Klitschko Peter, bring your knowledge of boxing history to bear on this one.

Apologies in advance if I end up bringing gen morons into this post.


Traditionally, shorter heavyweights have made it a gameplan to come in heavier against a taller opponent. Reason being that taller opponents have a leverage advantage and can shove a smaller heavyweight around without much fuss. If that smaller heavyweight can match him in weight though it becomes a harder shoving contest.

The problem with guys like Johnson or Williams trying this against Klitschko is that they don't have very good chins to begin with. Being heavier, making them more stationary, also made them easier to hit upstairs. Sam Peter won't have many issues here as we all well know his chin is incredible. Klitschko does have power but I personally doubt he has the power to move Sam Peter.

In short the weight will help Sam Peter in ways it did not help Kirk Johnson or Danny Williams.

Historically I think alot of new people call back to the Foreman-Moorer episode where Foreman was able to knock out a much younger, top caliber opponent. What they fail to acknowledge though is that Moorer was winning that contest easily until he was caught in the last round. For the most part, a guy who has been off 4 years should never beat a guy who has been active those 4 years. Especially considering the very top class.

 

Chris is right. If vitali quits on his stool or loses the fight by injury, I will make some huge noise on ESB saturday night, there will be thread after thread celebrating. I will also make threads on " I told you vitali was fragile and mentally weak" so you guys better pray vitali brings his A game.




Honestly janitor, vitali was never that good in his prime. now at 37 with 4 years of rust, theres no telling what to expect. I wouldnt be suprised if he pulls out of the fight this week like he did vs rahman. sam peter is not very good, so it helps vitalis chances. the two most underated guys out there are ruslan chagaev and nicolay valuev, two really really good fighters who would easily beat sam peter and vitali. its a shame wlad isnt proving himself vs those two.

 

I think Vitali's power is somewhat overated he struggled to keep Williams down ,but he does hit hard .I think he can win it early ,his stamina may let him down if it goes to the latter stages,possibly because I don't rate Peter ,I overrate Vitali's chances ,we shall see.

 

I think most would agree that Vitlai was better then Peter. The 64,000 question is after a 4 year lay off, and no-tune up fights is Vitlai still better than Peter?

I can speculate on that answer.

1 ) I do not think Vitlai is back for a payday. Not a chance. I do not view Vitlai as a broke X-champ. I think he is rather comfortable finically speaking right now, and owns a piece of K2 promotions in boxing. Vitlai is not back for the money being his primary reason.

2 ) I believe if Vitlai did not think he physically was ready, he would not come back. Vitlai has said this through out his entire career dating back to his first surgery to Chris Byrd, and even postponed the Donald fight because he felt his back was not 100%.

3 ) Vitlai is fighting for a righteous cause he believes in. In this case, it is to fulfill a dream of him and his brother being world champions at the same moment in time. Never under estimate a man fighting for a cause he believes in. Those who come back just for money often are out of shape and lack focus. Vitlai is in shape and looks to be focused.

4) **I believe Vitlai will have rare insight on Peter’s strengths and weakness thanks to seeing him up close in the fight with his brother. Vitlai is a smart fighter who will be exploiting these tendencies. More on this point later**

Regardless of whom you are picking or rooting for, I believe these four points are solid and obvious.

As far as the work out clips show, I think Vitali looks decent. He’s not a razor sharp gym guy, but he did look much sharper, faster and more focused than the clips on saw on Peter. I also think Vitlai got the better of the press conferences, and stare downs. Peter had to resort to sunglasses, and bodyguards. Does a stare down matter? If confidence is part of performance ( and it is in boxing), heck yes.

Peter has gone through Toney, Toney, McCline and Maskaev. He has been active, and should be viewed as the #2 heavyweight in the world, who is also in his prime. I also believe Peter has added a functional jab, some combinations, and some defense / ring savvy to his game. He is not a crude one punch slugger.

So who wins?

If it is a boxing contest, the type of fight where neither man risk a lot because they are either 1 ) Tired, or 2 ) Respect each other too much, I think Vitlai wins. No one, not Byrd nor Lewis out jabbed or out boxed Vitlai. Peter had his hands full with an older James Toney not so far back, but I do think he has improved since. It is my observation that things like size, reach, power and the jab are the last things to go. Even an old Foreman still had a reasonable jab. Advantage Vitlai.

If it is a pure slugging match, I do not know who will win. Any time you put two big punchers in the ring, anything can happen. There is no such thing as a fighter who cannot be knocked out. I do think Vitlai takes a better punch than Peter, but Peter at this stage has more single shot power. I also tend to think Vitlai has better power late and more skills. Peter is not known for late round stoppages. Vitlai is.

*Tendencies? Vitlai is a smart fighter. Cool in the heat of battle, and quick to exploit his opponent’s weaknesses.

