Absolutely his 2 best opponents were Lewis and Byrd who he had huge advantages over regarding the circumstances. Byrd was considerably smaller had a weeks notice fighting in Vitali's backyard and Vitali lost. Lewis was at his highest ever recorded weight out of shape and at the end of his career and yet Vitali couldn't take the crown from a poor version of Lewis. Vitali has 0 stand out wins against upper echelon Heavyweights there's no reason to think he wouldn't have multiple losses in the 70s, 90s. Even the 80s if fighters like Thomas, Witherspoon, Page, were in good form they would have a good chance at beating Vitali aswell then you have the likes of Holmes, Tyson, to compete with.
Imo there's no way he fights in the 90 s and gets beaten only twice. And the 80 S, no not with Larry Holmes or Tyson. He doesn't beat all the alphabet boys either.
He was unlucky to get 2 losses in this era, since both were to freak accidents that never repeated themselves. Does anybody really think he'd lose a rematch to Lewis and Byrd? I can't see him losing except to the very cream of the crop of any other era and even then he'd have a good chance of winning.
I'd favor a peak Lewis over Vitali but Vitali probably takes the rematch. Also think Vitali beats Byrd 9 times out of ten. I'd also agree he'd be a top fighter in any era.
Lewis was in bad shape for Vitali if he got in better shape and was motivated I see no reason he couldn't win it depends on how much Lewis had left at that point. Byrd had a weeks notice and despite what people tell you it was a highly competitive fight with Byrd landing over 40 percent of his punches. Would Vitali probably be a favourite in the rematch ? More than likely but if the fight took place in America and Byrd had full preparation for Vitali who knows did Vitali ever seek a rematch ?
This one. Usyk , Fury , Dubois Daniel Dubois has a pair of wins that are way better than Vitalis - Hrgovic , Joshua. Imagine what DD would do to sloppy face first Sam Peter
When a man looses to the two best opponents that he met, then it is hardly a stretch to imagine him losing three times in another era.
Probably not unless it's due to cuts or injuries. It's not like heavyweights fight every prime, top heavyweight in their era anyway.
Yes - all of them. Even the 1980’s. He is the veritable poster child for over-rated. What to say about a guy who got to the level he did without even learning proper punch technique? He would never make it in a more serious time. Just a glorified Buddy Baer, even down to being the less talented brother.
