RING'S REPORT CARD-VITALI

The second in Ring.com's series where they rate 20 fighters according to the following undefined criteria.

Talent, Achievement, Marketability, Support System, Growth Potential.

Here is how they rate Vitali Klitschko

http://www.ringtv.com/blog/2360/the_ring_allstar_report_cards_vitali_klitschko/

Talent-A
Achievement-A
Marketability-B
Support System-A
Growth Potential-B

What is your take and why?

I'll post mine below.

Yeah this is from the current issue, I wasn't happy with their choices.

Talent B-
Too many injuries

Achievement B

Marketability B

Support System A

Growth Potential C

My standard for rating is an average THE MAN champion across boxing history

Talent-A. He's huge, powerful, agile, has an excellent chin and is disciplined enough to be in good form as he approaches 40. No obvious weakness at all.

Achievement-C-. He gets points for doing everything we can reasonably expect. But the division is at an all-time low and the only threat is his brother. Could he have been better? I think so. But the competition is who it is. His biggest win is who exactly? Orlin Norris? Kirk Johnson? Corrie Sanders? Geeze.

Marketability-D. That this man can't draw in the US puzzles me. But he can't.

Support System-A. He shows up in shape, takes on everyone and he's almost 40. Somebody is doing something right.

Growth Potential-F. He's almost 40. Outside of fighting Wlad what can he possibly do?

gomez1012 wrote:

Talent B-
Too many injuries

Achievement B

Marketability B

Support System A

Growth Potential C

You are absolutely right and I'm wrong giving him an A.

Ali_1748 wrote:

Yeah this is from the current issue, I wasn't happy with their choices.

Meaning the fighters they chose or the grades they gave?

Ali_1748 wrote:

Yeah this is from the current issue, I wasn't happy with their choices.

Do you buy the mag Ali?

Way too expensive IMO

gomez1012 wrote:

Ali_1748 wrote:

Yeah this is from the current issue, I wasn't happy with their choices.

Do you buy the mag Ali?

Way too expensive IMO

I do and yes it's ridiculously expensive, £5 each time.

I meant the fighters Marble, they left out alot of people.

Ali_1748 wrote:

gomez1012 wrote:

Ali_1748 wrote:

Yeah this is from the current issue, I wasn't happy with their choices.

Do you buy the mag Ali?

Way too expensive IMO

I do and yes it's ridiculously expensive, £5 each time.

I meant the fighters Marble, they left out alot of people.

I guess Thirteen didn't make it?

Talent - C. I've never seen Vitali exhibit any type of movement, a snapping jab or get into any rhythm at all. He wins because of the inferior nature of his opposition. He sleep walked through the last fight and still won. Not impressed. One talent he does have is strength, however I can't see him beating an opponent who comes close to matching him in this category.

Achievement - A. He rules the HW division with his brother. That's a very special achievment, I don't care if he beat Sammy Davis Jr. for the belt.

Marketability- C. I don't have the records for the PPV numbers. I don't think American fans are into him at all, which is why he was dropped by HBO. Foreign fighters have a lot to do with the history of boxing in the US so I wouldn't blame it on the fans. They see him as an attraction in Germany, though I don't know how much longer that will last. This guy is boring.

Support System-A. Manny Steward has gotten the best out of him. That's the best a trainer can do.

Growth Potential-F He's reached his potential and it's all downhill from here.

marbleheadmaui wrote:

Ali_1748 wrote:

gomez1012 wrote:

Ali_1748 wrote:

Yeah this is from the current issue, I wasn't happy with their choices.

Do you buy the mag Ali?

Way too expensive IMO

I do and yes it's ridiculously expensive, £5 each time.

I meant the fighters Marble, they left out alot of people.

I guess Thirteen didn't make it?

No Rocky and Apollo made it.

4445Frank wrote:

Talent - C. I've never seen Vitali exhibit any type of movement, a snapping jab or get into any rhythm at all. He wins because of the inferior nature of his opposition. He sleep walked through the last fight and still won. Not impressed. One talent he does have is strength, however I can't see him beating an opponent who comes close to matching him in this category.

Achievement - A. He rules the HW division with his brother. That's a very special achievment, I don't care if he beat Sammy Davis Jr. for the belt.

Marketability- C. I don't have the records for the PPV numbers. I don't think American fans are into him at all, which is why he was dropped by HBO. Foreign fighters have a lot to do with the history of boxing in the US so I wouldn't blame it on the fans. They see him as an attraction in Germany, though I don't know how much longer that will last. This guy is boring.

Support System-A. Manny Steward has gotten the best out of him. That's the best a trainer can do.

Growth Potential-F He's reached his potential and it's all downhill from here.

HE ISN'T TRAINED BY STEWARD!!!!!
As for getting into a rhythm, he doesn't fight in a normal fashion. He isn't conventional in my view. Dougie Fischer compared his defense to Ali's rope a dope, except in the middle of the ring (he wasn't comparing the fighters so don't flame, rather just the way Vitali leans way back out of the way of most punches). He isn't a traditional heavyweight.

captainanddew wrote:

4445Frank wrote:

Talent - C. I've never seen Vitali exhibit any type of movement, a snapping jab or get into any rhythm at all. He wins because of the inferior nature of his opposition. He sleep walked through the last fight and still won. Not impressed. One talent he does have is strength, however I can't see him beating an opponent who comes close to matching him in this category.

Achievement - A. He rules the HW division with his brother. That's a very special achievment, I don't care if he beat Sammy Davis Jr. for the belt.

Marketability- C. I don't have the records for the PPV numbers. I don't think American fans are into him at all, which is why he was dropped by HBO. Foreign fighters have a lot to do with the history of boxing in the US so I wouldn't blame it on the fans. They see him as an attraction in Germany, though I don't know how much longer that will last. This guy is boring.

Support System-A. Manny Steward has gotten the best out of him. That's the best a trainer can do.

Growth Potential-F He's reached his potential and it's all downhill from here.

HE ISN'T TRAINED BY STEWARD!!!!!
As for getting into a rhythm, he doesn't fight in a normal fashion. He isn't conventional in my view. Dougie Fischer compared his defense to Ali's rope a dope, except in the middle of the ring (he wasn't comparing the fighters so don't flame, rather just the way Vitali leans way back out of the way of most punches). He isn't a traditional heavyweight.

Whoa!! Okay buddy. Whom ever is training him is getting the best out of him. His bro is trained by Manny so I just figured he was as well. His defense has not been tested by anyone except Lennox Lewis who removed part of his face. Personally, I like the guy's personality. However, he's not a great fighter nor a great HW.

ring magazine is way too nice on their ratings. if vitali can get mostly A's then a ton of fighters should get straight A's.

talent- B, he is alright. hes big and throws a good amount of punches. cant move his feet that well and doesnt know how to hold his hands up. and he gets injured a lot.

achievement- C, he has beaten better fighters than his brother but thats not saying much. he does have a pretty impressive record though.

marketability- D, wlad seems more popular. vitali just seems like he is in the background.

support system- again, no idea

growth potential- D-, everyone can grow a little but he is old and wont be able to change his bad habits at this point in his career.

I'm going based on the current Vitali:

Talent-B. He's getting noticeably slower. He's still too much for the rest of the division, but he's getting worse.
Achievement-B+. His most memorable accomplishment is almost beating Lennox Lewis. He's been a solid champion but nothing more. He hasn't fought enough for me to put him higher.
Marketability-B-. More marketable than his brother because he's more active, but his window is closing.
Support System-A. It's been a long time since he's lost so everyone must be doing their jobs.
Growth Potential-D. His skills are declining and I doubt he has more than a few years left in him.