Joe Louis vs. Vitali Klitschko

Has anyone seen the whole fight ? I only saw partial rounds and high lights.

JT: You are right. Just dislike the ***** like knee jerk answers some of the prepubics here love ... cheapens the Board. Your point is correct, cheers ...

 

Wrong. Vitali turned pro in November of 1996, and fought fringe contender types in three years time. In addition Vitali has the least amount of trial horses...men under .500 when he fought them in the history of ring magazine champions with the possible exception of Jeffries.

Carnera defense wasn't very good. Vitali's is.

Carnera is on film vs Baer, Louis, Godfrey, and Gaines for sure.

This is a given. Kaufman was a poor white hope and really did not have any business getting a title shot above the likes of Langford, McVey, Hart, Jeanette, and perhaps a few others.

Lennox Lewis said Vitali was hard to hit. Chris Byrd said Vitali was harder to fight than Wlad was. Kirk Johnson had quick hands and some range. He drew air. So did Arreola, Williams, Bean, and others. If you watch the fights, Vital seems to sense the action. Manny Steward says Vitali is about as good as he has seen with punch anticipation.

And the Farr, who had a journeyman's record and never won a match in the USA made Louis look bad. Vitali throws a lot of punches. He pressures his man.

In size only. That is where the comparison ends. In skills, vitlai compares to Schemling and others who could box and move and made Louis look bad.

 

I generally have a high opinion of the majority of the regular poster's in the classic forum's opinions. This thread is making me question that line of thinking. I rate Joe Louis as the #1 HW of all time. That is not on a H2H basis, but overall skill, resume, legacy, etc.

With that being said, to think that Joe would win more than 2-3 rounds from Vitali is laughable. VK just has too much of a combination of size and skill. To compare VK to Carnera to make a point is just embarrasing.

I honestly thought that more posters in the classic section would not allow their personal dislike for a fighter to cloud their judgment in stating an "informed" opinion.

BTW- I don't have VK in my top 25 HW's of all time.

 

Hey no worries mate, good stuff.

 

Wrong.

 

Go tell Celine that. I'm writing a masterpiece here.

 

Why?

 

We don't have too many posters like you. Those who can admire the fighters of the past, but remain realistic about their chances vs. the best modern opponents.

By chance did you view Louis vs. Walcott 1, and if so, who do you think deserved to win?

 

Quick question Mendoza - which of Vitali's opponents would you pick to beat Louis? Honest question.

 

Bravo for a great post. Thank you.

 

Straight up? Only Lennox Lewis. But here's the thing. I believe Vitali faced more skilled punchers. While Joe Louis was able to use his skills to stop Galento, I think fighters like Sanders, Peter, and Hide if they landed their bombs first would have a far greater chance at the upset. Joe Louis did not have a top level chin, and like most heavies ( Even great ones ) he's vulnerable to the puncher's chance.

I also think mobile boxer types that Louis struggled would also mean he would have a tough time with Byrd, Donald, or Gomez.

So in closing, if Louis fought the same group of guys, I think he's going to lose at least twice as Vitali has.

 

I think Vitali would have an easier time than Louis did vs the same group of guys, but he would not win as speculator as Louis did.

Fighters who gave Louis trouble in Walcott, Shchmeling, and Charles as simply not equipped to box in their preferred methods of attack
vs a guy of Vitlai's size, punch out put, and skills. They would need to get on the inside, and none of these guy had the chin to last in a war with Vitali.

I suppose Marcaino would be Vitali's toughest match. Vitali has a good 8" in height, 75 pounds in weight, and 12-13" in reach advantage. He would also be Rocky hardest punching opponent.

Could you imagine Vitali with 6 to 8 oz gloves vs. cruiser weights and bum of the month opponents?

 

I'd go with Lewis as well. I've never really fancied Joe's chances against Lewis much...I can see your point (to a point) regarding the other guys as well.
Of course, I can also see Joe carving those guys up more often than not.
Sanders could make things interesting for a while with his speed, movement and power, but if he doesn't get Joe early I see a one-sided beating on the horizon for Sanders.