Jack Johnson by close unanimous decision. Johnson would make vitali miss all night with that pawing jab, and make vitali pay for keeping his left low. Johnson would land fast accurate combinations in flurries and block, slip, duck, catch most of vitali's long shots. Johnson at his best is too slick and crafty for Vitali. Vitali would steal a few rounds, when johnson takes a round off and he steals it with some nice shots on the outside, but when Johnson gets going he will completely outclass vitali.
High guard, low guard, Vitali has two inside the distance losses on his record ,no one stopped Johnson in his prime.
:rofl Shannon Briggs would have been a good win...12 years ago! That fight hurt Vitali's reputation more than help it, I mean he could'nt even knock down the defenseless Briggs( who has been shot for the past 5 or 6 years). Solis? who's best win is Ray Austin . Tomaz Adamek? He beat an overweight Arreola, who has only ever beaten journeyman and club fighters.
The lack of head movement, footwork and defensive manuevers are to much to fight a coordinated and technical giant like Vitali.In perspetctive I think Johnson was greater, but in his days boxing was still evolving, and the nutrition and training regimes of today are more advanced too.
When would a patsy Light Heavy in O'Brien be a good draw result for a heavyweight? Howsabout a loss to a Kentucky Hayseed Cruiserweight? The list goes on and on...
Johnson wouldn't have to take Vitale's power, he wouldn't get hit clean. He wins ko 13, set too tough a pace. Vitale can't muscle him Johnson is too loose and quick footed.