Reach is not weight and size. Height and weight, Ali, Marciano, Louis, Dempsey and the rest of them would be highly undersize if we judge fights on the weights. Now I hardly used head to head to rank a fighter, I just saying if your going to count the Rock out because of being small, you might as well count Ali, Dempsey and Louis out also. There is only like ten or so pounds between Louis, Marciano Dempsey, and Ali(Pre 1970's), give and take. But todays guys have over 60 plus pounds on the fighters of yesterday, ten pounds is not going to win or lose a fight imo if your just judging on the scales.
Louis was not slow of foot when moving in ... watch him against Baer (both) , Carnera, Sharkey, Schmeling 2, Godoy 2. Simon ... he moved in like lightning and his fists were extremely fast.
i see louis as cold and calculating not slow but as has been said deliberate ,he is a fighting machine and my favourite heavy and i have really enjoyed this thread :good
Vitali has been in 300+ combat matches as an amateur kick boxer, pro kick boxer, amateur boxer, and pro boxer. This could approach the top ten of total combat matches...in Greb's, and Moore's level. To suggest he could not handle cruiser weights and big guys who can't box is a reach. If Vitali focused solely on boxing, his leg and back injuries would not be an issue he turns pro early ( not at age 26 ) and likely does not lose 3 good years due to injuries. Even at age 37-38. Vitali is going to fight three times in a year. Braddock would have snowball's chance vs. Vitali. It would be an utter mis-match.
The logic is styles can make fights. Small guys are not going to out box Vitali, but a swarming attack oriented fighters with a punch like Rocky have a better chance. That is they are in positon to cash in on a puncher's chance. This is why I said Marciano is the toughest of Louis' opponents for Vitali to match up with. BTW, I think Vitali is three weight classes to big for the Rock.
Deliberate is a good word to describe his style. I guess he can look slow because of the way he shuffled forward, but he wasn't slow of foot. At least I don't think so.
I agree, and as you say he had quick hands. People don't talk that much about his handspeed but it was really good. Maybe not quite in the Ali league but not that far off it either.
I know this is crazy, but I honestly think Rocky of the first Walcott fight (While not being blind for 4 rounds) against Vitali that fought Arreola would win. I don't care how crazy that seems or is... that's my pick.
Jesus Christ, Vitali would knock Marciano senseless in 5 or 6 rounds. There is a reason for weight divisions, folks. Marciano would never be allowed to close the gap. Vitali would control the distance and pummel him into mincemeat. Futhermore, Vitali took wicked, ****ing wicked shots, from Lewis and Sanders. And shot for shot, these guys hit harder and placed their shots better than Marciano. Sorry, I know that hurts a lot of you but it's ****ing physics. I am not saying Vitali or even Lewis are better fighters than Marciano in a pound for pound sense. In that sense, I rate Marciano higher than most of you. All I am saying is... there is a reason for weight divisions. And any of you who bring up Harry Mathews as a tall fighter Marciano could reach know you are fools.... He was a stringbean light heavy.