That was the Bidenko fight. My take is Bidenko might punch himself out before Valuev would fall. I haven't seen Vlauev hit by a bomb yet, but I think he's pretty hard to hurt with boxing gloves.
Valuev does not possess a greater skill-set; trying different things in the ring, if they're not effective, does not count. Willard, when his large frame was trim, had a good-to-honest jab and a crunching right hand; these are two weapons greater than anything Valuev has to offer when he begins to lurch around the ring. His main plus, his awkward size, is not present vs. the 6,6 Willard. The Willard up till the Johnson fight should beat up Valuev. Just a much sharper and damaging big man who could fight hard for many rounds. Valuev would get squeezed out of the fight.
what can we really know about willard from the johnson fight? wasn't johnson terribly out of shape - and old and slow on his feet? did willard beat a good in-his-prime heavyweight?
Johnson was out of shape, just as he had been since the Jeffries fight five years prior, but he was still too much for the majority of fighters through natural cunning and experience. Still, Willard showed what it took to finally rid of Johnson; it was a very taxing fight. Johnson sweeps two thirds of the fight but it is always hard work; Willard is not going anywhere, and in his stand-up style he is able to sometimes contend with Johnson in feinting and striking. Willard's idea of boxing ran along limited lines, but after some top training he could snap the jab and drill the right hand. His anticipative and reading abilities were sharp for a big man, and decent in general. Willard dissolved into goo after he beat Johnson. The urge to perform did not appeal to him because he was the champion and he was not a fighting man at heart, but when he made his mark he wasn't half bad.