Which recent opponent gave the best effort at trying to beat Wlad?

[nomadman]

Ok, regardless of what you thought of the opposition, which fighter of late do you think gave the best, most honest effort at trying to dethrone Wlad? Who trained the hardest? Who fought the best opponents as preparation? Who gave the gutsiest effort in the ring?

To help here are Wlad's last ten opponents, their weights with corresponding height, their performance and their last two opponents prior to the fight:

Samuel Peter: 241lbs, 6 feet 2, KO 10, Nagy Aguilera, Gabe Brown

Eddie Chambers: 209lbs, 6 feet 1, KO 12, Alexander Dimitrenko, Samuel Peter

Ruslan Chagaev: 224lbs, 6 feet 1, RTD 9, Carl Drummond, Matt Skelton

Hasim Rahman: 253lbs, 6 feet 2, TKO 7, James Toney (NC), Zuri Lawrence

Tony Thompson: 247lbs 6 feet 5, KO 11, Cliff Couser, Luan Krasniqi

Sultan Ibragimov: 219lbs 6 feet 2, UD 12, Evander Holyfield, Shannon Briggs

Lamon Brewster: 228 lbs 6 feet 2, RTD 6, Sergei Lyakhovich (loss), Luan Krasniqi

Ray Austin: 247lbs 6 feet 6, KO 2, Sultan Ibragimov (draw), Jeremy Bates

Calvin Brock: 224lbs 6 feet 2, TKO 7, Timur Ibragimov, Zuri Lawrence

Chris Byrd: 213lbs 6 feet, TKO 7, DaVarryl Williamson, Jameel McCline

I've made the earliest fight the Byrd rematch since this is more or less where the modern Wlad found his groove. (it's also the limit of my poll options)

[Steak]

Tony Thompson
Tony Thompson
Tony Thompson
Tony Thompson
Tony Thompson

outlanded and outjabbed Wladimir.

too bad he cant punch his way out of a paper bag.

[THe TRiNiTY]

I wen't with Calvin Brock. Brock didn't really do **** and you could even argue that Thompson did a bit more. However, I never felt that the fight could end at any point in time in favor of Tony, so it's hard to make that case. Brock could atleast punch like a Heavyweight, if nothing else.

Still, none of them did exceptionally well. Ibragimov lasted and did SOME damage, I suppose. Nonetheless, he was still clearly dominated.

[Jack Napier]

Brock
he won 2 or 3 rounds and landed a few times

[nomadman]

Brock and Thompson are both pretty good choices. They both fought to win, and even won their fair share of rounds.

I myself voted Chambers since, whilst he didn't do exceptionally well in the actual fight, fought some very stiff competition prior to it, and clearly trained pretty hard coming in at a trim 209lbs both for this and the Dimi fight before it. Also seemed to have a clear gameplan regarding Wlad's clinches and seemed genuinely gutted in the post fight interview.

[tyger]

I'm having a hard time finding one that gave an effort. Admittedly Wlad's skills are partly to blame, but looking at the list I wonder how some of them got a title shot at that stage in their career.

[BrooklynBomber]

I picked chambers. Not that he looked like he was a threat at any moment, but he definately came in prepared to win, regardless of his physical limitations.

[!! Shawn]

I picked chambers. Not that he looked like he was a threat at any moment, but he definately came in prepared to win, regardless of his physical limitations.

This, dude might not have been big enough to pull it off, and he might not have had the power, but he went in with a plan, and he tried his ass off all night.

[j.one]

If Tony the tiger had even a little bit of punching power he would have KO'd Wlad, he made him look foolish. He did the best, that fight showed how vulnerable he is to a counter puncher with speed and power, Thompson has neither, but his defense and movement put him in position to land the shot needed.

[Mr. Invincible]

Thompson by far. He had actually out landed Wlad , which is unheard of. He was also the first since Sanders to neutralize Wlads jab. He deserves another shot in my opinion. Maybe @ Haye. Will never happen because Haye would never take that risky of a fight.