What Does Wladamir Klitschko Have To Do To Become A ATG?

[Obama]

Who was below B level? Because you surely can't count Puritty.

What do you mean I can't count Puritty? I admit Wlad was green, but he still TKOd him and was below B level. Doesn't mean much, but it's not like the man didn't put him on his ass and stop him. And let us not forget that Wlad had already been in the ring with proven veteran Everett Martin prior to the Puritty debacle.

[1SILVA]

Wlad hasn't been beat in 5 years. Out of 56 fights he only has 3 losses. He has made 8 defences of his Heavyweight Title and is The Ring Champion. He would be the unifed champion, if Vitali was reitered also.

And don't say Wlad will never be a ATG, due to getting beat by the likes of Sanders etc. Lots of ATG's have had bad defeats including Archie Moore, Joe Brown, Harry Greb, Jack Dempsey Jake Lamotta, Kid Gavalin, and I could go on. All these fighters had early defeats and setbacks numerous times and come back, and thats what counts how you combeack.

Wlad is as dominant as ever, and at the moment is just destroying the best out there and making former world class amatures look like novices.

In my book with a couple of more defences and dominance he will be a ATG. But I dout the USA will accept this due to him not being from the USA,a due to him not being exciting. But Boxing is all about Hitting and Not Being Hit.

This is not a troll, but I just feel Wlad deserves more credit and I really feel is on the verge of being a ATG.

Discuss...................People

Beat his brother. Plain and simple.

[incredibleman]

I think he's already an all-time great heavyweight. He's beaten the best in his division, over the past few years (with the exception of his brother). If he continues to rule it like he is now, there's no question.

His upcoming fight with Eddie Chambers is a tough fight. Chambers is big enough and fast enough to cause trouble. If he beats Chambers, and then moves on to beat Haye, there'll be no question about it. But even if he didn't, I think he's still considered an all-time great heavyweight.

[StarshipTrooper]

There's nothing he can do short of discovering a magic wand that makes Purrity, Sanders, and Brewster disappear from his record.

Poet

[incredibleman]

There's nothing he can do short of discovering a magic wand that makes Purrity, Sanders, and Brewster disappear from his record.

Poet

Nearly all of the all-time great heavyweights have lost..

[StarshipTrooper]

Nearly all of the all-time great heavyweights have lost..

But not to the likes of Purrity, Sanders, and Brewster. Especially not during their prime years. It's not simply a matter of losing it's who you lose to and when you lose to them.

Poet

[StarshipTrooper]

Vitaly can at least make the case that in his two losses he lost to Lennox Lewis (who at no worse is a near-great) and Chris Byrd via a fluke injury.

Poet

[incredibleman]

But not to the likes of Purrity, Sanders, and Brewster. Especially not during their prime years. It's not simply a matter of losing it's who you lose to and when you lose to them.

Poet

A prime Joe Louis lost to an old Max Schmeling, via knockout. A prime Mike Tyson lost to a journeyman status in Buster Douglas, via knockout. I can go on and on.

Plus, isn't it more important in what he accomplished rather than focussing on only 3 losses?

He's beaten the best in his division, avenged one of his defeats and made like 12 world title defenses.

[StarshipTrooper]

A prime Joe Louis lost to an old Max Schmeling, via knockout. A prime Mike Tyson lost to a journeyman status in Buster Douglas, via knockout. I can go on and on.

Max Schmeling was a near-great. Buster Douglas was capable of fighting on that level when motivated (as he was in Tokyo).

Plus, isn't it more important in what he accomplished rather than focussing on only 3 losses?

Losses loom rather large in evaluating any fighter.....you can't just make them go away (as much as Wlad may like them to do).

He's beaten the best in his division, avenged one of his defeats and made like 12 world title defenses.

He's beaten MOST of the best of perhaps the worst Heavyweight division on record. Just as who you lose to and when you lose to them is important; who you beat and when you beat them looms just as large. Fighters have always lost ranking points for weak opposition and will continue to do so.

Poet

[incredibleman]

Max Schmeling was a near-great. Buster Douglas was capable of fighting on that level when motivated (as he was in Tokyo).

But Schmeling was old. And if Douglas was capable of fighting on that level, when motivated, why can't Sanders, Brewster or Purrity be able to?

Losses loom rather large in evaluating any fighter.....you can't just make them go away (as much as Wlad may like them to do).

I agree with that, but it's not a defining factor.

He's beaten MOST of the best of perhaps the worst Heavyweight division on record. Just as who you lose to and when you lose to them is important; who you beat and when you beat them looms just as large. Fighters have always lost ranking points for weak opposition and will continue to do so.

Poet

Rocky Marciano beat the best of a heavyweight era that was worse, in my opinion. I don't deny his greatness, however, because he did beat the best.