I'm going on record--I think Briggs has a good shot against Vitali

I just hope he comes in very good shape! than he has more of a chance do to the impossible!

 

Have to disagree with both of you.

Vitali is by far the meaner and tougher of the two brothers. Wlad is the more polished boxer with better skills but has always had (and continues to have) mental issues.

His fighting style changed after the Sanders fight and caution is now foremost in his thinking.

I'm a fan of both Klitschkos, but Wlad's performance against the Sultan was not an edifying spectacle.

I know, I know.

He won every round and got the W, but it was hardly a good showcase for the sport. Vitali would have ended that in two, maybe three.

Wlad, despite the snickers of many clowns on here, does not have a bad chin. It's quite decent.

But Vitali has a great chin.

It's true that he has not looked Stellar in his comeback, but he was 37, coming off a four year lay-off which included three surgeries. And without a tune-up, he became the only man ever to stop the fearsome Sam, who was rated by most as the top h2h prospect in HW boxing whose name wasn't Klitschko.

And Arreola may look tame now but he was also a big, hardhitting undefeated HW.

In a h2h with his brother, Vitali would always prevail.

Even if he were to lose an arm. The psychological advantage would be overwhelming here.

As for Briggs, every big puncher has a chance, and Briggs is a big puncher.
Vitali, at 39, is definitely on the decline and was noticeably poorer in his recent outings. And yet, he is clearly one of the two best in the division. Haye wants no part of him. Sugar nick knows his $$$ value is over as soon as he gets stopped by him.

I give Shannon little chance. If they slug it out, Vitali wins. His chin is sturdier.

He will more likely beat Shannon down for a few rounds before the coup de grace or the corner stoppage.

I won't be shocked if Briggs pulls it off, but I will be quite surprised.

 

cuch, you may be going with your heart a bit on that h2h pick (and it's certainly understandable why you'd prefer Vitali to Wladimir aesthetically speaking).

Were it still several years ago when they used to spar (and Vitali got the better of Wladimir, leading to some rather disturbingly intense moments that led to them ceasing these activities altogether) picking Vitali would have been more than reasonable. Being that he has clearly diminished in many areas - not least of all being speed and mobility (although, again, still not to the point where he doesn't look like a kitten stoned on 'nip against slow plodders) - whereas Wladimir has improved a great deal technically, the pendulum has swung the other way.
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How would you see Vitali bypassing his bro's jab and stabilizing his steady and sure-footed ring movement?

The mental edge that you describe would certainly have been a factor several years ago, but this is a much calmer Wladimir Klitschko. Unless the old ire of his sibling rivalry flared up, I don't see mental issues becoming a factor at this point.

 

So what if Briggs manages to hit Vitaly, then what???

Briggs is up crap creek, lacking the proberbial paddle.

 

It has little to do with technical analysis.

As I said, Wlad has surpassed Vitali in terms of boxing skills.

My brother (four years younger) passed me in height and athletic prowess a good number of years ago. But he's still and always will be, my LITTLE brother. I would always be able to take him, even when I get arthritis.

I don't base my pick on their relative boxing skills, just the mental game.

I think Vitali spanks his butt.

 

it is a pay day for briggs and nothing more, he will give up after about 1 minute and stop wanting anything more to do with Vitali.

We are so desperate for HW action that people are getting excited about Tua (thank god that is over) and briggs. but even in their prime these guys were c+/b- fighters.

 

Sure Briggs has a punchers chance in the first few rounds. However, if a younger Briggs couldn't put Sultan Ibragimov down in the first few...

Vitali by TKO rnd 7

 

:deal

I Think Briggs gets KO'D in 6 - 7.

 

Fair enough then.

So you don't think there's any substance to the allegations of Vitali having a bit of a "china heart" himself (some point to the Byrd loss, although to me it's distasteful to discredit a fighter when there's injury involved...it still bugs me that people call Vazquez a quitter for calling it a night when he couldn't breathe, FFS! atsch).

 

:deal

And this is why he will lose. Briggs is pushing 40 and he's not the same guy he used to be in there. He's not going to bring enough to trouble Vitali.

That's a valid assessment, but it ain't going to matter in this fight. Briggs has no stamina. He ain't getting an early KO over even this version of Vitali. Therefore, Shannon would have to be in the shape of his life in order to present himself with the best opportunity to pull this out. Vitali probably took this fight knowing how limited Briggs's assault is nowadays.

The Briggs who fought Lewis would be a tough out for VK imo.

 

Nope.

i don't see the Byrd fight in any light other than a calculated decision on the part of a man with a solid background in sports medicine making a career-saving decision.

Vitali has one real loss and that was in a spirited effort against an ATG.

 

Remember the lesson I just taught you and if you go on to become a "journalist" you can thank me in the future.

BTW Vitali will beat him down into the ground and stop him via accumulation in rd 6.