I think the version of Wlad that Joshua beat was better than the version of Lewis who beat Vitaly. Wlad was in top shape and more motivated than he'd been for more than a decade. If you're out of shape and out of focus as well as old then you're there to be taken, but with the right preparation and motivation even an old ATG can become great again for a night.
Very true. That night Lewis was extremely lucky to beat vitali, but he had that big punch and a lotta luck, so he pulled it out of the bag. Against AJ I think he does it does the same. But Lewis not in the greatest shape could easily have found himself in a Rahman situation.
its hardly luck to be 37 when your opponent is prime. in fact everything was against him, yet he used his vastly superior skills to pull off an early win.
He was superior but hardly a walk in the park for Lewis. He knew that the longer the fight, the worst for him, so there would have been a sense of urgency to work on the cuts. Good on the man, he pulled it off, but not one of his easiest wins.
not a difficult win. His opponent had spent himself inside 5 rounds by neglecting his defence and going all out attack. One of the easiest tactical battles lewis ever had, simply get him gas and take him apart with counters. lets not pretend vitali had any strategic nous going in except an inept blitzkrieg that reeked of a lack of technical ability.
So Lewis kind of did a Ali v foreman tactical fight, allowing vitali to punch away till he had him beat?
Lewis picked up that Vitali was an inaccrate puncher from round 1. Easy meat to let him crash and burn, end it early. Though still a bit of a trial for a 37 year old man to absorb it.
Can see your point s there about Lewis allowing Klitschko to burn himself out but it was mainly the cuts that caused the stoppage. If he hadn't been cut, would Lewis have been so confident? Vitali had a great chin, no one put him down so would lennox have been able to stop him that way. And Lewis to was on the verge of gassing, that is obvious. So take away vitali s face hanging off, and Lewis blowing for air, then it could turn in to a different ending.
Lewis started sniping when Vitali was slowing down. He got at the cut as a direct resultof Vitalis failed comeforward blitzkrieg. If Vitali hadnt gone for broke he'd not have left himself open and would have lasted longer.
AJ is a more faster and fluid version of Frank Bruno. Complete with the physique with similar strength and punching power that he's more effective at using. AJ would have a good chance at victory