Fantasy match - Vitali Klitschko (2003) VS current Anthony Joshua

Zero obviously.

 

Firstly, I'll use as many sentences as I wish. What are you, some kind of control freak? And nice try taking power off the table when discussing a boxer who stopped 41 of his 45 opponents. Clearly his power is a key factor in how he would win this fight, it was the key factor in 87% of his victories. Which is precisely why you tried to circumnavigate this aspect. No cigar, young man, no cigar.

Vitali also has a granite chin (never been stopped), whereas AJ's is at best untested and, if you factor in the Whyte fight, can be questioned as suspect. Power v suspect chin does not bode well. Vitali's solid chin is also important when considering AJ has only ever won a professional bout via knockout. Therefore, in terms of his ability to navigate 12 rounds and secure a points win AJ is totally untested. When you are considering a fantasy match-up, you cannot dismiss experience and AJ hasn't even boxed the championship rounds as yet. So there’s yet another aspect I feel Vitali comes out on top: stamina.

Then you have to factor in Vitali's performance against Lennox Lewis who is so superior to AJ (at this point in his career) it's almost an insult to the great man to include his name in the same passage of writing. Ahead on the cards at the time he was stopped on cuts, everything about that fight suggested Vitali was going to take the title on points. Kudos to Lewis for finding a way to win. And then retire.

Unlike his brother, Vitali was a much more fluid mover and puncher, and, with a far greater variety, was able to throw combinations too. He was equally comfortable using the ‘lean back and jab’ defence (perfected by Wlad) as he was closing the range and pressuring an opponent. We have yet to see AJ pushed back in a fight, but Vitali would, because AJ does not have a good enough jab to control the distance. Do you know how good AJ is fighting off the back foot? I don’t, never seen it happen. Another question unanswered.

AJ has yet to face a fighter who can switch tactics mid-bout and alter his game plan to meet the challenge in front of him. AJ's basic set-up jab, right hand, left hook is predictable and although it's proved devastating so far, that's mainly because AJ's best opponent to date is a British level fighter Dillian Whyte.

The mere fact AJ has failed to develop a fight-controlling jab makes him vulnerable to boxers who can move well, peek Fury would have been a nightmare for him at this stage for example.

So apart from movement, punch variety, experience, stamina, ring IQ and the most basic of requisite boxing skills; the jab, this match-up is cigarette paper close. Or to put it another way, sans irony: a mismatch.

Now if AJ continues to develop and gains the experience he’s missing, sharpens his skill-set (especially his jab) and proves his stamina, then come back to me. But that’s going to take another 8-10 fights, or about 3-4 years.

As of 2016, he loses, probably stopped late on.

 

Femi's chin would not hold up. I even give the Drummer Boy a chance on that basis.

 

I agree ,no one of 6'6 and powerful attack style was able to fight Vitali . Where Joshua exceeds Lewis is ,is on his inside punching abilities and accuracy along with explosive style.To defeat Vitali you need to have the physical structure at least and Joshua has that .

I would tip Vitali to win decision because of experience and chin in a 4 rnds to 8 ,i do believe Joshua will exceed him however ,hes just getting started.

 

Kevin Johnson out jabbed Vitali 7 rounds to 5. Vitali had a very poor jab and wasn't the puncher you're making him out to be either. Cos he has knockouts on paper?
Whose lights has he ever turned out. Guys like Sanders and Lewis who were not known as having great chins took his best shots clean and were never close to going down. If a puncher hits you flush you are out. Thats it. Vitali wasn't a puncher.
He also didn't pressure so he won't be pushing AJ back anywhere. It was him who was ran all over the ring by Chisora. If Chisora was able to bully him around the ring , so will AJ

AJ is like a HW Canelo. Very fundamentally sound and a very sharp , fast and accurate hitter. Vitali did everything you're not meant to do in a ring . Hands low. Jabbed upwards. Punched upwards. Brought his hands back down low. Thats why he lost in the only two fights he had against half decent competition.
This fight would look like Kell Brook vs Valuslav Senchenko

 

Why would I be nervous? Of you? You merely replied with generalised platitudes such as 'a new super-star is coming' which adds nothing to the debate, counters none of my points and displays zero boxing knowledge. I'll put you down now, as this is a mismatch too, Mr Casual AJ fan. Adios

 

Some valid points, although the Vitali who fought Chisora was well past his best. I just think, although your critiques of Vitali are reasonable, you are over-stating the level AJ is at right now. Like I said in my previous post, I think he needs time to develop to reach the level he would need to beat Vitali. One thing I omitted was his awful plodding footwork, that needs sharpening up too. If his learning curve continues then he may well prove to be the boxer you seem to think he is already. I would argue he's a 17 fight boxer who lacks the experience, ring IQ etc to match-up against a dominant heavyweight and win. I rate Vitali above Wlad by the way. Vitali just lacked his brother's drive and desire to stay at the top. He had political fish to fry back in the Ukraine.

 

The punch stats don't support your claim that Johnson out jabbed Vitali.

Vitali landed 157 jabs to Johnsons 60 jabs.
Vitali threw more jabs in every single round and landed more jabs in every round apart from the 6th round.

Hell Vitali landed more than double the jabs alone compared to Johnson's total landed punches.

 

In that 6 round Vitali threw 54 jabs and only landed a pitiful 3. He threw dozens of shots just to land one. Against a guy right in front of him. His connect rate was abysmal.
He couldn't hit ya with a hand full of salt.

 

Vitali at this stage, without hesitation. Both hit very hard, but Vitali has the better chin, and, more importantly, far more experience at this stage. Vitali has also proven that he's got grit and heart to battle through tough fights.

I rate Joshua but he needs more experience at the top level to have much of a chance against a good version of Vitali. There are a good few levels between Martin/Breazeale/Whyte and a 2003 Vitali.

 

Yet another poster makes Dino look stupid. Must be contagious.

 

Vitali tougher and better footwork