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Vitali Klitschko arrived onto boxing scene in 1996, though it was in 1999 when he had his first big profile fight, so he wasn't a part of the weak (overrated) 90's heavyweight era, but was one of the main boxers of the 00's (another weak era) as well as having two fights each in 2011 and 2012.
New fans of boxing who maybe started watching around 2014 or after, will look at this heavyweight scene and think WOW. We are blessed right now to be in the best era of heavyweight boxing ever (even better than the Ali era)
I have seen quite a lot of people state that Vitali Klitschko is the best heavyweight ever. Many have him top 5 and many more have him top 10. It's just generally said that because he fought in a weak era (he did) that he couldn't get to fully prove it.
The 00's were even weaker than the 90's for heavyweights, but even still, there's enough there in Vitali's resume for me to come to a conclusion for where around he should stand. This should help close the case for all of you interested in where Vitali ranks.
Let's look at the basics first. Vitali ended his career with a record of W45 (41) L2 (2). He won and defended the WBO, and WBC world titles many times. After 3 years of boxing, he got himself to 24-0, he hadn't beaten anyone of note at this stage, which is why he went into his fight against Herbie Hide W31 L1 at the time as an 11-4 underdog with the bookies.
The fight was for the WBO world title and Vitali steamrolled trough the big-punching, but glass-chinned Herbie Hide to win the WBO World title. He became a big name in boxing overnight.
His first defence was against Ed Mahone, Mahone was quite frankly a journeyman, who ended his career with a record of W24 L10 D2. Vitali won by KO. Another win over a journeyman Obed Sullivan W41 L9 D2 followed. There wasn't too much we could take from his two title defences, but Vitali was looking like a fighter with a lot going for him.
A step up in class came next, a fight with 6 ft 2 southpaw Chris Byrd, W30 L1 at the time. After 9 rounds, with Vitali doing enough to win the Rounds (88-83 ahead on the cards) the systematic, slow-burn, beat-down that Byrd had been putting on Vitali (noticeable only to a trained eye) had taken its toll.
With Vitali's body battered and mind shattered, he had nothing more to give. He wisely used an injury as a smokescreen, to distract from the fact that he had just been TKO'd by a feather-fisted heavyweight. Vitali's brother Wlad, would go onto to beat Chris Byrd twice. Vitali continued to avoid the rematch.
Vitali's comeback fight was for the EU title against Timo Hoffman (best known for being knocked out by Ian Lewison) Vitali won on points in a poor fight. A KO victory over journeyman Orlin Norris (10 losses) followed.
Big-punching bum Ross Purity followed that, Purity had recently beaten Wlad (at this stage of Wlad's career he was garbage, but he would grow into a great in time with Emanuel Stewart) Purity ended his career W31 L20 D3. Vitali avenged his brothers loss by TKO.
Vaughn Bean was next. Bean fought 6 good fighters in his career, including Vitali, his record in those fights was W0 L6. He was not a worthy challenger and lost by TKO. A win over the decent Larry Donald followed.
A massive fight with the great Lennox Lewis was next (though Lewis was not in shape for this fight) After 6 rounds Vitali was (58-56 ahead) But again, Vitali's chin let him down, as he pulled out of the fight (citing an eye injury) But we all know he was just too hurt to continue.
A comeback win over the average Kirk Johnson and a KO win over slugger Corrie Sanders followed, leading to a fight with the "Brixton Bomber" Danny Williams, Career record W53 L27. Danny's recent fights included a win over Mike Tyson and a loss to Michael Sprott. Vitali dominated most of the fight, but Danny did well to hang in there till the later stages.
Then came Samuel Peter, a decent fighter from Nigeria, Vitali got the stoppage win, but I wouldn't say it was anymore impressive than Hughie Fury's recent stoppage win over the same man. Followed by a TKO win over Juan Carlos Gomez, boy was he crap.
Chris Arreola was next, the slugger put up a decent event, but Vitali retained his WBC belt, and also picked up Arreola's Hotdog eating championship trophy, which was also on the line. A boring points win over Kevin "safety pin" Johnson came and gone, as well as a KO victory over Albert Sosnowski (best known for being knocked out by Martin Rogan)
A points win over Shannon Briggs (best known for saying "Let's go Champ.") and a farcical "KO" beating of Odlanier Solis (a man twice conquered by Tony "The Tiger" Thompson)
Tomasz Adamek a blown up cruiserweight entered the ring next, height around 5 ft 7, he was outclassed by the better and bigger man. Then came a tough fight with a raw Dereck Chisora, who gave Vitali a good fight, and dominated the final round, one more round, he probably would have won the fight.
Vitali ended his career with a win over Manny Charr (not much more needs to be said on that)
So, let's forget titles/defences and focus on opponents and on wins and losses. Let's start with the losses. A TKO loss to Lennox Lewis, no problem. Lewis is an ATG. A TKO loss to the feather-fisted Chirs Byrd - that's a poor loss, more so that he didn't avenge this loss, if he did, I could have looked past it.
Notable wins? Interestingly enough, there really aren't any, are there? Some decent wins, like a raw Chisora, a decent Chris Arreola and big punching Nigerian Samuel Peter (though Hughie Fury did a better job finishing off the same man)
It's hard to get to excited by Vitali's career. Not only would I not have him top 5 or top 10 ever. I'd only have him around top 15 in this division right now if he were boxing in it.
