Prime Ali UD. He had too much speed for VK, had good stamina and was used to going 15 rounds, carried a sharp dig in the right hand, had a strong chin, he's a natural fighter and won't be intimidated. It's too much for Vitali.
https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/7033 Personally, not every HW has great eras to fight but it doesnt take away that Vitali was hard to drop, difficult to beat. & hit real hard. Put him in against a guy who spends 2 1/2 minutes laying on the ropes every round, what is he supposed to tire himself out like George?
I would guess that Joe Bugner was the closest in physical dimensions to Vitali that Ali met twice near his prime. He generally outmaneuvered him in the two fights and counter-punched the giant (for the time) Bugner quite well. My thinking is that if Lennox Lewis could outjab Vitali than the much quicker Ali should be able to as well and cruise to a closish 12/15 round decision.
Agreed, to which is why I called it Post 1970 would likely lose, not Pre-1970. Or as U state Post Manilla, I'm cool with that, but prefer to say 1967 version clowns Vitali, slices Vitali, tires him out!
