Wladimir Klitschko is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time, and amongst the hardest punching knockout artists in history. He has been heavily praised for his fundamental approach to boxing, during which he nullifies opponents with his jab, before knocking opponents out with a straight right. His reign as champion is second only to the reign of Joe Louis.
While not as durable as Vitali, his knowledge of the fundamentals and athleticism gave him considerable advantage over other heavyweights. Wladimir has beaten 12 undefeated fighters in his career which is a record at heavyweight. A criticism of the Klitschkos is that their dominant championship reign was the result of a heavyweight landscape devoid of world class competition. Previous heavyweight eras had multiple boxers considered world class fighters competing, such as Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali and George Foreman during the s, and Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield during the s.
This was not the case for the Klitschkos, who were able to dominate other heavyweights with relative ease. The list of fighters the Klitschkos have defeated, however, includes unified world cruiserweight champion David Haye, long-time top ranked contender Alexander Povetkin and two-weight world champion Tomasz Adamek.
Wladimir Klitschkos style receives strong criticism from the boxing community, commonly being described as "boring" or "robotic". While initially an exciting fighter, a series of losses led him to hire legendary boxing trainer Emmanuel Steward to cultivate his defensive abilities. This was meant to fatigue opponents before he would knock them out in the later rounds or win on scorecards.
Facebook Twitter. Cookies remember you so we can give you a better online experience. Vitali Klitschko came within a bad cut of beating Lennox Lewis in , and Wladimir didn't lose for 11 years after suffering a shocking knockout loss to Lamon Brewster in Outside the ring there was a lot to like about both of them.
They held advanced college degrees, spoke four languages and refused to talk trash about their opponents or anyone else.
I remember meeting them for the first time at an extended stay motel off the Las Vegas Strip, where they were staying. It was the early s and they were trying to establish themselves in the United States even as the heavyweight division was teetering on life support. We talked some boxing, sure, but it was clear right away that these two behemoths were comfortable discussing anything — and in almost any language. They also liked to tell jokes, and were eager to see if they could do it well enough in English to make me laugh.
I reminded Wladimir of the meeting when we talked before his loss to Anthony Joshua in April and he not only remembered it, but also the name of the motel they were staying in. Two unpretentious brothers, two heavyweights who made it clear right away they would never fight each other because they promised their mother they wouldn't.
That they also sucked up most of the air of a heavyweight division with few contenders was a regrettable legacy.
Wladimir Klitschko could have fought more in the U. Klitschko himself admitted before his final fight that he had been boring even while beating everyone who was put in front of him. In comparison Vitali has knocked out 87 percent of his opponents, Wladimir Joe Louis won 69 of his 72 fights 55 by way of knockout, earning him a 96 percent win rate and a 76 percent knockout rate.
Favourable comparisons can be made in favour of the Klitschko brothers from such statistics. George Foreman won 76 of his 81 bouts, 68 by way of knockout, leaving him with a 94 percent win rate and an 84 percent knock out rate. Both Klitschko brothers have a better knock out and win percentage rate. Larry Holmes won 69 of his 75 contests, 44 by way of knockout finishing with a 92 percent win rate and 59 percent knockout rate.
Again, the brothers have a better knockout and win rate. It is quite clear to see that, statistically, the brothers are equal, if not better than, the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time.
What one must bear in mind however is that both brothers are still fighting, whereas the names used in comparison are long retired. Heavyweight boxing has suffered a huge decline in talent in the past decade. The days of Holyfield, Tyson and Lewis are long gone. The only opponent good enough to face one of the Klitschkos is the other sibling, and they have stressed that such a contest will never happen.
For the first six rounds the elder of the two brothers stood toe to toe with Lewis, forcing the Canadian born British boxer into a dogfight. Despite this, he still won the fight, defeating Vitali on medical grounds. It was a lucky escape for the Brit, and his refusal to have a rematch with Vitali shows that the Ukrainian left a strong impression. This fight however was in Not since then has Vitali had a fight that could truly capture the imagination of the boxing fan base.
Instead lighter weight categories are putting on the best fights. At present, heavyweight boxing just happens to be a weak division. The same can be said of Wladimir, whose crowning moment to date was defeating David Haye, another British boxer with a loud mouth, earlier this year.
Unlike Lewis, Haye is not a hard hitter and in reality not big enough to be a Heavyweight boxer. Wladimir went into the fight 14 kg 40 lbs. It was not an even match up, although no one had any problems with the Ukrainian handing the Brit with a much deserved slice of humble pie. Between the two of them they have only fought one boxer who was truly great, Lennox Lewis, unless one was brave enough to throw David Haye into that category which I am not.
In comparison the names mentioned on the previous slides were the best of their golden generations. Ali defeated Frazier, Foreman and Cooper. It is likely that Vitali will at some point fight David Haye, which will be a box office hit. In reality the result is pre-determined. Vitali will destroy Haye because the British boxer is not a natural heavyweight. As for Wladimir, the only fight that will draw a crowd as big as the one against Haye, will be a rematch against the "Hayemaker.
It will undoubtedly be a good money maker, but it is not going to force Dr. Steelhammers way into the all-time top list.
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