Vitali K (2004) vs Wladimir K (2011)

Look at Vitali before the knockdown. He was as lost as Wlad. Too bad Sanders didnt land better with the actual knockdown punch. It just showed that Vitali was not as good against bigger guys with his poor defence. Also. Wlad had an ATG jab and might well win on cuts aswell. Vitalis no guard defence would not hold up against that ATG jab.

 

I don’t think Vitali was in danger of getting stopped, he was tired but we saw him look worse in the Lewis fight which was only stopped due to a cut rather than him being hurt. If he can take Lewis’s power, I back him to handle Wlad’s while I don’t think his brother can take his.

 

Watch the beginning on the fight where Sanders land the first hard counter bang on. Vitalis is staggering by that. Also keep in mind that this was only a 1 punch power shot. Thing is Vitalis didnt take too many of them in his career and because of his height and reactions he avoided those very well against small, short and slow plodders. And when he took a big shot it was never repeated enough to get him down. A guy like Povetkin got his chin much more tested because of style. People tend to ignore this fact. The best chin is the one never getting hit in the first place. But against other big men that defence is not good enough. In Sanders case he had a poor gastank. Lewis could stab Vitali with the jab almost everytime. Helenius uses a similar defence that has worked wonders for him. He just uses his height and take a step back and also leans and rolls with the shots. But look at this defence against other tall and athletic SHW's it doesnt work. Both Washington and Joshua caught him with overhands.

Size matters.

 

Helenius is far more orthodox and does not have quite the same leaning back based style. Lewis landed flush right hands on Klitschko which clearly hurt him yet he stayed up - I doubt Sanders could have stopped him. Did he hurt him during their fight - yes, but not to the degree where Vitali was going to get stopped. Vitali took plenty of licks throughout his career too - I think he proved he had a great chin.

 

Thing is he saw them coming in. Sanders timed him perfectly, he was not that far of to go. Wlad has devestating KO power from both hands. So he is more able to land flush with either hand at some point of the fight. And the jab and grab style will keep Vitalis at bay aswell. Vitalis had a very good chin but it was not tested enough. Who tested him really and which rounds? I have only seen Lewis 6'4.5" and Sanders 6'4" ever caught him good. In a division of small men a big guy with some skills will look good. Compare the top 10 heavyweights from 2004 with today height and weightwise just go thru Ring magazines annual ratings year by year. Vitali was a big fish in a small pond.