This fight would be a war and Anthony Joshua would be the faster, more explosive and stronger puncher. AJ would beat him up, Vitali had not the punching power of his brother and was careless in exchanges, he kept his left hand too low, this would be perfect for Anthony Joshua to counter him with his right hand.
Joshua wins maybe by stoppage. Vitali was KO'd in a kick boxing match, he wasn't indestructable. The heavyweight division just sucked. Vitali's claim to fame is being competitive with an out of shape Lewis before being stopped.
If Sanders struggled to land clean on Vitali, the slower Joshua has even less chance. AJ right now would get ground down and out. No doubt in my mind whatsoever. In a few years time, it might be a different story. He'd need much better footwork for starters.
Lennox Lewis wasn't as fast as Corrie Sanders and landed multiple times on Vitali Klitschko, Anthony Joshua is faster than Lennox Lewis was and he is even bigger.
If you think Joshua is faster then Lewis you need your eyes checked or a medical assessment for early signs of dementia. Lewis was significantly faster than Joshua, much like an old Wlad was. Prime Vitali beats him. Vitali's work rate alone would of given Joshua problems. Add his height, movement and iron jaw and you have a nightmare for current Joshua.
Lennox Lewis had faster footwork but he was not as fast with his punches as Anthony Joshua. Anthony Joshua himself has a good work rate and he would trade with Vitali Klitschko, he wouldn't just stand there to get punched in the face. Anthony Joshua has better combination punching, faster hands, more punching power and probably better defense than Vitali Klitschko ever had.
And there's the difference in my mind, if VK dropped Joshua like WK did then he would have finished it there and then. A prime VK for me right now but who knows how good AJ will be in a few years, might be a different story.
It isn't even up for a debate. it's an insult to Vitali and his ability to even propose such a question.
You clearly haven't watch Lewis recently then, he's so much faster it's not even debatable. Everyone was shocked at the difference in hand speed with Joshua and Wlad at the open work out, people didn't think there was such a significant difference. Why, because how speed is perceived is relative. Joshua looks fast against the slow guys he's faced but when up against a truly quick fisted heavyweight he looked slow. Lewis as well looks slower in comparison because he generally fought smaller faster men than Joshua, so the difference in speed isn't apparent. Watch Lewis hitting the gloves with Manny, watch Joshua hit them with Sims or McCracken, the difference in speed is blatantly obvious, much like when Wlad and Joshua did their open workout. What Joshua lacks in hand speed he makes up for in timing and judge of distance. Don't mistake the two, there not the same thing. Joshua might get out sped like when he did vs Wlad but his timing and anticipation make up for it.
I disagree with you, you should judge them by their fights and not by training footage, Lennox Lewis was possibly faster with a single punch but i have never seen him throwing combinations as fast and accurate as Anthony Joshua, the idea that Anthony Joshua couldn't land a punch on Vitali Klitschko is silly.
