Theoretically, if Vitali had beaten Byrd/Lewis, where would he ranked in HW rankings?

Definitely higher than mayweather ATG-wise.

 

GOAT, no doubt; but actually, he would have beaten Byrd, and would have beaten LL; the interesting question is: would the LL's fragile chin have lasted enough, with a prime LL, to win against Vitali? THAT is the question, considering what MC Call did to lennox in 1 1/2 rounds... Prime Lennox vs prime Vitaly (the 25 years old tireless one)

 

I'm not sure it even deserves a theory.
VK quit against Byrd (and had he not, I don't think it would have made a huge difference to his ranking).
He was ultimately outclassed by an old, overweight, disinterested but technically superior Lewis. In any scenario, I can't see VK beating Lewis.
Hypothetically, however, had VK managed to pull off that win, he gets some kudos but because he subsequently retired, after three bouts against fringe-world-class Boxers, he would probably not be given a massive amount of credit for that win - with Lewis having been at the very end of his career and clearly out of shape..

 

That's stupid. Vitali has never been a one punch guy like Mcall or Rahman. He throws ALOT of shots that wears you down.

 

He did beat both.

 

He quite clearly did not.

 

Did he now???

 

Here we go againatsch

 

The Byrd loss has no real impact on his legacy given that it was due to a shoulder injury. The Lewis loss is one that can be used against him by his detractors. A loss on cuts is usually attributable to the opponent, but if you look at Lewis loss objectively [something many boxing fans are incapable of] it was more down to bad luck. He was well on top in the fight until the cut, despite having taken the fight at very short notice, and the cut probably was caused by the laces on Lewis's gloves. Vitali haters often make claims such as Lewis being out of shape, and old. In reality he was 37, and he himself [before the fight] had said he was in the best shape of his life [he also said that he'd outperformed his 10 st trainer in their high altitude hill runs].

Many boxing fans will never give Vitali the credit he deserves, because of his ethnicity, because he is not from the U.S, and because he is an intelligent, well educated man.

 

Vitali won every round against both, he is undefeated.

 

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It's not obvious at all. He retired on his feet from injury when ahead on the cards. The records say he lost granted but it's hardly the same as being KO'd.

 

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I doubt Lewis fans would have Vit as the GOAT if it had been Lewis with the cut over the eye, 100% definite.