Vitali Against Sam Peter Best-Ever Performance By A 37-Year-Old Or Older Heavyweight?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by paulfv, Dec 20, 2011.


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  1. paulfv

    paulfv Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Wondering if there has ever been a superior performance by a heavyweight fighter aged 37 years or older than the 8-round annihilation of 28-year-old Sam Peter (30-1 [23] at the time) by a 37-year-old Vitali Klitschko in 2008.

    At 37 years old, Lennox Lewis survived a very shaky performance against Vitali Klitschko to earn a TKO victory based upon cuts. Lewis retired shortly after this fight without granting Klitschko a rematch.

    At 37 years old, Evander Holyfield was losing a decision to Lennox Lewis.

    At 38 years old, Larry Holmes was knocked out in 4 rounds by Mike Tyson.

    The only other person I could think of was George Foreman at 41 years old destroying a 28-2 (24), 33-year-old Gerry Cooney. That was an extremely impressive performance by George, but Cooney hadn't been active in about two-and-a-half years before the bout and was coming off a loss to Michael Spinks, to boot.

    Peter, on the other hand, had just destroyed Oleg Maskaev in six rounds before the Vitali bout, and the only loss Peter had suffered up that point in his career was a controversial one against Wladimir Klitschko after he knocked Wlad down 3 times in the fight.

    Vitali was a slight favorite heading into the Peter fight, but many picked against him. And understandably so, since Klitschko had been away from the ring for approximately four years due to injuries.

    Nobody likely anticipated the beatdown that ensued, with Peter winning just 1 round of a possible 24 on the judges' cards before throwing in the proverbial towel after the 8th round.

    Was this the finest-ever performance by a heavyweight boxer aged 37 years or older, or is there someone else that I'm forgetting?

    Here are some highlights from the Vitali-Peter bout:

    [yt]mC1HC1iGa1U[/yt]
    ​
     
    paulfv, Dec 20, 2011
    paulfv, Dec 20, 2011
    #1
  2. horst

    horst Guest

    No.

    Jersey Joe Walcott was 38 when he had his last win over Ezzard Charles.

    Archie Moore was 39 when he defeated Nino Valdes.

    How **** Sam Peter was in 2008 means that win ranks below these two for sure.

    There will be many others I expect, but these are the two that come to mind.

    Peter just wasn't much cop if you're being honest about it. A fat, old Toney beat him in their 1st fight IMO.
     
    horst, Dec 20, 2011
    horst, Dec 20, 2011
    #2
  3. Ryan O'Reilly

    Ryan O'Reilly Guest

    Yes there has. Vitali vs Adamek. Utter destruction of the 3rd best heavy on the planet by the 40 year old Vitali.
     
    Ryan O'Reilly, Dec 20, 2011
    Ryan O'Reilly, Dec 20, 2011
    #3
  4. Daruf

    Daruf Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Hindsight and revisionist history is so easy.
    Fact is SOOO many on this board said Vitali was going to get KOd simply cause it was unheard off to come back after 4 years and take on a champ without any tuneups.
    1 of the most impressive comebacks in history.

    He was either going to get KOd or he would get badly injured in the ring.
    Even though he came back and dominated every minute of every round and becoming the first to stop Peter the same guy that his little brother went life and death with not long before.

    Obviously NOW everybody predicted it, makes me laugh :nut

    Majestic performance though, those right hands were lethal.
    Every time Peter made a aggressive move forward he got hit by that hybrid left hook/uppercut, and whenever Peter comitted he got hit by that chopping right hand.

    He always looks so relaxed too, just having fun in there.
     
    Daruf, Dec 20, 2011
    Daruf, Dec 20, 2011
    #4
  5. Brownies

    Brownies Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I'd like to see the % of boxing highlights with that soundtrack.
     
    Brownies, Dec 20, 2011
    Brownies, Dec 20, 2011
    #5
  6. paulfv

    paulfv Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Good point! :happy
     
    paulfv, Dec 20, 2011
    paulfv, Dec 20, 2011
    #6
  7. paulfv

    paulfv Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    :lol:

    Very true! :good
     
    paulfv, Dec 20, 2011
    paulfv, Dec 20, 2011
    #7
  8. horst

    horst Guest

    :lol: To be honest, Vitali-Adamek is a better win than Vitali-Peter, for sure. Good call. Adamek beating Arreola says to me that he could beat Peter pretty comfortably.
     
    horst, Dec 20, 2011
    horst, Dec 20, 2011
    #8
  9. paulfv

    paulfv Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Thanks for the input -- you might be right! :good
     
    paulfv, Dec 20, 2011
    paulfv, Dec 20, 2011
    #9
  10. paulfv

    paulfv Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I remember many people picking against Vitali, both here on ESB and among the "experts."
     
    paulfv, Dec 20, 2011
    paulfv, Dec 20, 2011
    #10
  11. Back Hand Slap

    Back Hand Slap Well-Known Member Full Member

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    It's up there, but I thought Lewis tko6 Vitali was a better performance from a 38 year old ATG.
     
    Back Hand Slap, Dec 20, 2011
    Back Hand Slap, Dec 20, 2011
    #11
  12. FilipMNE

    FilipMNE Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    But every single fighter you mentined is 10x better than Peter!
     
    FilipMNE, Dec 20, 2011
    FilipMNE, Dec 20, 2011
    #12
  13. gregor

    gregor Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Holyfield's opponent was an ATG and he still gave him close and competitive fight. The fight showed that Holyfield, although past prime and aged, was still top fighter. Vitali did what he was supposed to do - outjabbed slow and fat opponent.
     
    gregor, Dec 20, 2011
    gregor, Dec 20, 2011
    #13
  14. Vidic

    Vidic Rest in Peace Manny Full Member

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    Corrie sanders was 37 when he starched Wlad inside two rounds I beleive.
     
    Vidic, Dec 20, 2011
    Vidic, Dec 20, 2011
    #14
  15. Joe_MacKenzie

    Joe_MacKenzie Boxing Addict banned

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    Nov 7, 2011
    I agree.

    Although he looked good in both fights, he looked better against Adamek than against Peter.
     
    Joe_MacKenzie, Dec 20, 2011
    Joe_MacKenzie, Dec 20, 2011
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