I'm a big Holmes fan and rate him #2 overall, which might be a little biased because I grew up watching him. I also view Vitali as a top 7-9 ATG as his ability to win rounds, and take a punch is as good as anyone in heavyweight boxing history, and like Ali lost some prime years. However Holmes would be fighting a much bigger man, who had a good right hand ( the type Holmes could be nailed by ) and a fighter who is mobile and throws a lot of punches. This one could be tough to score. Gerry Cooney was rather limited. He didn't take the best punch in the world and is smaller than Vitali and much easier to hit won 4-5 rounds vs. a prime Holmes then gassed in the 12th and 13th. Are you telling me Vitali could not do better? I am going to say draw here as the match would come down to the guy who hits harder and lands / throws more vs the guy who lands cleaner.
I am going with Vitali who himself will not be knocked out by Holmes and is busier. He will have advantages of height and power as well. Holmes will survive but I see Vitali by UD
Holmes is the better more fluid boxer will he have trouble with kilts size yep probably but Holmes would win by stoppage Holmes has a real spiteful side and would do what's needed to win .
I must ask why. I have seen and scored most of Holmes fights. Have you? Holmes barley edged Witherpsoon, and Norton. He might have lost vs Carl Williams. Honestly Vitali is as good or I say better than these fighters. Holmes could not out box a bigger man in Oliver McCall ( Okay he was older ) lost once to Spinks ( Officially twice ) who Vitali would demolish. Yet Holmes schools him??? Sorry that does not wash at all. Vitali was never down on any score card after three rounds, and never lost more than three consensus rounds vs anyone he fought.
Cooney wasn't a tactician or anything , but he was a better pure boxer than Vitali. Reality is Vitali wasn't a good boxer and had woeful fundamentals. His entire repertoire of shots consisted of two shovel punches he threw from the waist up. His success was down to the fact he fought nothing but bums and was bigger than them all. Even some of those soup cans made his technique look laughably bad -ie Kevin Johnson. Cooney had a much better defense -gloves held high and had decent head movement. He threw excellent hooks to the body and head. Better combos , better jab and right hand. Applied pressure more effectively. I see Holmes comfortably out boxing Vitali.
He's going to beat a prime Holmes? When he couldn't defeat C.Byrd while he( meaning Vatali) was in his prime? Ok. What bridge are you trying to sell again? A prime Holmes would beat the hell out of anyone of the Kleisckoes in their primes. The fight wouldn't be close. Hell ld give the way past prime Holmes of the early 90's a shot.
What is Vitali's best win then? Holmes is just a better boxer. He is better than Vitali in almost every category.