IMHO, Foreman would stop Vitali, one way or another, but Vitali might not visit the canvas, I think the most likely scenario is that George eventually hurts Vitali, and then it's bombs away, and the referee steps in.
That wasn't prime George, and Vitali hasn't got the boxing skills of Young. But to be honest, that really wasn't George at his best. He retired right after, his head was mashed.
He loaded up when he saw an opening for a powerful shot. And it worked, because contrary to popular belief he has good accuracy. He did not wing every single punch he threw. He was poised and calm with hardly any sweat as Cossel pointed out. It was a brutal, clinical execution and he was not rushing it. You're literally criticizing him for scoring knockdowns and winning a fight early with an excellent game plan.
Foreman had destroyed Frazier again a year before his fight with Young. Foreman not being in his prime is something Ali fans repeat. He doesn't need them. Foreman's advantages over his contemporaries vanish in this case. He doesn't have the skill to outbox Klitschko nor does he have any physical advantages other than one punch power.
Yes Lewis was out of shape for his final fight-not as far gone as say rematch Ruiz, but he was seriously tiring in a few rounds & weighed 256, his heaviest ever. He said he was at his worst then & still won-true but ego-bound response. He was in good shape for an average person, not going into a competitive HW fight.
I do know from the past he actually rates Vitali #1 H2H and has said so several times. Not a snowflakes chance in hell he is #1.
I have often asked for examples of ATG from the past that would be favored against him. The list is very short. Never Ko'd, hardly lost a round against every conceivable style of opponent and has one of the highest, if not the highest KO % in history. We can now add in - stands 6 foot 7 and has an incredible work rate. It is not that I do not see other ATG as fantastic H2H. But all of the others had weaknesses that could be exploited. The only thing anyone every brings up is his horrendous cut against Lewis and blowing his shoulder out against Byrd. I will also mention he was winning BOTH of those fights. So, say what you will. I have never heard any good arguments to sway my ranking of him yet. One thing - Not one boxer EVER beat him by decision or KO. As a matter of fact, he lost only to injury and in those fights ( only 2) he was winning before the stoppage. Anyone disagree?
I like Vitali by UD. He was great at fighting at distance. It would be a good interesting fight. Now against Wlad I'd pick Foreman by ko.
Vitali? That's ****ing ridiculous! All jokes aside, we all know who the #1 H2H Heavyweight is. Proved it in his two fights against Liston and put it beyond any doubt when he gave us possibly the greatest performance of all time, in the astrodome back in '66. Cleveland Williams.
He is of course a H2H great. BUT, he was beaten, and could be by other greats. I would put him second on my list.