Klitschko in Top 10 If...?

[Larry the boss]

I think he is top 10 now

[Larry the boss]

Ali
Louis
Foreman
Lewis
Holyfield
Frazier
Holmes
Dempsey
Johnson
Wlad

mix them up any way you like

[soul_survivor]

Soul Survivor good thread brotha!

Thanks ma man!

He could be considered bottom top 10 right now and I wouldn't be mad at all.

Ali/Louis/Holmes/Lewis

Foreman/Holyfield/Frazier

Marciano/Johnson/Wlad/Liston/Tyson

Patterson/Dempsey

Gets hazy after that for me.

That's not a bad list at all, but I can't rank Wlad over Tyson, over Liston possibly, over Bowe and co definitely but not Tyson.

I'd probably rank foreman over Holmes and Lewis. I've started to contemplate Louis somewhere other than 2 but a lot of research is needed for changes to that opinion.

It's a legit question, but for me it's a no.

none of those guys have anything that can add anything special to Wlad's resume in all honesty. He simply doesn't have a standout performance/name on his record and that is not top 10 material. He gets a long way on longevity, but not into the top 10.

Louis didn't beat a single guy who would be ranked as a top 15 ATG heavyweight and probably had more filler in his resume and is mostly know for his longevity with the title and skill level.

Wlad, especially for his size, is very comparable in terms of skill level with Louis, Lewis and Holmes. Wlad's power is just a level below the real big hitters in Foreman, Tyson and Shavers.

Yes, I agree none of the names he will/might beat are great but they are the biggest threats possible, following a series of victories over similar big threats in Haye, Pvetkin, Peters and Byrd over the last 14 years. All any fighter can do is beat the best in their era, it's why Marciano is held in such high regards.

I reckon a win over all the guys I originally mentioned would get Wlad a low top 10 ranking.

[soul_survivor]

Don't agree with that, if anything you could mention his inability or unwillingness to fight inside, but he throws combinations plenty. Sure, sometimes they are pretty rigidly - 123 jab/straight/l-hook but if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And he does bring out some more out of the arsenal, although I agree he could do it a bit more.

Those particularly guys won't add that much to his resume, but if he beats the top contenders and the best available comp at this age to break the Louis record, I think it will definitely give him a boost. I think Manny's placing of him around 8 is fair, further record-breaking and top 10 wins could bump him up a little higher.

Manny is biased and we all know that.

Wlad very rarely throws 3 pnches, even when his opponents are open for it, he enjoy the jab and right hand. The 3 punch combo comes out against guys who are completely inept such as Leapai or Mormeck and co.

Top combination punchers throw 4 or more punches, guys like Tyson, Ali, Patterson, Liston to a certain extent, Ibeabuchi (cuda been so much more) and so on.

Having seen those guys, it's probably why I'm not impressed with Wlad's "combination" punching, plus it's very robotic and predictable and he gets way to cautious with it.

[soul_survivor]

Ali
Louis
Foreman
Lewis
Holyfield
Frazier
Holmes
Dempsey
Johnson
Wlad

mix them up any way you like

I'd probably have Holmes above Holyfield at the very least. Johnson above Dempsey.

I see you have Wlad above Tyson, care to explain?

[R_Walken]

Good Thread

I hate the Kitchkos don't have either in the top 15 currently because of the weak competition faced, but saying that if Wlad beats the next generation then you have to have him somewhere in the top 10 discussion possibly top 4-6 IMO just because the long reign of dominance.

[Larry the boss]

I'd probably have Holmes above Holyfield at the very least. Johnson above Dempsey.

I see you have Wlad above Tyson, care to explain?

Tyson does not have a great resume at all nor did he have longevity...we all love Tyson because he was exciting and knocked people out..but lets be honest he wasn't beating great fighters and was only on top for 4 years..If we are going to punish Wlad for his weak resume we have to do the same for Tyson..Wlad has longevity on his side which Tyson did not

[PainfromUkraine]

Manny is biased and we all know that.

Wlad very rarely throws 3 pnches, even when his opponents are open for it, he enjoy the jab and right hand. The 3 punch combo comes out against guys who are completely inept such as Leapai or Mormeck and co.

Top combination punchers throw 4 or more punches, guys like Tyson, Ali, Patterson, Liston to a certain extent, Ibeabuchi (cuda been so much more) and so on.

Having seen those guys, it's probably why I'm not impressed with Wlad's "combination" punching, plus it's very robotic and predictable and he gets way to cautious with it.

Alright, I won't deny he may be a bit biased (because he trained those fighters - Lennox and Wlad), but it's not particularly outlandish bias. He doesn't even put Lennox in the top 3 as far as I remember - which he could have done TBH, and Wlad at around 8 isn't inconceivable.

I would agree he doesn't throw more than 3 too often, but 3 is still used quite a lot, although the 1-2 usually does all the damage that is needed. I agree though on the whole his combinations can be better, but for the first half of his career he was a lot more aggressive and was unleashing better combos, so I think it would be fair to take that into account too, although he's transformed into the more defensive fighter now.

Robotic - maybe, but damn that robot is efficient and well-schooled in what he does do.

[sslg99]

Honestly no, in the grand scheme of heavyweight boxers those are relatively bad opponents. I dont think at this point in his career he can make it in the top ten. Hes definatly a hall of famer but with his fighting style, chin and level of oposition i dont see a way that he could make it in the the top 10 list.

[hugh grant]

One thing Wlad has going for him is coming back from adversity. It shows that when he lost, maybe he wasn't at his best or wasn't taking boxing as seriously as he does now.

Guys with unbeaten records who then lose, and then don't comeback, is maybe because they were overated or cherry picked but eventually got found out, and cant get better, because they had reached their full potential already.