2003 Vitali Klitschko vs 2017 Anthony Joshua

InMemoryofJakeLamotta · Jan 1, 2018

Brighton bomber said: ↑

These match ups are always going to favour the more proven fighter. I can't pick Joshua over Vitali, style wise he's all wrong for Joshua. His work rate, his movement, his size, his ability to take a punch, it all spells a long frustrating night for Joshua where he gets broken down and stopped.

But in regards to that specific fight against Lewis. Joshua wouldn't get caught early like Lewis did. Lewis grew up in an era where he was rarely the smaller man so had that open guard and was caught because of it vs Vitali. Once he realised he couldn't box with Vitali like normal his raised his guard and started walking Vitali down behind a stiff jab.

Joshua despite being taller than Lewis came up in an era where guys like Fury, Dychko etc were all taller than him and there are plenty of fighters just as tall as him, so he already has that high guard Lewis adopted. He also doesn't lean back from punches like Lewis did, something a taller fighter usually does, he catches or slips like a smaller man and Vitali often caught Lewis early because he couldn't lean back far enough to evade Vitali. He also has the strength, inside game and uppercut that Lewis used to hurt Vitali with. Joshua on the inside would be too much for Vitali just like Lewis.

But what Joshua doesn't have is Lewis' jab. Lewis used his huge 84" reach which is bigger than Vitali's or Joshua's to deliver a stiff, ramrod jab to get inside on Vitali. Joshua's jab is an underused weapon in his arsenal, that combined with his smaller reach he might struggle to cut the ring off on Vitali, especially as Lewis had quicker feet than Joshua.

The pace that Lewis/Vitali was fought at would likely see Joshua gas out. Maybe Joshua had the stamina to match an overweight Lewis but I'm not sure that he did to be honest. Vitali threw almost as many punches in 6 rounds as Joshua would over 12 rounds. That pace would hurt Joshua.
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Great post

ipitythefool · Jan 1, 2018

Bad match up for Joshua. He couldn't outmuscle / overpower Vitali and would clearly be inferior in term of stamina. If Joshua managed to use his decent inside game he'd have a chance. But I'd go for Vitali late stoppage or UD

dinovelvet · Jan 1, 2018

Vitali wins on the outside , Joshua wins on the inside. 50/50 fight.

The Joshua who was closer to 240 against Breazelle was more agile , fluid and quicker than the Joshua seen in his last two fights.
That sharp accurate AJ would pose serious problems to Vitali who had no defense against big men. Vitali brings nothing to the fight on the inside whereas Joshua bring vicious hooks , body shots and uppercuts. Vitali takes a bettering in the pocket.

The 255 Joshua that turned up against Takum would likely lose to Vitali.

InMemoryofJakeLamotta · Jan 1, 2018

ipitythefool said: ↑

Bad match up for Joshua. He couldn't outmuscle / overpower Vitali and would clearly be inferior in term of stamina. If Joshua managed to use his decent inside game he'd have a chance. But I'd go for Vitali late stoppage or UD
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Thing is, AJ seems to be the better technical boxer. But although Vitali was very non traditional and unorthodox, he did it well.

uppercut_to_the_body · Jan 1, 2018

AJ wins. AJs win over Wlad is better than anything on Vitalis resume

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2003 Vitali Klitschko vs 2017 Anthony Joshua

InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

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2003 Vitali Klitschko vs 2017 Anthony Joshua

InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

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