Vitali didn't beat any big and legitimate contender though. The best fighters he beat were Usyk size. Was he bigger than Gassiev?
Sanders is likely 6'2 1/2-6'3. A lot of heavyweights heights from that era are exaggerated. But I doubt Sanders is naturally much bigger than Gassiev
I can try 1. Corrie Sanders 2. Samuel Peter 3. Herbie Hide 4. Shannon Briggs 5. Chris Arreola Not a list of super class names
You can see him next to Wlad. He's almost as tall. You can see actual 6'2 fighters next to Wlad and they are shorter, visibly. Yes, he's bigger than Gassiev.
I saw him next to Wladimir and he was noticeably shorter. But more importantly Sanders in his prime was as light as 218 and frequently fought around 220. With early weigh ins and rehydration he could make cruiserweight and wasn't really bigger than the cruiserweights of Usyks era. The same goes for guys like Gomez, Arreola, etc If we are trying to pick the winner based on resume I don't see why Vitali would be favored
I agree. But AJ is just one opponent. Vitali had quantity over quality. Im not even confident Vitali would beat Usyk, I'm just saying it might be a little too soon to favor Usyk without a few more super heavy sized opponents.
I would say Derrick Chisora was a far better win than Briggs. Briggs was a walking wheezing 38 year old corpse. Chisora isn't that good, but he was at least in his prime when Vitali beat him.
I'm totally with George Crowcroft on this. It seems like so many like to dismiss Byrd's win as some kind of fluke. The fact is that Byrd completely took away Vitali's jab--something not even Lennox Lewis was able to do. And he was able to do this despite ceding all the measurables. In addition, the shoulder injury occured because Vitali threw it out whiffing at Chris Byrd. To top all of this off, Byrd was really starting to bring the pain with the body shots. Once beginning to feel the heat, Vitali got on up out the kitchen.
