Show me a fight where Wlad 'straight up blitzed' someone. The fight linked in the opening post of this thread looks like the same boring ass Wlad that is fighting today. I was a fan of Wlad back in the day, I thought it was cool that there was a (not quite but close to being) undefeatedyoung up and coming European heavyweight that got alot of hype, so I would record the fights, and eagerly watch them. But after seeing a few I realized that there was nothing to hang on for and get excited about. He is simply a boring fighter, and gets KO'd just about anytime he gets his chin checked, which is rare due to his height and reach. So that was my opinion back around 2002+ and it really hasn't changed. He is a great fighter but I can't see any significant shift in style. He might hold a bit more now but that is it, offensive-wise there was never any 'animal' in him.
I often think that version of Wlad would've KO'd the version of Lewis that Vitali fought. There is no way Lewis takes Wald Pussy's best shot and stays on his feet.
Thats the sort of punchers chance i give Wlad. Ignorance is bliss. Wlad would have opened up and Lewis best chance of surviving would have been that he took Wlad's best shots and survived to take over. Lewis either dominates from the opening bell or gets dominated from the opening bell, survives, and then takes over. There won't be any great 2 way action like with Vitali. The left hook is Wlad's best shot, not the right, so he's got to land that.
D MAN, you're my boy, but even the greatest of wald pussy's detractors recognize the shift in style post-Brewster.
Sure, I just don't see anything that drastic.. he was fighting B level fighters with limited aggression, and now he's fighting B+ level guys with even more limited aggression. Maybe I just haven't seen Wlad's exciting fights, but to me a 'boring' guy like Lewis has blitzed his share of dudes in way better fashion than Wlad ever has.
I'm rewatching wald pussy/Mercer right now on YouTube. Through three and a half rounds wald pussy has initiated exactly ZERO clinches.
I just finished the Mercer fight. Wlad (not to be confused with the modern day wald pussy) did not attempt a single clinch.
SD, I agree that was one of Wlad's more aggressive fights... I really enjoyed watching that one at the time and he looked REALLY good in there and didn't tie up. That said, old man Ray threw 10 'power punches' in the fight.. literally just 10.
Fair enough man.... but zero clinches is MUCH different than clinching every single time an opponent gets close. There's no doubt Mercer didn't bring anything, but just watch that fight and follow it directly with wald pussy/Mormeck.
He also: 1. Was well on the way to punching himself out. 2. Did not take a backward step when Mercer connected with jabs and rights. 3. Moved his hands like he never has before or since. Mercer was really angry at the end of it. I guess he saw Larry Holmes at ringside and Larry was like "I guess this guy isn't Tommy Morrison either" Anyways, most people don't know the truth of that fight. Apparently, somebody stole Ray's dumb-bells and that's why he lost. This is for you Steve, it's hosted by your namesake. :scared2: <iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/m0Ldjjciv5c?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
yet Wlad was boring as fuck in the McCline and Barrett fight, incidentely, his 2 most dangerous fights at the time
No. He beat the living shit out of that guy and if the sight of Barrett transfusing onto the canvas, having been floored 3 times that round was "Boring", then I suggest you go and get professional help. There were a few flat spots as a wounded Barrett tried to survive, but the beginning and end were not "boring". McCline I will give you. That was like an oversized Haye. McCline pulled more punches than an international diplomat.
I didn't mind the Barrett fight personnaly as I can appreciate a clinch filled fight if there is dammage being done ( one of the reason I don't dislike Ruiz as most people here ), but the consensus was that it was a boring fight and Wlad basically apologized for it saying something to the effect : ''well, the ending was good and that's what people will remember in the end ''
The middle was flat, yet if you watch it, Vlad got hurt off a left hook and stayed upright, the same left hook 9 years later was enough to take the Gayemaker Gaye off his feet.
