Let's settle this once and for all: Prime Vitali vs Prime Tyson

It's funny that you say Vitali would win, but you don't say why.

Tyson fought guys in the 80's who were smoother, slicker, and faster than Vitali in the ring, basically better overall boxers, yet Tyson wins almost every round against these men or knocks them clean out.

Holyfield beat Tyson and Buster Douglas beat Tyson, but why? Because they could box and LAND the UPPERCUT. With Tyson's defense, if you don't have an uppercut you will not beat him.

His defense is designed to get underneath straight punches and hooks, and he was too short for Vitali to effectively go to his body.

Vitali is not a slick nor as fast as Tony Tucker or Bonecrusher Smith or a number of heavies that Tyson fought, yet Tyson closed the distance so fast on these men that they were unable to find their range to punch Tyson, yet Vitali who's VERY slow and somewhat stiff will easily be able to find his range against a fast moving, very small target in Mike Tyson?

And when Tyson gets inside which he will for the majority of the fight as the fight will take place on the inside, Vitali has what answer for Tyson? He has no uppercut.

Sure he can hit Tyson from the outside with a left uppercut or a hook, but Vitali is very slow and he would likely miss and aside from which he would be mostly moving backwards.

To compare Vitali to Buster Douglas or Evander Holyfield is not very smart considering both men FOUGHT nothing like Vitali Klitschko and were PHYSICALLY much different and had the uppercut that could reach Tyson as Tyson ducked.

Vitali is too tall and too slow and has not shown an uppercut to Tyson with as Tyson ducks underneath Vitali's slow punches.

I really want to know how you think Vitali can keep Tyson on the end of his jab when even the Larry Holmes that Tyson fought had more speed and precision with his jab than a PRIME Vitali Kllitschko plus he had a more versatile offense.

I'm sorry, but Styles make fights.

Vitali may survive but it will be Tyson by UD.

And the 80's heavyweights are underrated. They were better pure boxers than Vitali, but Vitali's size and skill made it difficult for them to use their counterpunching ability to beat today's massive heavyweights.

Tyson was designed to be a giant killer. He was put in there as the heavyweight division was getting taller and people were trying to mimic Larry Holmes and Ali. There has not been a guy as good as Tyson since Tyson.

No one in the heavyweight division has that kind of defensive ability when closing the distance. Tyson would be murderer in today's heavyweight division, but that doesn't mean that people wouldn't give him problems.

People like Sam Peter for instance could potentially give Tyson problems, but I doubt it considering how primative he is, but Wladimir and Vitali would both be beat due to styles.

Wladmir would get knocked out, althought he would have a better chance of landing cleanly on Tyson due to his superior athletic ability than his brother, but his weak chin would spell his demise.

Lewis would even likely be beat by decision or by KO as he too would never see a guy like Tyson who was able to slip punches, but at least Lennox had a decent uppercut.

Still, a completely washed up, Sam Peter type Tyson went 8 rounds with Lewis. A prime one would beat him.

 

Even Tillis was smoother and slicker than Vitali in the ring, but due to STYLES would probably be beat by Vitali.

It is very hard for a counterpuncher to beat a larger skilled counterpuncher even if there is a big difference in speed.

You have to learn how to adapt your style. It's why Mosley who's probably all around better than Forrest lost to him when he fought him. He tried to counterpunch with a larger more skilled guy.

Tyson doesn't fight that style. He tries to make the fight. Vitali is too slow.

 

I agree with most of what you say, except the thing about peter potentially giving a prime tyson problems, no way... but good arguments anyway.

 

Prime Tyson definately had the tools and styles to give either Klitschko a tough fight.

His speed and movement were what made him great.

I can still see him coming in low, head bobbing, side to side shoulder movement. Slip a jab, left hook body, right hook body, left hook to the head, oponent down. Was fun to watch.

Some of your other statements are off base, but I do agree that prime Tyson wins vs Vitali. I'd say UD as Vitali has a solid chin and could probably withstand the beating he's going to take.

 

1986-89 version of Tyson would probably win. Any other version of Tyson post Buster Douglass was not quite as good so Vitaly would have a good chance to win it.

 

Vote.

 

Klitschko fans believe that their boys can beat anyone. Tyson early round TKO.

 

There is a huge size differential between them but Tyson's speed, footwork and head movement would make all the difference and I see him breaking Vitali down slowly but surly.

 

I'd pick Tyson to beat Vitali and Lewis to beat Tyson. Don't know which fight you were watching Axe Man to say in your first post that Douglas was the same size as Tyson tells me you really don't know a hell of a lot. Without going to boxrec, I'd say Douglas was at least 6'3" and about 230 or so.

Lewis would not only use the uppercut he would manhandle him the way he did when they met. It was the perfect strategic fight. That said Tyson could win if he lands something early in first couple of rounds. He did do that when they fought but it was Tyson who was hurt in the first round of their fight, not Lewis.

 

Vote.

 

Tyson by early KO

 

By the way, I pick Tyson by UD or a possible late KO.

Vitali toughness is being underrated by some posters.

 

Tyson would knock that robotic Vitali the **** out. The skills between thses two are not even comparable, Vitali's stance is terrible, he's always off balance and looks awkward at times, Tyson hits harder because he commits to his punches, throws better combinations, better handspeed, comparable chin, and mentally Vitali is stronger. Though a prime Tyson stood up to some vicious blows from Douglas and Ruddick, and stil kept fighting. Vitali's only tough fight was against Lewis, so thats all we have to go on with him.

 

A post prison Tyson is not a prime Tyson.

 

18 votes for VITLAY so far :rofl:rofl:rofl