I remember he hurt him with the counter hook against the ropes in the early stages and Vitali went running across the ring. Then Vitali needed 1000 clean punches over the course of the evening to finish Sanders, who was still on his feet. Suffice to say the 'Iron Fist' nickname was entirely ridiculous. I know he wanted to have something to match his brother's 'Steelhammer', probably stayed up all night coming up with many cringy things, but he was clearly a low-power SHW.
I thought the ref definitely got that right by ruling it a slip. Vitali was legitimately wobbled about 10 seconds before that trip to the canvas though...probably more so than I've ever seen in his Pro Boxing career. Don't recall Vitali ever hitting the canvas outside of his being KO'd by Pele Reid in that Kick Boxing match, or whatever that was.
Ref called it correctly. While he took a hard shot that hurt him and made Vitali back up, no punch was landed when he went down. Vitali was trying to clinch, Sanders pushed him off and Vitali fell.
So Vitali was low power but goofs like Whyte, Chisora, and Dubois are considered power punchers? I'd also imagine a promoter or promoters employee came up with their nicknames.
Lol, yeah I always hated their Dr Ironfist and Dr Steelhammer monikers, was so cringe. I guess it maybe sounds better in German as they were marketed to the German audience and they had PHD's in sports science, so it kind of makes sense, still terrible though.
Not a knockdown. Vitali was complimentary of Sanders....especially about his speed. Sanders was a very brave man....much respect.