Vitali Klitschko vs. Muhammad Ali

There is a great interview with Emanuel Steward discussing Vitali's place in heavyweight history. Steward states that Vitali knows his legacy is based on his tough, gritty, albeit losing performance against Lewis. I think his legacy will be greatly enhanced by the fact that he was able to come back so well after a five year layoff and perform the way he has performed. That is a testament to his great conditioning and the fact that he never let himself go and get out of shape.

However, because the last ten years of so have been a very dismal time in heavyweight history Vitali had no chance to really be tested the way someone like Ali obviously was.

This content is protected

. Steward also said that Vitali's legacy could be enhanced by beating a David Haye or Valuev.

This is not what Steward directly said, it is a poster saying this. Steward never said Vitali essentially beat a bunch of stiffs. Dream on.

Vitali's accomplishments are good. Its not his fault Lewis balked from the re-match. Haye also backed out of a fight with Vitali too. It seems the best guys do want Vitali if there is an easier way out. That speaks volumes about how good he is. Steward said next to Tyson and Liston, Vitali is the most intimidating fighter he has seen.

Vitali at age 38, soon to be 39 is not done. He is still very formidable, and could whip Povektin, or Haye. By the time Ali was 38, he was done. In fact I think Vitali would beat the 1970-1976 version of Ali. And it was in this time line where Ali made his legacy by beating Frazier, Foreman, Lyle and Norton.

Ali's legacy in the 60's was fair, but most people view the Liston fights as odd events as Sonny either quit or took a dive in the 2nd match, and opted out in the first match. In the first match Liston might be guilty of shenanigans by burring Ali's eyes. When that did not work, he quit on a shoulder injury that did not require surgery. By the way other fighters have accused Liston of cheating. Ali got away with illegal clinching behind the head. If there was a ref who enforced the rules, the Frazier match might have played out differently. I think Futch said he counted 70+ times ( anyone want to look it up for me ) where Ali clinchced Frazier behind the head. No way Ali can clinch Vitlai like that. He's going to have to trade punches, and reach way up there. No way the rope a dope work with Vitlai either. Kevin Johnson tried it, and lost every round.

 

To be fair Lewis is MUCH bigger puncher then ALi. Also Lewis has big reach and height advantage. And I can't see Ali cutting Vitalis face same way Lewis did.
You should also remember that Vitaly was in pretty big disadvantage in Lewis fight in terms of experience. He was lost in many situations and fought on pure instincts. I guess Vitaly got a LOT better after Lewis fight. He knows now how to deal with clinch and how to mange a fight.
I'm not saying Vitaly will beat him FOR SURE. But I guess if Norton could then why not Vit? I can bet that Holmes would be much harder to beat for Vit.

 

Who?

 

Yes, 60's Ali legacy is fair but Vitali's legacy triumphs even the 60's part of Ali's legacy.

Dream on Mendoza.

Ali was done because he took on wars in a golden age of HW fighting. Vitali isn't done because he fights a bunch of fat stiffs that can't move forward with half of their midsection rolling around. Yes, Vitali keeps himself in shape too. Nobody denies this.

So basically, in this entire thread of defending Vitali you do think prime Ali beats him? You pick only the 70-76 version (What a wide gap) of Vitali beating Ali. By the way, I would say any Ali up to the Rumble in the Jungle would beat Vitali. Just because he did it with Foreman doesn't mean he will with Vitali. In fact, I think a fight with Vitali could look a bit like his fight with Bugner. And Bugner is wayyyy faster than Vitali. Albeit, not superior though.

 

Ah, the old rematch chestnut again....is that it? The legend of VITLAY is based on the fact that he couldn't beat an old, undertrained champion and bitched about not getting a rematch? Maybe it's not VITLAYS fault that there was no rematch, but it's definately 100% VITLAYS fault that he even needed one. If he were any damn good he'd have won the fight first time round :deal

Haye backed out of a VITLAY fight, sure, VITLAY backed out of about 4 Rahman fights, as we all know.

Yes Ali was done at 38, he fought on with Parkinsons disease when he was 10% of the fighter he once was. The mighty VITLAY quit in his prime against a feather fist because he had a sore arm, the same **** you're mocking Liston for doing - I note the hasty inclusion of "did not require surgery" after you said it though

I've saved the funniest one for last though....Kevin Johnson couldn't make the rope a dope work so neither could Ali, obviously :shock:atsch

 

I have one question for all boxing fans out there. Who has Vitali ever beaten that is very good?

:good

 

He beat Lewis in the rematch.

In a poll in the General Forum.

But only just.

 

Why did Vitali pull out of the Rahman fight so many times, then pretend like he was going to fight him, then suddenly retire 2 days before the fight?

 

Apparently, this means he is a coward and a *****.

But for some reason criteria that gets applied to normal fighters doesn't get applied to the Klitschkos - hence Ali was "almost knocked out" agaist Cooper yet VITLAY was "tripped" against Sanders, and didn't hold on for dear life when Lewis nearly took his head clean off with that uppercut :nut

 

If you think Ali could rope a dope vitali you haven't got a clue. The rope a dope works on fighters that lack stamina, do not fight smart, and punch themselves out, not vs guys who throw on average 70 punches a round and are more tactical in attack.

Ali tired the rope a dope on Lyle. The result was he was DOWN on points, and had to switch his style in the late in the fight to win. Your just a lounge act.

 

Lewis acted like a jerk in the interview after the fight. He said he would give a re-match He told the press he would give a re-match. He talked junk. He hoped Kirk Johnson would win...but he didn't than he waited somemore. 15-18 million was there for Lewis to take the fight he kept talking about. Fans wanted to see Klitschko vs. Lewis II

The WBC told Lewis to take the re-match or lose your belt!. Lewis exited stage left as quitely as possible....because he knew he wasn't going to win the re-match. Those are the facts. Blind Lewis fans or Birts have to deal with it, just like that have to deal with the fact that Lewis was in fact Ko'd twice by one punch.

I wonder how upset Lewis fans would be if Rhaman or McCall opted out their re-match?

 

Lewis was 38 years old at the time of the requested rematch. He was old, overweight, and ready for retirement.

were mccall or rahman 38 years old and ready for retirement?

 

The post fight interview where VITLAY came over to him, crying like a ****** and punching Lewis in the arm begging for a rematch....that interview you mean?

Yeah Lewis really acted like a jerk in that one atsch

I see you're still struggling with the concept of challengers getting one shot, even after all these years. Lewis did not have to beat VITLAY twice at 38 years of age to prove his superiority. At that age, once is enough, and it'll always be remembered that way too. Lewis, TKO6 :smoke

Yep, Lewis was KO'd twice...both avenged. VITLAY has never avenged a defeat and was "almost knocked out" against a fat dougnut injecting golfer and 38 year old Lennox Lewis.

 

So Ali lost the event against Lyle then? Funny how 30 years later no-ones bitching about there being no rematch.....Ali was down on the cards too, the ultimate sin :rofl

Please stop with the 70 punches per round bull**** with VITLAY too, he throws 70 punches per round against guys that don't fight back

Again, Ali is not Kevin Johnson - and VITLAY is not Lyle either :nut