I've been going around on here about Vatali/Lewis rematch and why it never happened. It got me thinking. How would a fight between the Vatali from the Lewis fight and Douglas from the Tyson fight turn out. Both men were highly motivated and on point. Both showed great determination to continue. Douglas was dropped and got up to stop Tyson. Vatali had a horrible cut over his eye, but would have continued even if it meant losing that eye. Who wins?
I agree. Don't know if he stops Douglas, but for some reason, I can't see the fight being bad in any way.
Vitali like his brother is a great fighter Douglas was too hot and cold and only great one night Vitali stops him Say what you want about vitalis competition. But the guy rarely lost rounds, never mind fights. I know some view him as overrated due to his resume and some (like me) view him as underrated Vitali was a great fighter, Douglas wasn't
Facts Too much is made of Mike underperformed, but Douglas was great that night. Everything clicked. It's a pity he couldn't replicate it
I disagree Adam. Douglas beat Greg Page, Oliver McCall, Trevor Berbick, Mike Tyson. Those top 4 wins are probably better than Vitali’s top wins. I don't consider Vitali a great fighter he's more of a what if that could've been great but didn't quite make it.
Douglas had too many cold moments to be great I agree that vitali has less good wins and me calling him great is more a hunch on how good he is h2h. His competiton was poor on his return, but did he really lose many rounds, never mind fights? If we are basing this on who has better wins? Then it's Douglas hands down. But Douglas also has many negatives and lay down like a Mongrel against Holyfield after beating Tyson But I concede thar vitali doesn't have any really great wins and not many good ones, but was dominant for the most part
I think Vitali is a H2H nightmare for damn near any past great. Not saying he beats everybody, but I think he sees the final bell in 9 out of 10 fights.
I think the same He would beat more than guys than he would lose to His Resume is lacking, but his style is awkward when mixed with size and toughness? He would give many heavyweights a headache If Wlad and Vitali where amalgamated into a single fighter with none of their weaknesses? They would be near unbeatable Imagine Wlad had that little extra size and the chin/natural fighting ability of Vitali?
Vitali was more consistent for sure but his lack of real top wins hurt him when rating him. H2H he's definitely up there due to his consistency of not losing many rounds throughout his career. But I still think he's a bit of a what if against very best opposition especially since he lost to two of the best fighters he fought and he had very good opportunities to beat both. Byrd had a weeks notice fighting in Vitali’s backyard. And Lewis was in his late 30s and at his heaviest weight of his career.
Perhaps i have a romanticised view of the "for one night only" Buster Douglas that dethroned Tyson, however i do think Douglas on that night was mentally and physically a winner, he was not going to be denied the win. Any fighter facing Tokyo Douglas would have had a "tough day at the office" , so my romanticised view is he would have beat Vitali. Any bout between the two after that night would always bring a decisive a win for Vitali.
I've always found it interesting how the proper motivation can make a good fighter look great. Buster was definitely motivated that night, but the Lewis Vitali was highly motivated as well.
I think Vitali would overpower a game Douglas late in the fight. Vitali stylistically all wrong for Buster.