Usyk isn't Briggs, Vitali, as great he is, hasn't shown that he can beat someone on Usyk's level. If he would have schooled Wladimir, I would have a different view on him, but as he didn't, I have to favor Usyk.
People keep saying this...but Usyk at HW has barely done anything. What...two good wins?? Neither over great comp??
Joshua is a better win than anyone on Vitali's resume. Gassiev and Briedis would be favorites vs probably everyone on Vitali's resume. Vitali fought two elite fighters. He lost by stoppage to both of them.
Until AJ actually proves it with a better list of wins....all opinion. If Vit only has two elites, AJ has ZERO elite wins. Which is pretty sad for this garbage HW division.
Vitali has zero elite wins. He has two elite losses. His best wins are: Adamek Peter Briggs Hide Sanders Chisora Joshua beat: Klitschko (old) Povetkin (old) Parker Pulev (old) Ruiz Whyte I would say Joshua has a better resume than Vitali. If you disagree, you surely must agree that Joshua is better than any of Vitali's wins.
Byrd is not an wkite fighter and Lennox got lucky. Onky quality fighter Vitali could have faced in that era was wlad.
He could have: Povetkin (Wladimir does) Chagaev (Wladimir does) Haye (Wladimir does) Valuev Ibragimov (Wladimir does) Golota Holyfield (John) Ruiz Schulz (Wladimir does) Byrd (Wladimir does) Lewis Huck His resume is a barren wasteland, even for the era.
Usyk wins a wide UD. Vitalis footwork is terrible. Hes only good on his feet moving straight back. Vitalis isn't a big puncher either so I don't see him ever hurting Usyk. Vitali had problems vs Byrd and anyone saying otherwise most probably didn't watch the fight and just read the judges scorecards
Accumulation puncher vs weak opposition. Lennox took his best shot and kept going walking through him. Emanuel Steward even told Lennox to make it a dog fight. Vs Mike Tyson he demanded that Lennox Lewis get Mike Tyson out of there. Look at Rahman vs Lewis and Vitali vs Lewis. Both hit him cleanly. Same thing with Rahman vs Sanders and Vitali Klitschko vs Sanders. Vitali doesn't have good power. It's at best adequate.