Is Pulev a Top 10 Win for Wlad?

[LacedUp]

See, how is he a worthy top 5 in the division? He's literally only beaten Tony Thompson. That's it. This was his first fight against anyone truly good and he was awful. Hell, even Chisora has done more than Pulev, and when he fought a Klitschko, he didn't look like garbage in the process.

This was Pulev's first chance to prove he was any good. He didn't.

TT isn't "truly good".

[Jewish-Reptile]

In an era where the top ranked guys are rewarded with title shots in multiple organisations and councils for avoiding each other it is no wonder Wladimir's record does not appear as impressive with every coming win,you have guys like Price,Fury and Pulev trying to earn title shots defeating the guys the Klitschko brothers have already handedly dispensed of ie the likes of Thompson and Chisora.

It matters little who these would be opponents have beaten before being dealt with by Wladimir,they all seek to avoid the live dogs out there in quest for a cash grab and a title shot.theyre all playing the same game,example,Fury avoided not only one but two eliminators ordered,when Wladimir knocks him out in two rounds his challenger will have just been another chump to the champion's detractors,had he have faced Pulev and won, then lost to the champ,the champs record would appear to look better.no matter how it appears he will still have beaten the same person regardless of their resume,the same challenger regardless of who he has or hasn't beaten pre title shot.

It seems to me Wladimir is a victim of an era where the top ranked guys contending only have to beat a fringe contender or two to establish themselves a rank no.1 or 2 challenger.we really won't know how good is opponents really are or were until after he has defeated them and how they go on after being dealt their initial title shot defeat.Wach,Povetkin,Chisora,Thompson the list goes on........ post Wladimir shot, with every passing win against credible opposition enhance Wladimir's legacy.

Regardless of how his detractors digest this,appearances can be deceptive,facts and actions are testament to Wladimir's greatness,his legacy grows further with every passing month,regardless of whether or not he has won another fight or not,his previous opponents build his prestigious record for him.Pulev will pick himself up as Povetlkin has on his run towards another title shot,as did Thompson.Pulev is built of sterner stuff than both of this guys and has as many attributes if not more to succeed more so than Povetkin has in the past 12 months,unfortunately he doesn't have the financial backing of Ryabinsky,his fearless reputation that had Adamek,Jennings and Fury shook enough to head in another direction may very well hamper his prospects,the road back may be slow but he has good backing in Sauerland.

By the time Wladimir's career is done Pulev will be a top 5 win,by the timevPulev's is done a top 2 win.

[Mikhnienko]

Not aiming to turn this in never-ending Klitschkos vs Lennox debate, but we also need to take into account the way Wlad dealt with the opponents and the way Lennox did.

IMO he lost to Mercer, it took him twice (each time) to beat Holyfield, Rahman and McCall (which was a very strange rematch), we all know how the Vitali fight ended up..

+ Wlad has 22 more wins and 21 more KOs..

They were always on pair for me. Both H2H and now even resume wise. Two of the very best champions.

You also have to factor in the point at which they fought those opponents in their career.

Lewis had a better resume, Lennox had:
Rudduck old
Bruno old
Holyfield old
Tyson old
Tua
McCall
Klitschko
Golota
Rahman
Morrison
Briggs
Mercer
Tucker old

[LacedUp]

You also have to factor in the point at which they fought those opponents in their career.

Bruno did his best work after the Lewis fight, Tony Tucker was coming off some of the best wins of his career when he faced Lewis and Ruddock wasn't old at the time. In retrospect we could probably see that the Tyson fights had taken a lot out of him, yet nobody had dealt with him the way Lewis did.

[bojangles1987]

TT isn't "truly good".

I didn't say he was.

[Mikhnienko]

Bruno did his best work after the Lewis fight, Tony Tucker was coming off some of the best wins of his career when he faced Lewis and Ruddock wasn't old at the time. In retrospect we could probably see that the Tyson fights had taken a lot out of him, yet nobody had dealt with him the way Lewis did.

The only thing Bruno did post Lennox was beat McCall

Ruddock wasn't old at 29 but he did nothing post Lennox

Tucker's best win during this career high point is a SD over McCall. Orlin Norris, Bigfoot Martin, amazing stuff

[Weltschmerz]

The only thing Bruno did post Lennox was beat McCall

Ruddock wasn't old at 29 but he did nothing post Lennox

Tucker's best win during this career high point is a SD over McCall. Orlin Norris, Bigfoot Martin, amazing stuff

^ This.

Vladimir is getting close to Lennox, in every aspect. When you scrutinize the resume of Lennox, it isn't that stellar, and Vlad already is way past him longevity-wise.

[LacedUp]

The only thing Bruno did post Lennox was beat McCall

Ruddock wasn't old at 29 but he did nothing post Lennox

Tucker's best win during this career high point is a SD over McCall. Orlin Norris, Bigfoot Martin, amazing stuff

Yeah, which was the best win of his career?

I'm not saying it's amazing stuff, but that was his career best, he was ranked #1 by the WBC and Lennox was the first to put him down. He clearly wasn't old as you stated.

Yeah you're right, Ruddock wasn't old.

You can play this game with literally any resume.

^ This.

Vladimir is getting close to Lennox, in every aspect. When you scrutinize the resume of Lennox, it isn't that stellar, and Vlad already is way past him longevity-wise.

Not really, he's actually far behind in every category.

[Money Shot]

Yeah, which was the best win of his career?

I'm not saying it's amazing stuff, but that was his career best, he was ranked #1 by the WBC and Lennox was the first to put him down. He clearly wasn't old as you stated.

Except he was knocked clean out by James Smith, and downed by Tyson in round one of 89. Not sure if Witherspoon put him down or just had him out on his feet. Anyway.. WRONG.

[LacedUp]

Except he was knocked clean out by James Smith, and downed by Tyson in round one of 89. Not sure if Witherspoon put him down or just had him out on his feet. Anyway.. WRONG.

You do know I'm talking about Tucker, not Ruddock, right?