Larry Holmes Versus Vitali Klitschko

Well, I am a great Holmes fan as I think he was a fantastic fighter. The same goes for Vitaly. I like both guys, I just claim, that given the size, skills, iron-jaw, and toughness of Vitaly, he would probably have won. You could say, Holmes was a big cruiserweight (208 pounds in his prime) vs. 245 pounds of pure muscle with maybe the best jaw ever. Sorry, I just can't see Holmes winning this one.

 

LOL!! This is almost comical.

Vitali by a late Stoppage or comfortable but competitive UD

 

Byrd was smaller than Holmes and made Vitali look awkward and had him tiring in the 2nd half of the fight.

And despite the myth of Vitali dominating infact it was a very close fight with only 8 punches separating them at the time Vitali retired with shoulder injury.

 

Maybe you should watch it again only 8 punches separated them and Byrd was coming on after 5th round and was only 1 point behind on my card at the time of the stoppage.

Byrd only had like a weeks notice aswell I might add.

As for Williams a 35 year old Holmes after almost 20 championship fights is being used as a barometer as to how a prime Holmes would do vs Vitali ?

Vitali is also nothing like Williams who was a smooth both boxer with a very good jab, Vitali's jab is not even on the same level.

 

Sir, it was not close at all: 'Klitschko controlled most of the fight with Byrd being elusive and making himself a difficult target. After 9 rounds Vitali had suffered a torn rotator cuff and despite being clearly ahead on the scorecards (88-83, 88-83, & 89-82) he retired on his stool handing the win to Byrd.' Vitaly was clearly leading and the injury was confirmed by doctors. So, Sir, please stick to the truth.

 

On a scale of 1 to 10, Holmes is a 9, and Vitaly a 10. Bigger, better, stronger, better chin, way stronger in the clinches, Vitaly.

 

The fight was in Germany my guy of course Vitali is going to get the benefit of the doubt in any debatable round.

The fact is the fight was very competitive despite what the judges scored it, I had Vitali only ahead 5-4 at the time of the stoppage I remember specifically Byrd won rounds 5, 9, very clearly and had a good argument to winning atleast 2 more rounds. I would say if you're being fair then Vitali was no more ahead than 6-3 with 5-4 being very possible aswell.

But at no point in the fight was Vitali dominant against Byrd who seemed to be doing alot better in 2nd half of the fight backing up Vitali landing his straight left hand.

Vitali was ahead yes but in a very competitive fight where Byrd landed 44 percent of his punches to only 26 percent for Vitali with only 8 punches separating them overall.

And if you're on about "facts" how about the fact Byrd had a weeks notice, and still beat Vitali in his backyard despite having big disadvantages in every attribute like height, reach, weight, and as I said having only a weeks notice.

 

Vitali is not a 10 he lost to two of the best opponents he ever fought and Holmes beat 3 times as many ranked fighters as Vitali.

Which means Holmes is alot more proven against world class opposition.

And you're basing your whole opinion on a myth rather than actual facts/evidence how Vitali did vs elite opposition.

 

@Niels Probst

From memory I gave Byrd rounds 3, 5, 9, fairly clearly and I gave Byrd another round aswell in 2nd half but can't what round specifically.

But all the rounds after 4th were mostly all very competitive rounds and that is a fact, and some could say Byrd actually caused Vitali's injury by making him punch at weird angles and making him miss alot. It's not a coincidence Holyfield also suffered an injury when fighting Byrd aswell.

 

A '10' doesn't get stopped by an aged, jaded, under-trained champion on the verge of retirement (Lewis).

 

Oh no, not that again! Vitaly was maybe 3 minutes away from KO'ieng Lewis, and he was leading on the scorecards at the foolish stoppage. Lewis was falling all over.

 

Lewis had his best round in the 6th.

Foolish stoppage ? Yeah ok how many stitches did Vitali need again ? I rest my case.

 

Oh dear.

 

I gave Byrd two rounds. Plus, Byrd fought nothing like Holmes. Chris fought under tall fighters with tons of lateral movement. Larry fought tall, as he was usually he taller guy (Cooney and Truth excepted).

As for Williams, sure he was smooth but just being smooth to the eye doesn't mean S. He had a weak mandible and loved to eat a left hook. He also couldn't back his fight plan with physicality. You can say Vitali had a simple game plan BUT he could enforce on every opponent he ever faced, only his shoulder and facial skin betraying him. Basic works when you have the physicality to back it. This isn't figure skating. It's combat.

(And I'll be honest, I'm mostly playing Devil's Advocate here due to the lopsided Holmes response.)

 

Mendoza would fall in love right about now....maybe sooner.