Wlads op and the HOF

[JAB5239]

This is probably the weakest HW era in the history of the sport.

And, no Wlad is not even close to being the GOAT. He's not even close and maybe never will be a top 10 ATG HW.

People who think that are just overrating the guy.

But, he has had a successful career. He's a damn good fighter. IMO he's a shoe in for the HOF. And, maybe when is all said and done a top 15-20 ATG HW...Which is a compliment and not an insult in anyway. And, Wlad would have been an elite HW in any era. He probably wouldn't be the best in any era. But, would have been elite in any era

Good post my man!

[Spray_resistant]

None of this excuses the fact that it's a shit era and it cannot be overlooked when judging greatness.

Suppose though that he goes on for the next 5 years fighting 3X a year beating the best the world has to offer that would put him at 25 successful world title defenses all time record for world title defenses. It would say alot regardless of opposition and I think is very possible.

[Squizz]

I think he deserves to be in the HOF. He's never beaten another HOF'er, no. But he's beaten enough credible opponents, that his longevity makes him a HOFer, IMO.

He doesn't have any real "names" on his resume, I will admit. That being said, he's always fought the best opposition available, and won, since 2005. No shame in that. If he keeps it up for the next four or five years, he's a lock, IMO.

[Squizz]

Suppose though that he goes on for the next 5 years fighting 3X a year beating the best the world has to offer that would put him at 25 successful world title defenses all time record for world title defenses. It would say alot regardless of opposition and I think is very possible.

This is true, no doubt. But I don't think he'll be fighting three times a year for the next five years. Maybe twice a year. And even that would be amazing. The guy is an excellent athlete. He'll just never get the respect he deserves due to the earlier meltdowns in his career.

Hypothetically, if he never lost once in his career, he'd be lock, no doubt. It's just the KO losses, that really put a blemish on his resume.

Even then, you still have to admire that he's an Olympic gold medalist, who's basically the undisputed HW champion of the world. With that sorta' success, I'd say he'd have to be a lock for the HOF.

[Spray_resistant]

This is true, no doubt. But I don't think he'll be fighting three times a year for the next five years. Maybe twice a year. And even that would be amazing. The guy is an excellent athlete. He'll just never get the respect he deserves due to the earlier meltdowns in his career.

Hypothetically, if he never lost once in his career, he'd be lock, no doubt. It's just the KO losses, that really put a blemish on his resume.

Even then, you still have to admire that he's an Olympic gold medalist, who's basically the undisputed HW champion of the world. With that sorta' success, I'd say he'd have to be a lock for the HOF.

Yeah the 3 losses do badly hurt him even though he is a much better fighter now than when they occurred.

He should let some other HW have a good run before crushing him and then just get him at the height of his reign so he will get more credit and no one can say who did this guy beat.

Its a problem he has that most of his opponents were not allowed a good run when maybe they could have had one.

[JAB5239]

Suppose though that he goes on for the next 5 years fighting 3X a year beating the best the world has to offer that would put him at 25 successful world title defenses all time record for world title defenses. It would say alot regardless of opposition and I think is very possible.

Wlad is a lock for all time top 15, I give him that. But his defenses are not unified nor consecutive. As I've stated many times, I don't blame him for the era he fights in, but it cannot be dismissed. Much of his competition has been past prime (like a lot of greats), but more importantly they have fallen by the wayside instead of coming back stronger against other available contenders after losing. THAT is the biggest reason this era is defined as weak.

[vacon04]

I agree with much of what you say including Wlad being deserving of the HOF. But the part about better training methods I completely disagree with. Heavyweight today, as a whole, throw a ton less punches and are gassing out before 12 rounds let alone 15 or more. The sport has regressed in talent, technique and stamina regardless of training methods and nutrition.

The thing is that HW now are a lot heavier than in the past, I mean Ali, Frazier, Louis, Baer, and even Tyson were lighter than today. Most of them were around 220 pounds or less, with Tyson being a little heavier.

It's really hard for actually HWs to throw the same amount of punches while they are 245, so even if it seems that they don't have enough stamina they do in fact, but muscle mass makes boxers run out of oxygen faster so they can't throw a lot of punches or they would gas out even faster.

About technique and talent, well that's not up to science.

[JAB5239]

The thing is that HW now are a lot heavier than in the past, I mean Ali, Frazier, Louis, Baer, and even Tyson were lighter than today. Most of them were around 220 pounds or less, with Tyson being a little heavier.

It's really hard for actually HWs to throw the same amount of punches while they are 245, so even if it seems that they don't have enough stamina they do in fact, but muscle mass makes boxers run out of oxygen faster so they can't throw a lot of punches or they would gas out even faster.

About technique and talent, well that's not up to science.

And this is exactly why their greatness cannot be compared to the greats of the past.

[vacon04]

And this is exactly why their greatness cannot be compared to the greats of the past.

Yeah, as I've said in the past post there's no way to compare HW from the past to HW from the present.

[JAB5239]

Yeah, as I've said in the past post there's no way to compare HW from the past to HW from the present.

And what is left is resume and level of competition. Based on this it is simply not feasible tor any objective person to consider them top 10 all time. This has always been my argument, but some cannot seem to grasp it.