Where do you rate Vitali Klitschko among ATG heavyweights?

[hweightblogger]

As well as fighting all of the top contenders. Anyone arguing Vitali is a top 5 heavyweight of all-time have lost the plot mate.

On the contrary. Top 5 would be based on FACTS.

If you go by subjective assets like "charisma", "big mouth" or "greatness outside of the ring" then, yes, Vitali Klitschko might not be as great as David Haye, who did a fantastic job in the jungle camp.

[hweightblogger]

I agree with that although he has had some good victories over some good opponents, such as Herbie Hide, Danny Williams, Chris Arreola, Kevin Johnson, Odlanier Solis, Tomasz Adamek, Derek Chisora but to be fair most of those are only at european level or international level but never got the big one.

Not true:

Herbie Hide: World champ.
Adamek: World champ.
Solis: Gold medalist.

[ToyBulldog]

On the contrary. Top 5 would be based on FACTS.

If you go by subjective assets like "charisma", "big mouth" or "greatness outside of the ring" then, yes, Vitali Klitschko might not be as great as David Haye, who did a fantastic job in the jungle camp.

And fact is Vitali doesn't have a strong enough list of opponents nor did he beat the best of his era.

[hweightblogger]

They are definitely not to blame for the lack of competition in their era. As good as they are what trully makes ATG's in my opinion is how they performed in their biggest fights. Ali is the GOAT because he beat Frazier, he beat foreman, he beat sonny liston other bonafide champions who similarly all were at the top of their game. .

Frazier: Blind on his left eye.
Foreman: Ali's trainer messed with the ropes. Foreman claims he was poisoned.
Sonny Liston: Most contested KO in HW history. Wife and child were kidnapped by Ali's friends prior to fight.

Your list is laughable and would be proof of how the division sucks.

If struggling (and getting knocked down) against such opponents like *cough* Frazier (205 lbs) makes you an ATG then Vitali is the ATG of ATGs.

[hweightblogger]

And fact is Vitali doesn't have a strong enough list of opponents nor did he beat the best of his era.

And who defines what "the best of his era" are? Or do you mean his brother?

[ToyBulldog]

And who defines what "the best of his era" are? Or do you mean his brother?

Yes. Wlad is much greater than Vitali.

[Joeyzagz]

It's not impossible.

If part of the resume is "winning a HW championship" (and why should it not be?) then one could very well make a case that Vitali is Top 5 material.

In fact the statistic "KO wins (within 12 rounds) at heavyweight world championships 200x2" is basically _THE_ quintessential statistic on a heavyweight resume since it translates as "dominating top opponents in meaningful fights".

And based on this stat Vitali is #3 after Wlad (#1) and Larry Holmes (#2). And Larry Holmes is only at #2 because he KOed a lot of bums in title fights. Once you delete bums off the record (= those who lost 25%+ of their fights) Larry Homes gets demoted to place #5 and Vitali shares place #2 with Lennox Lewis.

Muhammad Ali is place #6 and that already includes doubtful KOwins like against Cleveland Williams and Sonny Liston.

So yes, one could have very well a case for Vitali being at the very top, unless one choses to ignore title wins and KO dominance.

Vitali has never beaten a #1 fighter......Ever.

Vitali may have beaten a #2 fighter "Sanders" but thats hardly anything to celebrate about.

He benefits from having a 6'6 brother in the division to help thin the herd , but this hurts him in ATG discussions because he was exempt from facing #1(Wlad) or the #3 available opponents(Ibragimov, Haye, Byrd) for an entire decade.

Joe Louis had to fight everyone #1-#10, he didnt have the luxury of a Jack Louis to carry the load and still went 69-3.

[wazaa.]

I consider Vitaly a worldclass fighter but his resume isn't all that. Pretty decent resume. Nothing more.

I rate him 26-50

[hweightblogger]

Vitali has never beaten a #1 fighter......Ever.

A #1 fighter by whose definition?

What #1 fighter did Tyson beat?

[ToyBulldog]

A #1 fighter by whose definition?

What #1 fighter did Tyson beat?

Seriousy??

Spinks. You're being insufferable.