Jerry Quarry vs. Vitali Klitschko

Nice job,

Agreed, Vitali has a good legacy, but needs a few more names.

 

Well, winning would be a start. That's what some opponent or other managed against nearly every all-time great at the end of their career.

I think Vitaly will look awful and either lose or retire very quickly. :hey

 

Good point. Replace (a) with: one of the most negative and physically handicapped boxers of his generation.

 

****, a superheavyweight division was created after I stopped following boxing? How many weight classes have been made up beyond the classic eight anyways? (What's next, a pintweight division? Midget boxing? Dwarf pugilists? Pregnant boxers? Sumo class?)

Wow, you've put it on the line the way I usually do with that claim, especially in the 12 round era. The reason the 20 round distance was eventually discarded in favor of 15 rounds is precisely because endurance performers with superior toughness and inferior skill were prevailing. (Granted, Jeffries/Corbett I and Johnson/Willard went beyond that, but I consider the losers in those matches to be superior to the winners by how they were faring after 15 rounds. In the case of Gans/Nelson I, and most matches that went beyond 15 rounds, the identity of the superior competitor was established by the end of 15.)

King Levinski wasn't exactly a journeyman at his best. He recorded wins over Slattery, Loughran and Uzcudun shortly before meeting Baer, and at just 21 years of age had over 60 matches with much quality experience behind him, was yet to lose by stoppage, would go on to post a decision verdict over Jack Sharkey, and go on a tear between mid 1934 and mid 1935 (when Louis destroyed him). His performance in an exhibition against Dempsey convinced Jack not to pursue a comeback, so he had some skill and abilities. While a champion in the 15 round era might be able to dominate a tough opponent over 20 rounds, I have reservations about any champion from the 12 round era being able to do that. (Rosario is my poster boy on that score, as he originally became a champion exclusively because of the abolition of the 15 round distance.) To claim that any champion can dominate a journeyman over 20 rounds is the sort of irrationally sweeping statement I'm supposed to make, not you!

 

Levinsky was a top 4 contender over a period of years. By no stretch of the english language could he be called a journeyman.

 

I should just sit back, relax, and let you take over the case for Quarry. You're more concise, articulate and well modulated than I over this issue. (Becides, going back and forth with good ole CP is wearing me out:!: .)

 

Vitali has not beaten much highly ranked oppossition. It would be interesting to look at the rankings of the guys he beat. Sanders was ranked quite high by some when Vitali beat him but Johnson, Danny Williams and others were lower in the rankings.

 

:rasta yeh mon

but really joe louis beat max baer
ruslan chagaev beat valuev


actually no point naming them all the big guys small guy is a myth if yo can fight small very well you can win any fight at any wieght sam langford shown that qawi showed that even underachievers like kelvin davis was a fight you stayed well away from

 

The Tyson fight does not help Lewis's legacy much. Lewis's failure to face prime versions of Holyfield and Tyson hurts his stature a bit but Holyfield is still a good win because Holyfield was still rated highly when Lewis beat him.

 

Levinsky had a few good wins but he also had tons and tons of losses.

Anyway, i don't really see the relevance of going 20 rounds when we're discussing Vitali vs Quarry in a 12 or 15 rounder. Vitali was an extremely hard wear-you-down puncher so i really wonder whether 15 rounds would favor Quarry. Especially with his tradition of getting cut.

 

Not a 15 round poster huh.

 

his chin is not as good as people say, he was bodypopping in the ring when a british bum landed a weak right ahnd on his feeble chops...

i think he just was luckjy to not fight a big puncher in the primes lewis could of koed him a few years before,tua could of had a good mash up on him in his prime.even bowe would of been a good fight in 99

 

Well, it's been a long absence from the sport, and I'm kind of rusty and punchy:nut . (And to my eternal shame and embarrassment, it would seem I'm not capable of going the distance at this time.:verysad :| :tired)