Where do you rank Wladimir Klitschko among the ATG heavyweights?

[sunny31]

No, you cant. Someone like Ali who beat Frazier Foreman and Liston. Or someone like Holyfield who beat Tyson Bowe and drew with Lewis. And this was pretty much the past prime version of Holyfield.

Or someone like Tyson who fought Holmes, Holyfield, and Lewis.

You're talking about world renowned fighters, that proved their worth amongst each other. Not Euro hype jobs that inflated records in a fringe era


Who has Wlad fought and beat? Chris Byrd?

Yep Wlad just doesn't have a great win no matter how you cut it. Haye was a fighter of pedigree but flawed, same with Byrd and both guys were small heavyweights, not just height and reach, but torso, frame, etc. I don't think either guy had the strength and skill to survive in a more competitive heavyweight era. They are both B to B+ Heavyweights at best. Wlad has never been in with an A level Heavyweight so it's hard to put him in the upper echelon. Would he be able to survive in the type of fight Vitali had with Lennox, based on what I have seen I would have to say emphatically no.

There is big merit in the way he has dominated guys for so long though, it's not easy to get up for fight after fight, get in shape and be so professional and consistent for so long. It's an amazing achievement even if the competition has been only good at best.

For me thus far I would put him top 15, and I will struggle to put him any higher until I see him beat someone who is top class, problem is that fighter may never materialise, but I hope for Wladimir someone does come.

[Elroy1]

He is in the top 5 by any measure you can use all time, beyond all doubt.

I would even have thought half the nut bags would be forced to admit he was top 5.

[crold1]

H2H Vladimir beats most guys. His resume is strong too, due to his longevity. He is chasing Joe Louis, who fought 'cans' all the time. It's silly to think that past greats fought great opposition all their career - they didn't at all.

Vlad might not have that signature win you would wish for - a Lennox, a Tyson among his contemporaries, but he has fought many, many quality opponents and taken them apart masterfully. That's why he is among the best of the best, measured against all time.

You're stealing my line!

I've said through his run that Wlad was always a bad KO away from losing what he's built. I think at this age, he's past that. Eight years, never ****** anyone, just stomped a solid top contender. He's a top ten AT Heavy.

[TMTForever]

top 30 at best..wasn't this guy koed by lamont brewster, ross purrity, and corrie sanders lmao..seriously

[KO'er]

He has been the best for the past while, but I can see the other Heavyweight ATG's beating him, especially the big punchers.

He hasn't beat any big, hard hitting monsters.

[Elroy1]

He has been the best for the past while, but I can see the other Heavyweight ATG's beating him, especially the big punchers.

He hasn't beat any big, hard hitting monsters.

There have only been 2 ATG's in history with enough power to actually get the drop on Wladimir.

George Foreman
Mike Tyson

Nobody else had enough power or deliver capability to get the job done even in theory.

[SeekDaGreat]

He has been the best for the past while, but I can see the other Heavyweight ATG's beating him, especially the big punchers.

He hasn't beat any big, hard hitting monsters.

He almost gets KO'd by a jab in your signature FFS!

[Jim Jeffries]

Was disappointed with the way Wlad kept clinching even after he was getting abused in every clinch. Rabbit punches, liver and kidney shots every time. No way he was going to take 12 rounds of that and it didn't appear that he had a plan B. But then I realized that he'll be 39 in a few months, 66 pro fights over the last 18 years. He was pretty much completely written off a decade ago. Since then he's won 21 straight fights, 16 by stoppage. 18 of them title fights. They're not always the most entertaining, but he always seems to find a way to win. As he did last night in devastating fashion.
Clearly he's past prime and it is unclear how much longer he'll be able to stay on top and if the type of fighters needed to elevate his greatness will develop. Usually try to stay away from ranking fighters that haven't yet retired. But as it stands I'd have to put him somewhere between 10 and 15.

[BluesMan]

A solid number 21....

[Mr.Fantastic]

Top 10 easy.