NO. 9 WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO
Years active: 1996-2017
Record: 64-5
KOs: 53
KO percentage (of wins): 83
KOs inside 3 rounds: 28
Notable KO victims: Chris Byrd, Ruslan Chagaev, Ray Mercer, Sam Peter, Kubrat Pulev, Hasim Rahman
Background: Klitschko is the most accomplished heavyweight of a period that stretched from 2000 to 2015, most of which he held at least one major title. His style wasn’t complicated. He used his height (6-foot-6) and reach – as well as good footwork – to keep his opponents at a safe distance. From there, he would fight behind an excellent, jarring jab to set up … you guessed it … one of the biggest right hands in the history of boxing. The great trainer Emanuel Steward, who molded and guided Klitschko during his greatest years, said “he’s the most accurate, single-punch knockout guy I have seen. A guy can be completely fine, not hurt, and Wladimir can put his lights out with one shot.” And don’t forget: Steward saw all the great ones going back a half century or so. Phil Jackson was stopped by a young Klitschko and later sparred with him. He also was KO’d by Lennox Lewis. He told BoxingInsider.com that Klitschko punched harder than Lewis. “Klitschko had more power, most definitely,” he said. “In both hands. You could feel it. Put it this way: If it would have been Wladimir in there when his brother fought Lennox Lewis, I think he would have dropped Lennox Lewis. I honestly do. I think he would have dropped Lennox Lewis.” Of course, it’s possible that Klitschko wasn’t even the biggest puncher in his family. Brother Vitali (45-2, 41 KOs) has a higher knockout percentage and was noted as a big puncher. His shots weren’t as explosive as his younger bro’s, though. Wladmir’s long, straight, precise right hands were something to behold.
More quotes: A sparring partner who worked with George Foreman, Riddick Bowe, Evander Holyfield, David Tua, Klitschko and others: “(Klitschko) hit me by far the hardest. I couldn’t get past the jab, and his right hands hit like thunder. They reminded me of Lewis’, but they were quicker and sharper. Wladimir staggered me regularly in sparring. There are literally whole rounds I don’t remember. He also knocked me out with a left hook. Not down, out. Only time in my life I’ve seen canvas and not been able to stand up by 10 seconds.”