I think Peter is dangerous in the corners, or when he has his man on the ropes. Here Peter flails away until he lands something serious. However, Vitlai spends perhaps the least amount of time with his back to the corner, or on the ropes as any heavyweight champion I have seen.

Peter is dangerous with his hook, and this a punch Vitlai avoids rather well. Right hands hit can hit Vitlai due to his low left guard, but hooks then to miss, or be blocked because Vitlai has great punch anticipation, and can lean backwards or take a quick step back to avoid the punch.

Peter is also dangerous with his foul rabbit punch, but Vitlai is not the type of fighter to turn his back, or cover up and duck low, so Peter won’t be in position to land his foul punch often, at least I think.

Style wise, Peter is not Mike Tyson. In truth, he advances at a moderate pace behind his jab, then goes wild when an opportunity presents itself. I do not think Peter can walk though Vitlai’s jab, and he has not flashed a top right cross off the jab or as a lead as a punch that makes something big happen for him. Further more, Vitlai is an under rated counter punch guy who can land shots at weird angles on or off rhythm.

Prediction: So long as Vitlai is 70% of what he was, I think he is going to win the fight, perhaps easier than most think. Peter’s best chance will be early before Vital shakes whatever ring rust is left, and starts landing his own shots.

If the fight goes into the mid rounds, I think Vitlai will use his legs and height to zone and pick away at Peter.

Best guess, Vitlai wins via 9th round TKO, with his skills and activity taking over around round 6.

 

Tyson couldn't even get William's off his feet. What's your point, exactly?

 

Right, Tyson had his best round one in a long time, and still could not floor Williams. Vitlai floored Williams in round one, and cut him.

After the fight Williams said Tyson hits a little harder, but Vitlai was more constant with his power.

 

Heavyweight champions who previously came back were formerly the best heavyweight champion taking on the best heavyweight in the world at that time.

Vitali was considered the best heavyweight champion when he retired and he is fighting Sam Peter not his brother Wlad.

In previous times Sam Peter would be considered a contender not a champion. So we have someone who used to be considered the best heavyweight in the world coming back to fight a top heavyweight contender in his first fight.

The only time in history that that has ever happened was when Ali came back after 3 years and 7 months against top contender Quarry and KOed his ass. Vitali is fighting Peter after 3 years and 10 months of retirement.

Historically the only time the same scenario was attempted was when Ali tried it and won. History is actually on Vitali's side.

Vitali to KO Peter's over-rated contender's ass.

 

Pretty fair assessment, although Vitali was more consistent with his power because Tyson at that age could only really press anyone for a round or two.

 

Is this the Tyson who kod Thomas ,Tubbs,and Spinks? Or the man who had ONE ROUND of boxing in TWO YEARS prior to his fight with Williams,and was kod in his next fight by Kevin MCBride? MY Point is Klitschko's power is a bit overated .I thought I posted it clear enough ,even for you.

 

Tyson's first round vs Williams was one of his best ever. Here he landed flush hard shots many times. Harder than what he landed vs a weak minded Tubbs or a scared to death Spinks for sure.

What do you think of my main post in this thread?

 

Vitlai has nothing to lose here, SuzieQ. Zero. The fact that is he is coming back with the historical odds stacked against him proves bravery. No man who enters the ring and tries should be called fragile or mentally weak.

I will not be able to celebrate much here on Saturday night if Vitlai wins. I have an out of town family function on Saturday night that I must attend. Grrr. I am battling between catching the internet to see who wins before 6PM, or waiting until watch the Showtime DVR recording on Sunday.

 

Good actually ,I was responding to Russell's somewhat agressive query.I fancy Vitaly ,but if Peter can drag him into a brawl his fitness and regular ring activity may tell .Vitaly may not be as fluid in the ring as his brother but he is stronger mentally IMO ,he gave Lewis a good fight,I thought.

 

If Vitali Klitschko wins by knockout, it will happen late. Unless he can overwhelm his opponent, which is not likely here due to Peter's excellent chin and massive strength, he often needs several rounds to grind them down.

Throughout his career, Peter stood up quite well to an accumulation of punishment. Wlad had him all over the place in the 12th, but that was a perfect left hook he didn't see and Wlad has great one-punch power, unlike Vitali. Toney hit him plenty along the road without doing all that much damage, same with Maskaev and McCline didn't have much success outside of the 2nd & 3rd, either.

 

Peter takes jabs and rights well, but has problems with hooks and uppercuts.

Vitlai's hook is the punch that hurt Williams, and Johnson, and he has a sneaky uppercut as well.

I disagree. A KO can happen early in this fight for Vitlai. It almost happened for McCline.

 

Boxing logic dictates that a 36 year old Man coming back after 4 years gets whipped.