did Wlads fight change your opinion of him?

[The Big Dunn]

That post was a little unfair. People praise Hopkins and Ward for neutralizing a foe and have demoted Wladimir for doing it.

Not only that, Povetkin was not fat and it was obvious he posed a threat with the way he was punching and his hand speed. He's no bum with his gold medal. STop trying to down play his abilities so much. He has been #2 in the division as long as he has for a reason.

His amatuer success has no bearing in this fight. this is the 2nd straight HBO fight where wlad looked like absolute ****. no othe way to call it.

[Weltschmerz]

Not at all, Wlad is a sublime boxer and ATG, among the 5 greatest HW's of all time. Too bad he faced a Povetkin who seemed content hugging big Wlad all night long.. Wlad disappointed but Povetkin did too.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

That post was a little unfair. People praise Hopkins and Ward for neutralizing a foe and have demoted Wladimir for doing it.

Not only that, Povetkin was not fat and it was obvious he posed a threat with the way he was punching and his hand speed. He's no bum with his gold medal. STop trying to down play his abilities so much. He has been #2 in the division as long as he has for a reason.

Wladimir clinched about 200 times in a 12 round fight and I don't particularly praise Hopkins. Ward actually fights on the inside. Wladimir just holds you like your his boyfriend.

Didn't Povetkin go life and death with Marko Huck. The guy is awful and tailor made for Wlad to put a beating on. Povetkin is not number 2 in the division and who cares when the division is a ghost town.

[The Gambler1981]

Didn't change anything really because he has done similar stuff before, this fight happened to be one of the worst examples of the bullshit stuff he does but how Povetkin fought played a part in that. He is still the best guy at heavyweight and he is still very tough to beat.

Also I would say lots of people me included wanted someone to press Wlad and try to rough him up, Povetkin tried and Wlad wasn't just going to let that happen.

[Spray_resistant]

Nah, still a fan but he could have won in much more pleasing fashion and has looked better in his last few fights.

[techliam]

Not sure why people are changing their opinions on Wlad's skillset/standing as a great. He clinched, it was awful, but at the end of the day, he did what he needed to do to secure victory. Some argue that he didn't need to clinch that much, and perhaps you're right. But just because he had a really bad fight, doesn't mean he is any less great. It feels almost akin to Haye now, people are so disappointed with the performance that people no longer remain objective. Like some sort of betrayal. Maybe it's an excuse for many US posters to bring up their golden HW days, who knows..

I posted this before, but I think it's still relevant. I think the irony is, that it is arguable that performances like this just cement his standing as a H2H great even further. He's more than willing to utilise Hopkins-like tactics to win, on top of everything else. I think it just makes it even harder to beat the guy, even if you have the ugliest fight on your hands.

[Boxing Goat]

His amatuer success has no bearing in this fight. this is the 2nd straight HBO fight where wlad looked like absolute ****. no othe way to call it.

Okay then, take his pro record and ranking for a 'bearing' then and were having the same conversation. Next.

[Boxing Goat]

Wladimir clinched about 200 times in a 12 round fight and I don't particularly praise Hopkins. Ward actually fights on the inside. Wladimir just holds you like your his boyfriend.

Didn't Povetkin go life and death with Marko Huck. The guy is awful and tailor made for Wlad to put a beating on. Povetkin is not number 2 in the division and who cares when the division is a ghost town.

Huck is better than he's given credit for and Povetkin is ranked #2 in the division and has been for quite some time.

Wlad is champ
Vitali was #1 and
Povetkin was #2
It's been that way for several years.

[The Big Dunn]

Okay then, take his pro record and ranking for a 'bearing' then and were having the same conversation. Next.

there is no defense for what wlad did against povetkin who was totally outclassed in thi fight. he didn't need to do this to win.

[techliam]

Huck is better than he's given credit for and Povetkin is ranked #2 in the division and has been for quite some time.

Wlad is champ
Vitali was #1 and
Povetkin was #2
It's been that way for several years.

Well I can pluck up any random rankings, and they'd be just as legitimate. You have to remember, Povetkin's high ranking stems mainly from the fact the WBA gifted him a paper "title" (yea, it's hard to even call it a title). But it's hard to argue that Povetkin was outside of the top 5, definitely.