Prime Lewis should beat the current Vitali. There's no need for criticism towards any of them though, they are both ATGs.
It's quite apparant that Vitali of 2012 is not the same fighter as before. Considerably slower in all areas. He is soon to be 41 and would in my opinion be no match for a prime Lewis at this stage. Prime for prime is another case. Contrary to common beliefs, I don't think Lewis was that far from prime when he met Vitali. Remember Lewis was faced with a very akward and agressive young fighter who really took it too Lennox.
Klitschko fans/Lewis haters say lewis was in his prime, both against Mccall 1 and Vitali Klitschko. That's almost a 10 year prime. For the record his prime was clearly the three years 97'-00' He faced Vitali in late 03' and was a part time boxer by that point, in fact why he even carried on after Tyson was beyond me, after beating Tyson (faded, yes) he had no unfinished business left in boxing, HBO were trying to farm him out because they knew he was done, this is why they were nuthugging Vitali, they thought he was the next Heavyweight PPV mega star. After Vitali's fights didn't deliver the viewing figures or discussion expected he was slated just like Lewis, and then dropped and ended up fighting on ESPN. HBO influences boxing history, and at that time they were on the Vitali bandwagon, hence the clearly anti-lewis commentary that clouds the reality that Lewis-Klitschko was a close war, which Lewis won fairly on a legitimate cuts stoppage. Had HBO still been on the Lewis wagon their commentary would have been something like "Well Vitali tried but he just couldnt take the punishment to win a war against a fighter like lewis" and this thread wouldnt even exist. Thank HBO for the Vitali EVT6 nonsense
Prime Lewis VS Prime Vitali Lewis WIN KO4 Prime Lewis VS Prime Wladimir WIN KO2 Lewis have the size, the reach, the power, the strenght, the skills. Lewis is a perfect Klitschkos killer.
If you type "lewis klitschko" into google images heres the first 5 pics This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected
Corrie Sanders was a hard puncher, but he never dropped Vitali, and you are making up fairy tales about Vitali's glove touching the ground, just like you are making up fairy tales about Pele Reid knocking him out unconscious, you have Vitali confused with Lewis when he first fought Rahman. In any case Lewis delivered his best punches on Vitali and he was not able to knock him out, (and no no one considers a cut injury as a legit KO), so what in the hell makes you think anyone would be able to KO Vitali? Vitali already has seen the best punches Lewis has to offer and walked right through them. Not to mention that was not a prime Vitali either. And your hypothetical Lewis hypothesis on what he would have done in his prime are irrelevant. I can easily say Vitali in his prime would've ducked back and dropped a right hand that this time would've knocked Lewis out cold, instead of making him wobble like a drunken sailor as he did in round 2 of their fight.
How many times has Vitali cut in his career? Very few. What are the chances that Lewis would win via a cut again? Very slim. So those people with using a cuts victory as rationale are either clueless or trolling. However, Lewis would win, and within 5 rounds - Vitali's stamina wouldn't last at all. Silly thread with silly responses.
BigSlimDog - Vitali was actually KO'd by Pele Reid in a kick boxing competition although it carries little weight since he was only 19 at the time and it was meant to be a perfect round house kick to the tip of the jaw.