Wladamir Klitschko when did he start to decline

[Nash out]

He never did. With his style and physique, being 41 he was vs Joshua was the best performance I ever saw him put in. Yes he laboured to a very easy win over Jennings, but I'd seen him have similar performances many years earlier.

Fury and Joshua both beat as good a version as Wlad as has been. There's nothing more than Wlad ever had in his arsenal than he did in his final fight vs Joshua. His chin was never better, his stamina was never better, his ability was never better, he was never faster or more powerful. He still had all of his tools.

Joshua and Fury if they take care of themselves like Wlad did, will still be prime at 40 too. HW boxers now can be prime up to 42/43, the lower the weight division, the more likely a much earlier decline.

[tophat1]

There was some warning signs in the Jennings fight

[El_Maldito_Rey]

After his divorce

[deathofaclown]

I’d say the Jennings fight was most noticeable, Jennings had a style that will make can fighter look their age.

Wlad was such a dedicated athlete that he was probably in decline for a few years, but his dedication mixed with lack competition around him probably never made it noticeable until he met guys with a style to showcase it.

[deathofaclown]

After his divorce

He got divorced in 2018

Retired in 2017

[El_Maldito_Rey]

He got divorced in 2018

Retired in 2017

Didn't he separate long before that though? When the actress was having substance abuse problems, got hooked up with a guy that beat her and he had his kid living with him in the Ukraine?

Or I must be mixing up dates.

[whollisboxing]

Obviously by the time he fought AJ he was a corpse but when did his prime end.

First time I noticed it was vs jennings who he would have killed a couple of years before.

I did notice he got caught with some silly shots by Pulev so I think it was around then

I agree that the drop-off really started with the Bryant Jennings fight. The Pulev fight had some rough moments but Wlad still scored a brutal knockout.

In the Jennings fight I kept thinking that the Wlad of a few years prior would have scored a stoppage vs. laboring a bit to win a decision. He looked to be in shape like usual but less explosive.

[whollisboxing]

Even though he dominated Povetkin, I think it was then for me. He just seemed...odd. I honestly can’t explain it. Maybe a combination of losing a fraction of the step or the fire, I dunno. Just seemed to be lacking something.

I think that Wlad was at his absolute best from 2006-2012. After that he was still excellent but clearly past his peak.

[Butt stuff]

Even though he dominated Povetkin, I think it was then for me. He just seemed...odd. I honestly can’t explain it. Maybe a combination of losing a fraction of the step or the fire, I dunno. Just seemed to be lacking something.

That was a pretty difficult fight to stomach tbf. Wlad turned it into a complete stinker.

[NearHypnos]

I think that Wlad was at his absolute best from 2006-2012. After that he was still excellent but clearly past his peak.

Yeah. His decent day in the office was still lightyears ahead of what was left of his path of destruction. I remember people even saying Wlad was finished for not being able to put it on Haye and that was a few years prior iirc. Don’t agree on that one.

That was a pretty difficult fight to stomach tbf. Wlad turned it into a complete stinker.

It was bad. Really bad. Part due to Povetkin being a fine fighter, part being Wlad just not seeming like he had the keys to his extra gear anymore....or the desire to? I feel like a few years prior he should have been able to stop him, especially considering how often he hurt him and let him off the hook. It wasn’t like with David Haye where even though it didnt deliver, Haye was seen as a serious threat with the hand speed and power.