Klitschko on retirement.

[PainfromUkraine]

He became lineal Champ after Chagaev he's a long way off Louis's record. Being a title holder in todays era can't be compared to when it was 1 belt per division.

The fact is, YOU or any other fan can look at it whatever way you want, but the official records will recognise it as it is, and these defenses count whether you like it or not. Everyone can have their opinion on the subject, but the records deal in facts and not how someone wants to interpret someone's accomplishments.

[Robbie Barrett]

The fact is, YOU or any other fan can look at it whatever way you want, but the official records will recognise it as it is, and these defenses count whether you like it or not. Everyone can have their opinion on the subject, but the records deal in facts and not how someone wants to interpret someone's accomplishments.

Fact is there's always been another title holder around that could claim to be "the champ", Louis had none.

Wlad = One of multiple title holders who could stake a claim.
Louis = THE title holder.

[PainfromUkraine]

Fact is there's always been another title holder around that could claim to be "the champ", Louis had none.

Wlad = One of multiple title holders who could stake a claim.
Louis = THE title holder.

I get what you are saying, but that's a bit silly if you think about it. Aside from Vitali, no-one during Wlad's reign could really legitimately stake a claim to be the true champ. Wlad had majority of the belts for his entire reign, and I think everyone would agree if Vitali was not around he would definitely be holding ALL the belts and be undisputed.

Louis was THE champ because there was only one belt around, which unfortunately isn't the case for this era. However, I think that status should be reserved for whoever holds the most portions of the belts, and is considered the number 1 fighter. Wlad has been regarded as that for pretty much all his reign...

[GoldenGloveLove]

Makes no difference if he stays or goes the HW division is dead and has been for a long time.

Yeah over a hundred years now. #bestlifesupportinallofsport

[Jewish-Reptile]

Only a fan of a fighter would claim being a title holder is the equivalent of being the undisputed champion (which is what Louis essentially was). Klitschko isn't going to beat Louis's record unless he defends another 16 times. Good luck with that. Wlad's opponents are garbage but instead of bum of the month we get 2 bums a year.

Fact is there's always been another title holder around that could claim to be "the champ", Louis had none.

Wlad = One of multiple title holders who could stake a claim.
Louis = THE title holder.

One, The, A. We don't care, that's just it. Wlad is on course to break Louis' recorded defences if he continues to stick around as the thread suggests, as he has no plans for retirement.

This is all irrelevant anyway, it wasnt the true meaning of the thread. I made it to see who will go through the most scheriproct cream upon reading this, and you have won..... By a landslide margin.

[Elroy1]

If Wladimir can waste Jennings, Wilder and Fury and then retire, that is beyond doubt the greatest resume of any boxer to date undisputed and possibly will be for around a century.

There is only one way to describe such a career.

Simply unbelievable!

[LacedUp]

The man's gotta go for the Joe Louis record.

If you're that close, there's no turning back!

So he should. He's only got 13 or so defenses left, then he'll match Louis' record.

[LacedUp]

I get what you are saying, but that's a bit silly if you think about it. Aside from Vitali, no-one during Wlad's reign could really legitimately stake a claim to be the true champ. Wlad had majority of the belts for his entire reign, and I think everyone would agree if Vitali was not around he would definitely be holding ALL the belts and be undisputed..

Why not? Why was Sultan Ibragimov not just as much a champion as Wladimir was? Or Vitali?

Wladimir shouldn't get fantasy points for whatever reason, he's only been THE champ since Chagaev or some say even Povetkin - which I tend to agree with.

What we can't take away from Wlad is that he's had a fantastic career, with incredible dominance nobody would have thought 11 years ago on this day when he was brutally knocked out by a relatively average heavyweight Lamon Brewster.

But he turned it around.

[PainfromUkraine]

Why not? Why was Sultan Ibragimov not just as much a champion as Wladimir was? Or Vitali?

Wladimir shouldn't get fantasy points for whatever reason, he's only been THE champ since Chagaev or some say even Povetkin - which I tend to agree with.

What we can't take away from Wlad is that he's had a fantastic career, with incredible dominance nobody would have thought 11 years ago on this day when he was brutally knocked out by a relatively average heavyweight Lamon Brewster.

But he turned it around.

Vitali yes, but i'm sure not you or any other actual fan of the sport who knows their stuff would really class any of the 'belt holders' who often held on to their paper titles for a defence or two at most as legitimate champions or could really stake their claim as champ.

You really think Povetkin was ever classed as a champion by a large portion of fans? The guy was less of a champ than even Haye when holding the WBA 'regular' belt.

Let's not over-exaggerate the "brutal knockout" stoppage, which you well know was less the product of 'brutal punches' as much as Wlad falling over the referee's leg and being so tired as to hardly being able to get up at the bell and completely exhausted definitely unable to continue fighting.

However, that's irrelevent, a loss is a loss, and that particular defeat was good for him.

Regarding fantasy points or not, in this era my view is that 'the' man is the guy who has the majority of the belts, or who has the overall fan's view as 'the champ'. With Wlad it is arguable because of Vitali, but I wouldn't say any other fighter in his reign was really classed as a better champ except for maybe at the beginning back in 06.

[mick1303]

I built 8-steps ladder of "who-fought-who" from Klitschko to Louis.
Wladimir Klitschko-Hasim Rahman-Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson-Larry Holmes-Muhammad Ali-Archie Moore-Rocky Marciano-Joe Louis.

Can someone build a shorter ladder? ))