Comments Thread For: Vitali Klitschko States: I Can Leave Boxing at Any Time

[Leohappy]

vitali will be around as long as there are faces left to smash.

[Superflo777]

Ask amongst boxing fans all over the world and Pacs popularity will be known by all. Do the same thing for the Klits and you won't get the same response because of the reasons I've already outlined. How about answering my question. How popular would he be if he fought only B level fighters and never had wins over fighters like JMM, MAB, Morales, Hatton, DLH, Cotto and Mosley?

Sorry but we both have a different perception of popularity. If you'd ask people about Tyson even when he was still active, most non-boxing fans would recognize him. That's what I call "popularity". Neither Pacquiao nor Klitschko are that popular around the world, however, if you ask regular people about Klitschko in Europe, many would know who they are, unlike Pacquiao, who is VERY unknown to average Joe over here.

As for your question, no one can tell how popular a fighter would be if he didn't fight this man or this man, and the definition of "A" or "B" level fighters is a very subjective thing after all. For example, I wouldn't call fighters like Ibragimov or Chagaev "B" level, unlike others who say the heavyweight division has been dead since 2003.

[JAB5239]

Sorry but we both have a different perception of popularity. If you'd ask people about Tyson even when he was still active, most non-boxing fans would recognize him. That's what I call "popularity". Neither Pacquiao nor Klitschko are that popular around the world, however, if you ask regular people about Klitschko in Europe, many would know who they are, unlike Pacquiao, who is VERY unknown to average Joe over here.

Lets keep this focused on boxing fans the world over. Who's more popular Manny or the Klits?

As for your question, no one can tell how popular a fighter would be if he didn't fight this man or this man, and the definition of "A" or "B" level fighters is a very subjective thing after all. For example, I wouldn't call fighters like Ibragimov or Chagaev "B" level, unlike others who say the heavyweight division has been dead since 2003.

Come on bro you seem like an intelligent guy. Are you telling me you don't believe Pac's popularity would plummet without those names? How would he have been promoted into a superstar? Were Hussien, Ledwaba and Agapito Sanchez going to push him into superstardom?

And you wouldn't call Chageav and Ibragimov B level? Chagaev's best win's are a split decision and majority decision over Ruiz and Valuev. If that doesn't SCREAM mediocrity I don't know what does. And Ibragimov's best wins are a draw with Ray Austin and a decision over a nearly 275lb Shannon Briggs. Are you kidding me?!!

[nomadman]

And you wouldn't call Chageav and Ibragimov B level? Chagaev's best win's are a split decision and majority decision over Ruiz and Valuev. If that doesn't SCREAM mediocrity I don't know what does. And Ibragimov's best wins are a draw with Ray Austin and a decision over a nearly 275lb Shannon Briggs. Are you kidding me?!!

Both Chags and Brags were former belt holders and amateur standouts, and were both undefeated at the time Wlad fought them. Not sure how that makes them "B fighters". Who, in the HW division of the time, would you say was an A, besides the Klits?

[Weebler I]

Sorry but we both have a different perception of popularity. If you'd ask people about Tyson even when he was still active, most non-boxing fans would recognize him. That's what I call "popularity". Neither Pacquiao nor Klitschko are that popular around the world, however, if you ask regular people about Klitschko in Europe, many would know who they are, unlike Pacquiao, who is VERY unknown to average Joe over here.

As for your question, no one can tell how popular a fighter would be if he didn't fight this man or this man, and the definition of "A" or "B" level fighters is a very subjective thing after all. For example, I wouldn't call fighters like Ibragimov or Chagaev "B" level, unlike others who say the heavyweight division has been dead since 2003.

There are no really world famous boxers any more.

Tyson's fame superceded the sport of boxing, almost everyone knew who he was, a genuine superstar.

[JAB5239]

Both Chags and Brags were former belt holders and amateur standouts, and were both undefeated at the time Wlad fought them. Not sure how that makes them "B fighters". Who, in the HW division of the time, would you say was an A, besides the Klits?

Tyrell Biggs and Jorge Luis Gonzales were amateur standouts too, it didn't make them A level pro's. That said, Im not blaming the Klits for the era they fight in but it is something that is important when looking at greatness. Unfortunately the only A level fighters their were for them to fight who were proven top tier heavies were Lewis and Byrd.

And with all do respect to Chag and Briggs, I don't put much stock in paper titles. To me they were merely contenders and will be a footnote in heavyweight history. Briggs won the lineal title over an ancient Foreman in a fight that was clouded by controversy.

[JAB5239]

There are no really world famous boxers any more.

Tyson's fame superceded the sport of boxing, almost everyone knew who he was, a genuine superstar.

When I talk about popularity Im talking worldwide boxing popularity.

[Jedi Vader]

When I talk about popularity Im talking worldwide boxing popularity.

Jab's typically taking them all to school as per usual.

[Jedi Vader]

In the current Heavyweight climate the Klits are the standout Class A fighters with everyone else at B-.

Put all those fighters in any other era and the Klits are B- and the rest of todays fighters are languishing in C and D class.

I read a thread today and one of the Klit fans thinks Eddie Chambers is a good fighter minus the fat. That is how abject the state of the division is when a fighter of that nature is lauded.

[JAB5239]

In the current Heavyweight climate the Klits are the standout Class A fighters with everyone else at B-.

Put all those fighters in any other era and the Klits are B- and the rest of todays fighters are languishing in C and D class.

I read a thread today and one of the Klit fans thinks Eddie Chambers is a good fighter minus the fat. That is how abject the state of the division is when a fighter of that nature is lauded.

I think they're both A level fighters, the problem is their greatness gets way overrated due to their B level comp. I see no reasonable way to rank them over fighters who simply beat more proven competition whether we ASSUME they would beat that same competition. How can someone logically bump great fighters who actually beat more talented fighters and replace them with the brother's, who while looking good, don't have the same level of fighters to compete against? Head to head I believe they are at the very least top fighters in ANY era. That's just guess work and supposition though. Bottom line is every all time top 10 heavyweight has much of the same type of competition on their resumes, but they also have career defining fights and other all time greats on it as well with most having fought fighters who were more talented than today's crop of contenders who are for the most part inconsistent, out of shape, untested, unskilled or a combination of all those things.

Larry Holmes often gets brought up in comparison to the K bros era. Difference is he had a career defining fight with Norton, 20 consecutive defenses and beat guys like Witherspoon who while not very experienced at the time had tremendous skills in which he displayed that night and many nights after. I don't see the as the K bros fault, but its the contenders of this era who bring their all time status down. If just two or three of them could build some consistency fighting other contenders even if they lost against other rated guys and showed they had the heart to come back and keep fighting the best than the brother's would be that much better off. Instead we got guys like Povetkin, Arreolla and others who are content to sit on their rankings looking for their next shot or payday. The division needs a modern day Jerry Quarry or Sam Langford, guys who weren't afraid to lose but who were always willing to take chances. Just my two cents.