New fans of boxing who maybe started watching around 2014 or after, will look at this heavyweight scene and think WOW. We are blessed right now to be in the best era of heavyweight boxing ever (even better than the Ali era)
I have seen quite a lot of people state that Vitali Klitschko is the best heavyweight ever. Many have him top 5 and many more have him top 10. It's just generally said that because he fought in a weak era (he did) that he couldn't get to fully prove it.
The 00's were even weaker than the 90's for heavyweights, but even still, there's enough there in Vitali's resume for me to come to a conclusion for where around he should stand. This should help close the case for all of you interested in where Vitali ranks.
Let's look at the basics first. Vitali ended his career with a record of W45 (41) L2 (2). He won and defended the WBO, and WBC world titles many times. After 3 years of boxing, he got himself to 24-0, he hadn't beaten anyone of note at this stage, which is why he went into his fight against Herbie Hide W31 L1 at the time as an 11-4 underdog with the bookies.
The fight was for the WBO world title and Vitali steamrolled trough the big-punching, but glass-chinned Herbie Hide to win the WBO World title. He became a big name in boxing overnight.
His first defence was against Ed Mahone, Mahone was quite frankly a journeyman, who ended his career with a record of W24 L10 D2. Vitali won by KO. Another win over a journeyman Obed Sullivan W41 L9 D2 followed. There wasn't too much we could take from his two title defences, but Vitali was looking like a fighter with a lot going for him.
A step up in class came next, a fight with 6 ft 2 southpaw Chris Byrd, W30 L1 at the time. After 9 rounds, with Vitali doing enough to win the Rounds (88-83 ahead on the cards) the systematic, slow-burn, beat-down that Byrd had been putting on Vitali (noticeable only to a trained eye) had taken its toll.
With Vitali's body battered and mind shattered, he had nothing more to give. He wisely used an injury as a smokescreen, to distract from the fact that he had just been TKO'd by a feather-fisted heavyweight. Vitali's brother Wlad, would go onto to beat Chris Byrd twice. Vitali continued to avoid the rematch.
Vitali's comeback fight was for the EU title against Timo Hoffman (best known for being knocked out by Ian Lewison) Vitali won on points in a poor fight. A KO victory over journeyman Orlin Norris (10 losses) followed.
Big-punching bum Ross Purity followed that, Purity had recently beaten Wlad (at this stage of Wlad's career he was garbage, but he would grow into a great in time with Emanuel Stewart) Purity ended his career W31 L20 D3. Vitali avenged his brothers loss by TKO.
Vaughn Bean was next. Bean fought 6 good fighters in his career, including Vitali, his record in those fights was W0 L6. He was not a worthy challenger and lost by TKO. A win over the decent Larry Donald followed.
A massive fight with the great Lennox Lewis was next (though Lewis was not in shape for this fight) After 6 rounds Vitali was (58-56 ahead) But again, Vitali's chin let him down, as he pulled out of the fight (citing an eye injury) But we all know he was just too hurt to continue.
A comeback win over the average Kirk Johnson and a KO win over slugger Corrie Sanders followed, leading to a fight with the "Brixton Bomber" Danny Williams, Career record W53 L27. Danny's recent fights included a win over Mike Tyson and a loss to Michael Sprott. Vitali dominated most of the fight, but Danny did well to hang in there till the later stages.
Then came Samuel Peter, a decent fighter from Nigeria, Vitali got the stoppage win, but I wouldn't say it was anymore impressive than Hughie Fury's recent stoppage win over the same man. Followed by a TKO win over Juan Carlos Gomez, boy was he crap.
Chris Arreola was next, the slugger put up a decent event, but Vitali retained his WBC belt, and also picked up Arreola's Hotdog eating championship trophy, which was also on the line. A boring points win over Kevin "safety pin" Johnson came and gone, as well as a KO victory over Albert Sosnowski (best known for being knocked out by Martin Rogan)
A points win over Shannon Briggs (best known for saying "Let's go Champ.") and a farcical "KO" beating of Odlanier Solis (a man twice conquered by Tony "The Tiger" Thompson)
Tomasz Adamek a blown up cruiserweight entered the ring next, height around 5 ft 7, he was outclassed by the better and bigger man. Then came a tough fight with a raw Dereck Chisora, who gave Vitali a good fight, and dominated the final round, one more round, he probably would have won the fight.
Vitali ended his career with a win over Manny Charr (not much more needs to be said on that)
So, let's forget titles/defences and focus on opponents and on wins and losses. Let's start with the losses. A TKO loss to Lennox Lewis, no problem. Lewis is an ATG. A TKO loss to the feather-fisted Chirs Byrd - that's a poor loss, more so that he didn't avenge this loss, if he did, I could have looked past it.
Notable wins? Interestingly enough, there really aren't any, are there? Some decent wins, like a raw Chisora, a decent Chris Arreola and big punching Nigerian Samuel Peter (though Hughie Fury did a better job finishing off the same man)
It's hard to get to excited by Vitali's career. Not only would I not have him top 5 or top 10 ever. I'd only have him around top 15 in this division right now if he were boxing in it.
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