The Klitschkos are both ATG Heavyweights. Unfortunately for them, they fought at possibly the weakest HW era of all-time. It's not their fault, but ultimately, they will never go down as top 10 or 15 HW of all-time, do to their era. I'd put Vitali just inside the top 20 HW of all-time, and Wlad would probably be around top 20 or 25.
Wladimir Klitschko's notable resume:
2000: Chris Byrd- W UD 12
2002: Francois Botha- W TKO 8
2002: Ray Mercer- W TKO 6
2003: Corrie Sanders- L TKO 2
2004: Lamon Brewster- L TKO 5
2005: Samuel Peter- W UD 12
2006: Chris Byrd- W TKO 7
2006: Calvin Brock- W TKO 7
2007: Lamon Brewster- W RTD 6
2008: Tony Thompson- W KO 11
2010: Eddie Chambers- W KO 12
2010: Samuel Peter- W KO 10
2011: David Haye- W UD 12
Vitali Klitschko's notable resume:
1999: Herbie Hide- W KO 2
2000: Chris Byrd- L RTD 9 (was up on all scorecards)
2000: Hoffman- W UD 12
2003: Lewis- L TKO 6 (was up on socrecards)
2004: Corrie Sanders- W TKO 8
2008: Samuel Peter- W RTD 8
2009: Juan Carlos Gomez- W TKO 9
2009: Chris Arreola- W RTD 10
2010: Shannon Briggs- W UD 12
2011: Odlanier Solis- W KO 1
2011: Tomasz Adamek- W TKO 10
Vitali's only 2 losses, he was up on all scorecards when it was stopped, and one was from a cut and the other from a shoulder injury. Wladimir got KO'd by Brewster and C. Sanders. No way no how do any of the top 10 or 15 heavyweights get KO'd by those guys, in their prime.
The thing that really makes me wonder about how the Klitschko's would have faired in the 60's against Liston and Ali, or the 70's against Ali, Frazier, Foreman, or the 80's agaainst Holmes and Tyson, or the 90's against Holyfield, Lewis, Bowe.....is the fact that a past prime Lennox Lewis was in the fight with a prime Vitali. Sure, Lewis was down 58-56 when teh fight was stopped, by he was in it, and he was 37 years old, more than a few years from his prime.
Vitali is just inside the top 20, Wlad is just inside the top 25, to me. The funny thing is, if they fought each other, the winner's all-time great stock would rise greatly. For instance, if they fought and Vitali won, he'd be a top 15 all-time HW to me, and would be just outisde of the top 10. If Wlad won, he'd be right around top 15 HW of all-time. But, they are brothers, and they say they'll never fight. Oh well.
Wladimir Klitschko's notable resume:
2000: Chris Byrd- W UD 12
2002: Francois Botha- W TKO 8
2002: Ray Mercer- W TKO 6
2003: Corrie Sanders- L TKO 2
2004: Lamon Brewster- L TKO 5
2005: Samuel Peter- W UD 12
2006: Chris Byrd- W TKO 7
2006: Calvin Brock- W TKO 7
2007: Lamon Brewster- W RTD 6
2008: Tony Thompson- W KO 11
2010: Eddie Chambers- W KO 12
2010: Samuel Peter- W KO 10
2011: David Haye- W UD 12
Vitali Klitschko's notable resume:
1999: Herbie Hide- W KO 2
2000: Chris Byrd- L RTD 9 (was up on all scorecards)
2000: Hoffman- W UD 12
2003: Lewis- L TKO 6 (was up on socrecards)
2004: Corrie Sanders- W TKO 8
2008: Samuel Peter- W RTD 8
2009: Juan Carlos Gomez- W TKO 9
2009: Chris Arreola- W RTD 10
2010: Shannon Briggs- W UD 12
2011: Odlanier Solis- W KO 1
2011: Tomasz Adamek- W TKO 10
Vitali's only 2 losses, he was up on all scorecards when it was stopped, and one was from a cut and the other from a shoulder injury. Wladimir got KO'd by Brewster and C. Sanders. No way no how do any of the top 10 or 15 heavyweights get KO'd by those guys, in their prime.
The thing that really makes me wonder about how the Klitschko's would have faired in the 60's against Liston and Ali, or the 70's against Ali, Frazier, Foreman, or the 80's agaainst Holmes and Tyson, or the 90's against Holyfield, Lewis, Bowe.....is the fact that a past prime Lennox Lewis was in the fight with a prime Vitali. Sure, Lewis was down 58-56 when teh fight was stopped, by he was in it, and he was 37 years old, more than a few years from his prime.
Vitali is just inside the top 20, Wlad is just inside the top 25, to me. The funny thing is, if they fought each other, the winner's all-time great stock would rise greatly. For instance, if they fought and Vitali won, he'd be a top 15 all-time HW to me, and would be just outisde of the top 10. If Wlad won, he'd be right around top 15 HW of all-time. But, they are brothers, and they say they'll never fight. Oh well.
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