lewis that peaked late to prove something about Wlad's abilities?

Good post!

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

What are you basing this on?

The only basis you have to come to a conclusion like that his how they perform against equal and better opposition.

To say that the division is for certain weak is to presume that the best in the division would certainly not be the best if they fought the best from different eras.

To make a claim like that is really based on personal bias and nothing else because the best current fighters can't fight the best from the past so we will never know.

Spary cmon man you are better then this.

Its Vitali , Wlad and no one else is on there level even my boy Haye is unproven.

The divison is not good at all. Thats not Wlads fault and he can only fight whos there but it is a weak division.

[The Hammer]

THE TOP 20 HEAVYWEIGHTS OF ALL TIME

1. Joe Louis
2. Muhammad Ali
3. Jack Johnson
4. George Foreman
5. Larry Holmes
6. Jack Dempsey
7. Sonny Liston
8. Jim Jeffries
9. Lennox Lewis
10. Mike Tyson
11. Rocky Marciano
12. Joe Frazier
13. Rid**** Bowe
14. Evander Holyfield
15. Sam Langford
16. Gene Tunney
17. James J. Corbett
18. Ezzard Charles
19. Jersey Joe Walcott
20. Max Schmeling

Out of this list I would only rank Wlad ahead of Tunney, Corbett and possibly Schmeling. Jmo.

Only ahead of those three guys? Interesting...

What is it about those three particular guys?

i hate to bring this up...but the fact that hes white, nobody wants to give him any credit

but if he was black, people would be calling him the goat of goats

true story

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

Top 25. He needs a win over another GREAT fighter thats on his level. Maybe Haye can push himself to that level.

[JAB5239]

Only ahead of those three guys? Interesting...

In terms of overall accomplishment and consistency, yes. Head to head would be a different story, but I don't judge fighters based on fantasy match ups.