This footage finally ends all debate about 'Modern vs old'.

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by SambaKing1993, Sep 18, 2018.



  1. KuRuPT

    KuRuPT Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    What was impressive about this clip? I found it more comical than I did awe inspiring
     
  2. klompton2

    klompton2 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I think Vitali looks like he came from the 1920s. Anyone who thinks he is an example of some enlightened age of "modern" boxing has his head up his ass. He was big and strong and relatively durable and that was enough in this watered down era. Carnera would fit in just fine today.
     
  3. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    One primary difference was the level of athleticism. Vitali had a fluidity, responsiveness and reaction that Carnera lacked. Carnera looked like a giant trying to play the roll of boxer while wearing clown shoes. Things were fine so long as they moved in predictable, linear patterns and there was no derivation. But he was out of his element when any dynamism was introduced. Vitali was could operate in both worlds.

    And just as importantly, Vitali had true fighting spirit. He didn't play boxing.
     
  4. SHADAPBLAD

    SHADAPBLAD Viscous Knockouts Full Member

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    Wilder more skilled than Dempsey... think I need to lie down for a bit
     
  5. thanosone

    thanosone Love Your Brother Man Full Member

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  6. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    Wilders thoughts on his size:
    https://streamable.com/kg6s9

    Calls himself a mythbuster because he isn't a big HW but still KOing the division.
     
  7. klompton2

    klompton2 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Thats funny. Vitali looked like a lumbering lummox. In fact he looks more like Willard than Carnera in style, which is to say that he looks more primitive. He didnt look like a coordinated athlete at all. Say what you will but Carnera was a tremendous athlete. He wasnt just some big muscle bound freak. He was uncoordinated at times because he didnt start boxing until relatively late and wasnt properly trained. You can see a marked improvement in his ability from his earliest films until his later fights. He was essentially learning on the job.

    Vitali gets kudos for his supposed heart against Lewis but he will never live down quiting while way ahead against powder puff puncher Chris Byrd because of his injured shoulder. Ive seen worse fighters than Vitali come back against more dangerous fighters than Byrd to win. All Vitali had to was last out three rounds. He could have lost them all wide and still would have won the fight. It earned him the name Vitali Quitchko for gods sakes. Carnera on the other hand fought almost all of his fights on foreign soil against hostile audiences and against Max Baer when he was derided as a freak and fraud and constantly ridiculed by the press he kept getting back up and even tried to protest the stoppage. Say what you will but I dont think you can question his heart. He took several beatings over his career and I dont think he was any more of quitter than Klitchko.
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2019
  8. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

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    I never got how the Lewis Vitali fight get sold as some legendary display of heart by Vitali. Vitali took some decent shots, but when he was getting stopped he didn't object untill after it had already been stopped. Just came across as a bunch of meaningless and classless posturing.

    Really I think the biggest differentiator between Vitali and Primo is their chins.

    I think Willard had the talent to be a lot better than he was, if his heart was in it and he was better schooled. Atleast unlike Vitali, when he had the big oppertunity against the old legend that was there for the taking he stepped up and actually won.

    Just my $2
     
  9. MrFoFody

    MrFoFody Boxing Addict Full Member

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  10. Rspen46

    Rspen46 Member Full Member

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    And others just make useless posts to up their total on here, nice post thanks!
     
  11. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    This thread truly was a classic.
     
  12. Sting like a bean

    Sting like a bean Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    You're close, but I know exactly what that is, with about 98% confidence. Doughnuts to dollars says he's doing "isometric" punching drills. Isometrics was an exercise fad around that time, which involved going through a range of motion with your muscles tensed as tightly as possible, so as to provide your own resistance. That's why he looks so comically stiff.
    You can see Greb doing (almost certainly) the same thing:

    This content is protected


    It's a silly exercise, but no more so than hitting a speed bag, a practice that persists to this day and does absolutely nothing but burn calories.

    A good maxim to remember is if something done by people in the past or in a foreign society just seems inexplicably absurd, there's a very good chance you don't understand why they did it that way. That doesn't mean the reason they did it was a good one, but it's extremely likely to be far less self-evidently ridiculous than whatever you're thinking.
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2019
  13. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    Yep. It came from the strongmen Eugen Sandow and Maxick. And it actually can have some positive effects.