The Case for Vitali Klitschko for Top 10 All time

At least he tries to speak english for himself, instead of walking around with a translator.

 

He's the mayor of Kiev and has a doctorate. He's not the pro boxer to accuse of being stupid.

 

Huh? Vitali is a sharp guy, speaks several languages, happens to be a decent chess player, etc... I think politics might have you jaded or he's speaking a 2nd or 3rd language when you listing to him

 

Accomplishments can be defined in many ways. If this were baseball, I'd match his stats vs. just about anyone on favorable terms.

 

If this were boxing , i'd match his credentials along side guys like Sven Ottke , Arthur Abraham , Marco Huck , Fabrice Tiozzo , Chris Byrd , David Haye.

 

I rank him number 13 ATG.

But if Byrd can frustrate and outpoint him, I certainly feel Johnson can.

If Lewis can abandon all fundamentals and just slug him to defeat, I certainly feel Liston, Holmes, Foreman and Tyson can.

His total lack of skill up close gives me reason to doubt his success against men such as Louis, Frazier, Dempsey, Marciano and Holyfield.

I don't see him ever being able to tag a prime Ali.

Maybe he would beat all of those mentioned, but nothing changes the fact that the two best me he faced, both beat him. And the two next best (Sanders and Peter) were both grossly overweight and a far cry from prior great fighters.

To be totally honest though, as long as you are comfortable with a justification, rank a man however you see fit. No list will ever suit everyone.

 

I think you're selling him short considering that you go off head to head. Byrd wasn't outpointing him and Vitali couldn't put any power in his left on that night. And while it's true that he had no inside game, he dictated distance well and clinched when needed....Look at how well he kept Peter at range and that was during a time when nobody else could, including Wlad.

I think h2h there are very few better than him. I'd put him top 5. Resume isn't that good though.

 

Maybe not in your opinion, and maybe not in the opinion of the majority. But I had it 5-4 to Vitali at the time if the stoppage and I remain convinced Byrd would have swept the last 3 rounds had Vitali not quit.

His clinch was very poor for a SHW, totally ineffective and nothing at all like the clinch of Lewis and Wlad. His control of distance was good, his timing was better.

His victories against Peter and Sanders were quality, but that's literally as good as it gets for him. What if it was a prime Holy or Tyson on those nights? I just don't see him winning.

Top 5 is fine if you're ok favouring him against the majority. I'm not.

 

He can't speak normally in his native language. There are plenty of jokes around in Ukraine and Russia concerning his poor speaking skills.
A few examples, my translation:

"I want to get your attention, I met many policemen who were killed, people and demonstrants who died, and all of them asked the question..."

"If a man wears SS (Schutzstaffel, ie fascist army) uniform, that is, it is clear, he painted himself with colors that he painted himself with... There are many points of view regarding this. I truly believe that these things, if you really want to ask that question, we are supposed to."

(regarding the return of Crimea) We have... what we had. We talked about that. Current situation, the one we have. And we have to consider, what we can... what to do..."

"And today, not all can see the future day. I mean, not only every can see, few men can do that".

 

That had nothing at all to do with Peter and everything to do with Wlad being horribly overrated. At controlling distance especially.
Vitali and Helenius proved what a bum Peter was.

So did Chambers who kept him at bay just standing in the middle of the ring. All 6 foot of him.

You can throw in James Toney who had far less trouble with him than Wlad as well.

 

Napoleon Bonaparte, considered my many to be one of the most brilliant people who ever lived had trouble with languages.

Albert Einstein French grades were so-so according to his auto bio.

In the ring, Vitali was a smart man. Larry Merchant said he was one of the smartest champions of all time.

I thought his interviews in boxing were okay, and English was his 4th language.

Maybe he's got CTE? Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

 

Byrd did not out point him, and Vitali was hurt. Without the injury, it's a near shutout on the cards.

Judge: Melvina Lathan 83-88
Judge: Dr Ruben M Garcia 82-89
Judge: Joachim Jacobsen 83-88

Harold Lederman, HBO's unofficial judge, had Klitschko ahead 88-83 at the time of the stoppage.

Vitali made Lewis look bad.Steward in Lewis' corner told gave him the advice to adjust. Even still Vitali was up 4-2 on all three cards. Not bad for a cut the doctor claimed he could not see with.

Vitali has in-fighting skills, he just didn't have to use them often, and he didn't need to catch much either. If you watch the Sanders fight, he used body punching. His uppercut scored a bit too, setting up the KO for Williams, nailing Lewis back, and keeping Chisora off.

 

The Peter win was impressive, I agree there. But again, Sanders was already past it when he fought Wlad and even further down the road and in poor shape when he fought Vitali.

A win over a prime Sanders would not be all that, at least in my opinion, so why you say a win over a fat, washed-up Sanders is 'quality' is a bit of a mystery to me.

Sanders was finished inside a round by a nobody not too long after. Sanders was done when he fought Vitali and again, already over the hill when he pulverised Wlad.

 

I am sure prime frazier can beat 38 year old ali, and Louis can beat 38 year old schmeling and lewis can beat 38 year old mcall or rahman.


we also know prime vitali cannot beat 37 year old about to retire lewis.

vits had his best chance and came up 6 rounds short, and he doesn't get the right to stop a 38 year old from retiring, since you wouldnt ask 38 year old ali mcall rahman schmeling etc not toretire too.

but vits is special case 4 u since u are on planet K yeh?

 

I know the cards. I also know my opinion.