Vitali is overrated

He has a glass rotator cuff.

 

You need to go back and read my original post I said best footwork for a Super heavyweight not heavyweight. Ali and Holmes obviously moved better as does Usyk. I'm only talking about Super heavies.

While Vitali was backed up at times as any fighter is, he wasn't being backed up all the time, he fought the majority of the fight in the centre of the ring. Also this wasn't prime Vitali yet only 28, only been a pro for 3 years and 5 months and his movement at that point wasn't as good as would become later in his career. Back then he didn't move as much after throwing at that stage of his career. I also disagree that Vitali failed to land clean on Byrd he hit Byrd with some hard shots and yes he missed some shots too, it is Chris Byrd we are talking about, he was very slick.

No doubt Wlad did better vs Byrd, won't deny that, Wlad's style was all wrong for Byrd which is why he did better. But who did better vs Sanders? Who did better vs Peter? Answer Vitali.

As I said Vitali's resume doesn't stack up to Wlad's that's not even up for debate so bringing up Chagaev is a moot point because I agree that Wlad has beaten better opposition. Doesn't mean Wlad beats Vitali though, don't believe me well believe Wlad because even he has said Vitali beats him. Maybe he's just being nice to his older brother but I think not younger siblings tend to be ultra competitive with their older siblings and want to prove they are better.

Are you really going to use Sanders as an example, really, lol. Yeah Vitali ate a counter, Sanders was a quick fisted counter puncher, Wlad will tell you that after Sanders bounced him off the canvas a few times. Sanders as an example to prove Wlad is better than Vitali, that's a unique argument I give you that.

 

I'd actually agree, Vitali's style was all about his size, Wlad under Steward improved dramatically and part of that was his head movement and movement in general, before he'd throw and then just sit there to be countered after he'd move off or more often clinch which will be more effective if you don't have a significant reach advantage.

 

Yeah he definitely underrated Vitali, probably thought he was another over hyped big man like Ruddock, Golota and Grant and he would walk through Vitali. But that notion was quickly erased after the first round Lewis knew he was in for a tough night and Vitali wasn't going to just fold like so many others.

 

I know thats what you said. My counter argument is that Vitali's footwork wouldn't be better than Lewis or Fury against those guys and I explained why. Riddick Bowe's feet were tried and tested against ATG Evander Holyfield so there is no case to be made that Vitali had the best footwork out of any SHW. Fury and Lewis to a lesser degree were multi dimensional movers and boxers. They're ability was put to the test against a broad range of styles. Vitali was a one dimensional boxer who faced one type of style for the majority of his career. Good on the back foot but thats it. A Larry Holmes would move around him easier than Lewis or Fury.

 

Yes

 

Usyk would have dismantled both brothers

 

Bowe's footwork was tried and tested against Holyfield? Please a much smaller fighter who literally went right at him, Bowe just had to stand there and let Holyfield come to him, he didn't need to chase Holyfield at all. At least he didn't in the 1st and 3rd fights, but in the 2nd fight when Holyfield moved more, Bowe lost.

Fury and Lewis move well nothing like the slow footed Bowe and still better than Wlad or Joshua. Fury does though too often back himself into a corner and end up on the ropes too often, he's more static than Vitali was in his prime. Don't believe me, compare Fury/Chisora 2 and Vitali/Chisora, see who spends more time on the ropes. Answer Fury, why because Vitali was more adept at keeping the fight centre ring while Fury as I say spends too much time on the ropes.

Lewis I think has underrated footwork, his balance was poor at times and people think that meant his footwork sucked but he actually like Vitali moved very well, I'd say after Vitali he had the 2nd best movement, but as their fight showed when Vitali was beating Lewis from range, he has better lateral movement, how can you even deny that based on this fight. Lewis was forced to step in and take the fight to Vitali, despite having the longer reach and only then was he able to start pushing Vitali to the ropes. But when he tried to fight him from range he was the one being turned in centre ring.

 

Vitali is overrated but it's because they fought in a weak era. Vitali and Wlad were the real deal and were a level above Joshua. However the notion of Vitali being a H2H nightmare can be called into lots of questioning, because the resume or his top performances against Lewis, Sanders and Byrd don't back it up

 

You say moved more , yeah he moved right at at him again. Where else did he move?
Im beginning to question what you actually know about boxing because Evander came at Bowe in the second much like he did in the other two.
For the rematch he had a Manny Steward trained jab that snapped out in triplets as he moved inward. That helped him up close but the fight was still very close. Had the fan man not came through the roof , Bowe would have likely got the decision as he was coming on strong after the 5th.
Many people think Bowe went 3-0 with Holy.
In the rubber match Holyfield got destroyed.

But notion that Bowe didn't have show good foortwork against Holyfield because he didn't go looking for him is laughable. Footwork is more than just moving.
Bowe could not be the great inside fighter he was if he didn't have good feet. Small steps and good positioning in the wheelhouse allowed Bowe to string fluid hooks and uppercuts together. Subtle movements allowed him keep a jab on Holyfied and line him him for combos when he got inside.
Had he stood just "stood there" he would have got beaten up. Because Holyfield didn't just come forward just like anybody else. He came forward in angles , with speed , agility and in zig-zag patterns. .

Even when faded this dynamic movement gave Lewis major problems. Unlike Bowe who was able to handle Vander with pure boxing technique , Lewis had to hold and push Holyfield down a lot using his size.
But the major point is Vitali's stiff clunky legs would allow him to neutralize a guy like Holyfield in close the way Riddick Bowe did so he simply cannot have the best footwork out of any SHW . Its like saying Hrgovic has better movement then Fury because Vitali and Hrgovic are very similar... In fact im not convinced that Vitali moved any better than Tony Tucker or Joe Bugner

 

The Eternal Champion.

 

Vitali’s resume is a littler overrated and his punching power. However he used his height well, boxed well and did fight some variety of boxers even if they were a little shop worn like Hide and Donald. He also fought the power punching lefty sanders.

Wlad was more athletic and more proven in the division. On flip side Didn’t have his brothers chin.

 

Nobody ever said he was the greatest of all time based off his resume lol
H2H very few beat him on his best night

 

Peter was the WBC champion and in his prime.

A "shot" Sanders? No, Sanders was coming off his best win.

Vitali is the only heavyweight boxer to have reigned as world champion in three different decades.

Vitali and George Foreman are the only heavyweight boxers in history to defend a world title after turning 40.

Vitali is one of only 3 world heavyweight champions to have never been knocked down in any professional fight.

Vitali was also known for being unusually dominant in his fights, having almost never lost a round in his professional career as a boxer.

Vitali was the first professional boxing world champion to hold a PhD degree.

Vitali did not fight for nearly four years in his 30s, then returned at age 37 and take on the WBC champ without any warm-ups, and win. That in itself is amazing - who else ever did that?