Who would prime holmes struggle with most, Lewis or vitali?

Usually I would heavily favour an elite SHW against a past era Champion but Holmes demonstrated on so many occasions an incredible will to win to add to his impressive all round pugilistic prowess. I suppose I would still favour both over Larry but he is the last guy I would write off against anybody.

To answer the question, I actually think Klitschko would be the more difficult opponent to defeat because of his massive size advantage, work rate and titanium chin. Lewis, although far classier an operator in almost all categories of technical skill, strikes me as a more beatable opponent for Holmes but I can't really explain why as I envisage the fights going the distance.

 

I don't think Holmes would be able to go 2-0 against them. I'm unsure if he'd beat one of them, but he might.

Cooney had some success and was pretty far inferior to either Lewis or Vitali other than his left hook.

Lewis would have much more capacity to knock Holmes out than Vitali. Vitali possibly could outpoint Holmes. He's capable of pulling off a Spinks' or Witherspoon like gameplan. Neither Lewis nor Vitali struggled with outpointing opponents as much as Holmes did. I think Lewis would have a better chance of winning because he was more dynamic and proved himself against better opposiition.

 

Vitali

 

I think I'd go with Vitali. He really mastered that Eastern European upright style of fighting. He knew how to fight at long range being 6'7.5 and having a 29.5 inch armpit to the end of the fist arm length. Also I remember Emanuel Steward commenting that when he gets in the ring he even seems to get bigger than he is. Vitali wouldn't stop Holmes, but I think he could win on the scorecards.

 

I think both would be awkward, with Lewis more so. Vitali's sheer size and workrate would make it very hard for Larry. He doesn't however establish range as good as peak Lewis and i think this is where Holmes chance would be. Holmes handspeed would give him a good chance of outfighting and outpointing Vitali.

I think Lewis would have an excellent chance vs Holmes. His size, ability to establish range and deterrent power would hold him in good stead. A safety first conservative gameplan would be a good way to start, with the constant threat of the enormous right hand looming. If Holmes was edging the chess match he could put more pressure on and exchange more, something Holmes did far more of than many realise. I have little doubt Lewis is going to badly hurt or drop Holmes at some point and it would be interesting to see if he could finish him. He is a vastly better finisher and fighter than Weaver, Witherspoon, Snipes or Shavers et al. Lewis would have to make sure he didn't gas as Holmes is quite a strong finisher with excellent stamina and heart.

Be a great fight, both of them.

 

neither ....that jab

 

1. I would not call Cooney far inferior to Vitali.

2. Holmes performance against Cooney was impressive. One of his finest moments

 

Vitali. But i give a chance to a lucky Holmes by a Smith type cut.

 

It was a good performance by Holmes but you're a fool if you think Cooney was not inferior to Vitali Klitschko.

 

You wrote FAR inferior.I certainly disagree with that.I also think Vitali has never beaten a fighter as good as Cooney.

 

"Pretty far" and "FAR" do not mean the same thing, nor am I here to give English lessons.

 

???
Cooney - Vitali would be a 50-50 fight in my opinion.Who has Vitali beaten as good as Cooney?

 

Cooney never even made it the distance against a good fighter, granted he didn't need to against an old Norton and Young, if they count as good. Vitali has a great chin and is extremely difficult to take rounds off of. It would be an uphill battle for Cooney. You could argue that Cooney is better than anyone Vitali beat, but Vitali obviously belonged to be in the ring with Byrd and Lewis and would've beaten Byrd on any other night. Cooney did not consistently beat opposiition that Vitali did.

 

I doubt Vitali would have done better against Holmes than Cooney.

 

There's no doubt in my mind that Lennox would be the tougher go. But they both give Holmes trouble. With that I feel Holmes would beat both in a battle of primes. Holmes-Lewis would be one for the ages!