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

End of story.

 

It is unfortunately,because Lewis was too afraid of a re-match.
The look of shock on his face at the end of the fight said it all...he didn't know what had hit him when he met Vitali and the cut had just saved him from being ko'd.
Thats why there was no re-match. Lewis knew he would be beaten.

 

Obviously never seen the fight, Lewis was taking over. But carry on.....

 

Undisputed GOAT.

 

Oh dear.

Granted Vitali won the opening 3 rounds - I wouldn't say he dominated, but he clearly won those 3. Lewis was usually a slow starter - with the exception of a few fights of course! From round 4 onwards, it was all Lewis. If anything, the cut saved Vitali from a late round KO in my opinion.

That's beside the point of the thread however. I don't personally feel that the Byrd loss impacts on Vitali's legacy much. Yes, it's an "L" on his record, but the circumstances were such that if he'd continued boxing that fight - his career could have been in jeopardy. He has a PHD in sport science, he knew the approximate extent of his injury at the time and how it may have effected his ongoing career.

 

fairly on paper, but by a fluke, they were getting outboxed until injury

 

from round 4 it was Lewis, but Vitaly had a big cut, would Lewis take over if not the cut? Same as Byrd, he wouldn't win if not for that shoulder.

 

Byrd won, but there's way he "beat" him. Byrd was jumping around like he won the lottery when Vitali retired with a wide lead.

 

Vitali lost both fights.

End of story.

 

LL would have been a massive victory. Byrd would have been another ok name on his resume. In an ATG sense? I have no idea.

 

When have you ever heard a fighter say he wasnt in the best shape of his life?

The fact that he weighed in at his career heaviest. A good 15 lbs above his prime weight(30 lbs heavier than he was at points in his pro career), is an obvious indication that he WASNT in the best shape of his career!

And you talk as if 37 is young! This guy had been in some wars in his career,and had been fighting the best for a decade, 37 is plenty old!

 

atsch

 

I think, theoretically, there are some Vitali Klitschko fans that are more stupid than the day is long.

 

Probably top 10.

As it is he lost to the two best guys he faced.

 

He doesn't even make the top-twenty-five.
VK has never beaten any serious opposition.
How he can be talked about in ATG terms, is laughable.