Boxing is not figure skating or gymnastics wherein we judge it upon a prescribed form. It is soley judged on effectiveness. In Vitali's case, his technique is immaculate based on the fact that in recent years, both pre and post layoff, he has been barely scathed post fight. Sure, against Lewis his skin was punished. However, he was still ahead on the cards in that fight. You compare him to Carnera, a comparison I do not see either in ability or technique. Carnera tried to use his length with the jab, but his form was awful, he tended to drop down and step into the jab negating his distance rather than taking advantage of it. Also, his balance was horrible and he had little flexibility in his core, creating no distance either side to side or when leaning back. Lastly, where a 38 year old VItali moved gracefully all fight against Arreola, Carnera had cinder blocks for feet, either shuffling in a ponderous manner or stumbling backwards in retreat, very front and back, very predictable, very slow. In short, he was an easy, predictable target.
I have never truly seen Louis struggle with a jab. Actually one of Louis's real strengths was his ability to pick off jabs and counter punch. Am I the only one who thought Vitali appeared rather sloppy and awkward against Byrd regardless of how it ended? Of course Byrd can make anyone appear that way but Wladimir did a much better job against him, and Ibeabuchi obviously did. Vitali missed so many punches that it's no wonder he aggravated his shoulder injury. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ViD_Qvlz1I"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6QaHOpaJfQ[/ame] Watch the 5th round for example. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoOM53COFMo[/ame] The ending. Even if a prime Vitali was not comparable to Carnera, this version of Vitali certainly was, in my opinion. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trEGY-q_IFA[/ame]
This allows not room for standard of opposition or styles. Poor technique will be exposed by a higher standard of opposition but not a low one. A fighter can show technical shortcomings but have extraordinary success because of a low level of opposition. Judged purely on effectiveneess his technique is sound. Projecting how that fighter might do against a higher level of opposition requires juding that technique based upon pre-exsisitng knowledge of that fighters technical short-comings and where they might come up short. In other words they are judged upon prescribed form. See the current debate regarding Gamboa.
Bryd could make anyone look bad ,but what struck me is Vitali's caution against a light puncher,and the telling fact that he landed some good right hands to no visible effect ,his power is overated imo.
Whatever one might say about Carnera's boxing skills and ability (or lack of them), he was able to put his physical advantages to use against Sharkey much better than Vitali was able to against Byrd. Vitali did not use his size and strength but instead backed away from the smaller man. Carnera used the uppercut to great effect when Sharkey bended down while Vitali tried to chop away at Byrd with a right that missed most of the time. Wladimir was destroying Byrd with accurate right hands. He is the bigger puncher of the two in my opinion.
- I agree that Carnera beat better fighters than Valuev - I disagree that Carnera beat better fighters than Klitschko.