didn't wladimir pull out of a fight with chisora because of an injury and a week later he went out to play golf? i think steward recommend wladimir to pull out because chisora most likely would have beaten wladimir.
At that time I for some reason felt chisora could have caused the upset and beaten wladimir. Chisora was an awkward mover who used to roll well with punches. Chisora hasn't seemed the same since the second fury fight imo
I never agreed with the criticism that Vitali "protected" Wlad. Who did he protect him from? Shannon Briggs, Chris Arreola? When they were ruling as co-champions, Wlad was consistently defending against the better opposition. Sam Peter might be Vitali's best post-comeback scalp, a guy Wlad had already beaten a few years earlier.
If anything Vitali's stay in the division during his comeback was a hindrance to Wlad, it's the main reason he was never able to become undisputed.
This is true. Very true. Wlad inside top 10. Vitali scraping bottom of top 20. But there was never a day (or night) in Wlad's life where he could have beaten Vitali.
Having read the whole OP and thread thus far, I think I understand the question, so: Yes, now that you mention it, I do think that Vitali eliminated some of Wlad's opposition. Do I think that some of the fights Wlad didn't take because Vitali beat them would have ended bad for Wlad? Especially post-Steward Wlad? Probably not. My question to the thread is this: If you are of the opinion that Vitali did likely save his lil' bro some trouble, was it by design? Did they or their respective camps work together to achieve that effect? Also, Seems that there has been some careful thought and analysis by some posters in this thread regarding the historical relevance of the K brothers. Would one of you please direct me to a particular thread or set of arguments that make the case for either of them being rated as highly as some of you fellows obviously rate them? Not trying to start a flame war. I honestly can't understand either of them (but especially Wlad) being mentioned in company with such as Lewis, Holyfield, Foreman, Bowe, etc., but I try to keep an open mind and there are some opinions in this thread that I would respect .
Also Chisora would never of beaten Wlad. He doesn't hit hard enough and he isn't durable enough it would have been Wlad v Lepai all over again.
Wlad and Vitali completed each other. Wlad was weak against durable punchers that were big enough to not be bullied while Vitali was weak against boxers that had any cleverness to them. I don't think Wlad would've ever beat Corrie Sanders just due to styles just like I think Vitali would always quit against a mobile and tricky fighter like Byrd.
