Vitali's legacy

[Weltschmerz]

Vitali's weak resume is a myth of the boxing forums and the modern HW hater community posing as boxing fans. Vitali is a clear top ten HW of all time, I have him at #6. He decisively beat the two top HW's of the post LL era, Sanders and Peter, when his brother lost to the former and struggled with the latter. He'll likely be at least 8th for longest title defense streak in terms of time, tied for at least 5th in terms of number of consecutive defenses, and tied for at least 5th in terms of overall successful title defenses. He has the 2nd highest ko percentage in history, probably the highest round won percentage in history, if they could find the numbers, and head to head would probably beat any other HW in history, with the debatable exception of Lennox Lewis. His title defenses were legitimate, at the approximate level of most other champs as far as in era quality, 5 were in my top 10, 3 were in my top 20, 1 (Sosnowski) in the top 30. Comparatively, LH, LL, WK, MT were the only ones with better defenses on average among the top 20 ATG HW's or so with comparative number of defenses. But LL is the only one of those who should be rated higher, considering VK's dominance (, higher level success and ko % and rounds won). As far as VK vs. Wlad, sorry, but sheer numbers do not make up for quality. Most people who push Wlad just do so because they hate both the K's and since its widely accepted VK is better H2H, it discredits both to put WK above him in resume. Unless VK fights and loses and Wlad avenges him, or Wlad goes on to break Louis's consecutive defense mark, VK should remain rated higher. Seriously, the hate for the K's and VK in particular is really amazing. Some people are actually saying VK's not top 20? I've made a list of my top 75 HW's of all time, once you get past the top 20 you're talking about people who weren't close to being the best boxer's of their era, basically the 3rd or 4th best of their era who usually only had a one or two successful defenses. Its laughable to compare them (like my #25, Max Baer who never successfully defended his title, except for an exhibition match, and was at best the 3rd best and at worst the 5th best fighter of his era) to a dominant champ like VK.

Excellent post. H2H prime for prime, Vitali beats Wlad. And I say this as the biggest Wladimir fan. Prime Vitali is just a beast. And he wasn't yet prime vs Lennox, and was still smashing the great Lennow around the ring.

[Dr.Eisenfaust]

Excellent post. H2H prime for prime, Vitali beats Wlad. And I say this as the biggest Wladimir fan. Prime Vitali is just a beast. And he wasn't yet prime vs Lennox, and was still smashing the great Lennow around the ring.

I still believe that prime Vitali was around 2011. Maybe , and it's a big maybe he still got some things to show.

[Weltschmerz]

I still believe that prime Vitali was around 2011. Maybe , and it's a big maybe he still got some things to show.

Agreed. He should fight Stiverne though. Shouldn't bow out with the Charr farce of a fight.

[JAB5239]

Excellent post. H2H prime for prime, Vitali beats Wlad. And I say this as the biggest Wladimir fan. Prime Vitali is just a beast. And he wasn't yet prime vs Lennox, and was still smashing the great Lennow around the ring.

How can you say he wasn't prime? He was having his 34th pro fight and was nearly 32 years old. That is smack, dab right in his prime. In fact it's late in his prime. Lewis on the other hand was past prime, overweight, unmotivated and still stopped Vits. Now THAT is greatness, beating a bigger, younger, talented fighter the Vitaly. Its what makes Lewis an ATG.

[Dr.Eisenfaust]

How can you say he wasn't prime? He was having his 34th pro fight and was nearly 32 years old. That is smack, dab right in his prime. In fact it's late in his prime. Lewis on the other hand was past prime, overweight, unmotivated and still stopped Vits. Now THAT is greatness, beating a bigger, younger, talented fighter the Vitaly. Its what makes Lewis an ATG.

You are a funny guy. Lennox Lewis, with all respect due to him he was a great fighter, suffered a lot against Vitali Klitschko. He didn't deserve the win at all. Larry Merchant brought him back to reality during the ring interview.

[Dr.Eisenfaust]

Agreed. He should fight Stiverne though. Shouldn't bow out with the Charr farce of a fight.

A lot of people though that the Charr fight was a sign of Vitali's speed decreasing. I am not so sure about that. Vitali just adapted his style to Charr's one. He intended to be more accurate and to hit harder because of Charr's double-guard. Logically, Vitali was a little bot slower.

Charr annoyed me because he thought that running around during 6 rounds would make Vitali tired. That's a loser strategy. However Charr is not bad.

[JAB5239]

You are a funny guy. Lennox Lewis, with all respect due to him he was a great fighter, suffered a lot against Vitali Klitschko. He didn't deserve the win at all. Larry Merchant brought him back to reality during the ring interview.

Lol, he didn't deserve the win? He EARNED the win by being the tougher, more durable fighter able to land the more damaging punches. You guys are ridiculous with your thinking the rules should have been changed for vits or that Lewis didn't deserve to win.

[The Big Dunn]

You are a funny guy. Lennox Lewis, with all respect due to him he was a great fighter, suffered a lot against Vitali Klitschko. He didn't deserve the win at all. Larry Merchant brought him back to reality during the ring interview.

SO you beat a guy to bloody pulp before the fight is halfway over and you don't deserve to win.

Posts like this make part of me wish they let that fight continue so Lennox couldve finished the job by blinding Vitali. then his fans would have the closure the so desperately want.

[The Gambler1981]

When the main part of your legacy is you lost your biggest fight in some fashion~ you don't have much of a legacy at all.

No one ever talks about his wins any of them to any real degree, it is always about the Lewis fight which are usually he almost won~ but almost winning is not winning and will never be winning.

[Dr.Eisenfaust]

You guys like to hide behind the wall of facts and statistics. Facts are nothing but an interpretation of reality. Facts are the transition from the "Numen" to the phenomenon.. Saying that he isnt an atg JUST because of his record is denying Vitali Klitschko as a sportsman, as a champion and as an amazing boxer. We are not computers folks, we are individuals that enjoy watching the sport of boxing. And Vitali Klitschko is an exciting fighter that gave a lot to the sport.

I hope that one day people will stop with those one-eyed dogmas consisting in always making reference to the past great fighters. Boxing has changed and it is changing, wake up!