Is Vitali K. one of the best defensive heavyweights of all time?

Watch Williard on film. The Klitschkos did. That's why they utilize most of his defensive mechanisms.

 

You never watched him, and it's doubtful you'd be able to identify what I'm refering to anyway because it's unlikely you understand what you're watching when you watch the Klitschkos.

Watch Jack Johnson vs Jess Williard. I don't think Jess Williard was a weak heavyweight. He would be a nightmare matchup for a lot of guys in history due to his size, punching power, preference for counterpunching and defense.

Dempsey was the worst possible stylistic matchup for him. Too fast, too explosive.

 

seafarer does have a point. . i can't think of 5 HW's who I would pick to have better defense than Vitali. . .

 

His brother has better defense. His footwork is better.

 

The greatest defensive fighter of all time is Jack Johnson. He fights like a supersized Bernard Hopkins.

 

Speed and reflexes are to a large extent genetic traits.

 

I don't think so. . I think Wladimir just fights so much more cautiously. . And he's the master at tying you up. . .


WIth Vitali's aggressive style of fighting, and his high punch output style, he should be gtting hit A LOT more than he does. . But the dude just knows when to throw, and then he leans back out of range perfectly. . .


Wladimir's footwork is better, though. . I agree. . But Vitali's UPPER BODY movement, adn head movement is FAR SUPERIOR.

 

Jack Johnson
Muhammed Ali
Mike Tyson
James Tuney
Wlad Klitschko

Joe Frazier deserves an honourable mention too

 

Well if we're going with aggressive defensive heavyweights, than you can add Jack Dempsey to that list too.

 

I mean in the sense that Wlad is harder to hit. I know he fights cautiously, but less punches land on him than his brother.

I agree that Vitali has shown better aggressive defense.

 

Then you really don't know what you're watching. If you did watch it, you'd notice that Williard utilizes the same shoulder rolling, techniques that the Klitschkos use today.

You'd also notice that Johnson fights out of a compact defensive shell and throws clean, short, punches.

Jack Johnson is easily one of the best heavyweights of all time. Nobody would have an easy night with him, just like nobody has an easy night with Bernard Hopkins.

His timing, defense, and all around game is superior to almost every other heavyweight I've seen.

 

Tyson? Nah. . . Vitali ain't NEVER BEEN smacked around like Tyson was againts Buster mah****ing douglas. . . ANd yes, Douglas is largely comparable to a lot of guys Vitali's fought skill wise. . .


Tunney, yes, I think he's the best. . .

Ali. . Ehh, he got cracked A LOT, but he fought some world class guys. . So yeah, he is better defensively.


Jack Johnson, yes. . .

BUt Wladimir is not better defensively, he's just more cautious, and ties up more. ..


Look, Vitali averages like 75-80 punches a round, he's aggressive. . For a guy with his style, and punch output, he is most definitely a top 5 HW in regards to defensive prowess (HIT, and DON'T GET HIT). .


Frazier. . I don't think so. . . He had some good bobs, and weaves, but nah. ..

 

Jack Johnson fought like John Ruiz. Clinching, Holding, Grabbing, Wrestling, Mauling, etc. That is NOT defense.

 

BUt Vitali "hits more, and gets hit less" - the differential of punches landed vs punches landed on him is CRAZY. . I think it's like second only to Floyd Mayweather, actually. . .


If he fought as cautious as Wladimir, he'd get hit less. . .


But I can agree with you as well. . . Wladimir has fleeter feet, and better footwork, so he can skeet out of range, or close the gap fast, and grap your ass with the strength of HULK. . While Vitali can pepper you with jabs on the front foot, and then STAND STATIONARY IN THE POCKET, and simply lean back, and side to side wihle making you miss, and then firing back once again making you pay. . . DEARLY.

 

Johnson has the remarkable ability to adapt his gameplan depending on his opponent.

He was much more aggressive against Williard than he is against pressure fighters that try to maul him.

He fights very similiar to Hopkins who is considered one of the craftiest fighters of all time, who also utilizes clinching and mauling when it suits him.

Johnson easily has the best defense at heavy. He is very rarely hit with a clean shot.

I took what, 26 rounds for Williard to beat him?