Briggs comment that Vitali is Better than Lewis or Foreman

You sure about that one?

 

All say Briggs had slowed down to stationary ,and they are right.

 

Vitali has definitely slowed. He's 39 years old now, he's slower than he was at 29-32, unsurprisingly.

Of course when matched with someone as slow, cumbersome, lumbering, easy to hit and over-the-hill as Briggs is, it is easier to disguise that slowing down to some extent.
But against any youthful fighter it would look obvious.
I really believe David Haye might well have the tools to take VK out - but he appears to lack the cojones to fight either Klitschko brother !

Vitali is still very good - perhaps still too good for everyone out their who's not his brother - but he's looked distinctly aged in his last 3 fights now. And the choice of opponent in those fights has been poor sub-standard, something that you'll find as a pattern in the careers of all ageing fighters !

Let's not forget we can't really over-state how horrible a choice of opponent Briggs was as a challenger. I said all along that even Evander Holyfield would have been a better choice and would stand a better chance. And that's certainly NOT a fight I'd like to see in a hurry.
The know-alls and know-nothings claimed Briggs was legit dangerous because he was a "puncher", but that was only true in the sense that he had a very OUTSIDE chance of landing a KO punch on an ageing VK. That justification for Briggs as a reasonable challenger is a justification that can be applied across the board to just about every strong punching active heavyweight, esp. to men who go 240, 250 pounds plus

Briggs was picked as a safe opponent, who was also a "name" American who had links to the previous eras, and who was suitably colourful and interesting.
Briggs' big mistake (and the only thing that surprised me) was coming to the fight with enough stamina to last the distance. I commend him for that but his only reward for his efforts was a beating.

Heavyweight "championship" boxing has really sunk the low depths with these sorts of matches.
And the next two on the calendar are Haye v. Harrison and Wladimir v. Chisora !

 

I don't believe the aging is as apparent as you-I think he has more left than you seem to imply.

Other than that, hard to disagree with anything here.

 

Well, if he can continue finding challengers like the one he beat the other night he can go on winning for another 10 years or more !
So in that sense he might have A LOT "more left".

Also, he's built to last longer - size and style - and hasn't been in a lot of wars so he's well-preserved. And he's proven that, doing what he does at 38/39.

But he IS 39, and he IS slowed down.
I can see it clearly. I can't make others see it.

Ironically, some of those who deny it most strongly now will be the first to adopt it as an excuse IF/WHEN Vitali loses.

 

Post i made from another thread pertaining to this exact subject. Lewis worshippers like spreading alot of half truths and falsehoods. So heere are some facts from Lennox's own mouth.

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Everyone is a little slower at 39, but I still think Vitali moves well, has quick reflexes, and good hand speed. If he was slow, he would not land so easily, and make people miss.

Kevin Johnson was youthful, and fast. Gomez was fast. They won a combined one round. No one can out jab Vitlai, or play keep away from him.

Fans want to see the fight. Blame Haye

This is where I disagree. I don't see a decline at all int he past three fights. In fact Vitali looked the best of his last three fights vs. Briggs.

WOW. No way.

Haye is a real joker who won't fight dangerous live bodies. Wlad is taking an easy defense, but he has fought the best out there willing to fight him. Vitali faces a young and Ring Magazine ranked Adamek next. I guess you think Adamek has a chance. No way. It will be a one sided beat down. Vitali is too good. After that, Vitali will fight a mandatory between the winner of Solis vs. Austin which should also be a Ring Magazine ranked opponent.

 

1. Holyfield has better credentials over the last few years than Briggs has. And he'd do better than Briggs did the other night. He'd beat Briggs too, probably. Briggs is about on the level of Botha at best, always was.
Briggs has just become "fashionable" in the 2000s. His actual achievements are weak, a win over Lyakovich, who was a one-hit wonder and a minor member of the WBO merry-go-round himself.


2. I'm not up to date on Adamek and his progress. Anyone "has a chance". Adamek is certainly an improvement on Briggs, who was a horrendous choice.
And the winner of Austin-Solis is obviously a better choice too.

Briggs "qualified" to fight VK how exactly ?

 

The quality (lack of) of opposition might have just a little bit to do with this.

 

Lewis had been talking about retiring since 1999 when he beat Holyfield.
The quotes you find are just the usual ego-fuelled justification statements of a man having difficulty walking away.
Evander Holyfield probably still says similar things, ("I think I'm as good as I ever was", "I think I can go on as many fights as I want", "I don't feel old") but doesn't make it true does it ?

Anyway, let's say for argument's sake Lewis was as good as ever in 2003.
The fact is he beat Vitali Klitschko fair and square, punched his face into mincemeat. That's the thing.
If he retired to avoid a possible defeat in a rematch, that's irrelevant. I mean, yeah, maybe he wanted easier fights and the fight with VK changed his mind about carrying on, but the result of their fight was another WIN for Lennox Lewis, with his opponent a bloody mess after 6 rounds.

I'm not even a Lennox Lewis fan. But the facts are the facts.

 

atschatschatsch

 

He may have also been slightly faster and had a somewhat slight edge in his resume.

 

....... I think Vitali is slightly taller than Tyson though.

 

Wow a fight camp says a boxer in the best shape of his life, in other news Lewis beat a Prime Tyson :yep

 

Tyson was 5 years Past-prime - BUT it donnt matter cos Lennox was 2 years past-Prime And great jabs v.good at keepin' tyson on teh outside - see what Douglas did to Peak Tyson And Lewis's jab is much better than Douglas's.