Tszyu vs Whittaker

A really interesting fight, I would pick Whitaker by close decision but not with nearly as much confidence as a lotta people here.

Prime Tszyu had high end hand speed and power and a lot better feet than many here seem to realise. He was also a really good fighter against boxer-mover types. It is no coincidence that Kostya's two losses in the pros were to Phillips and Hatton. Both are strong pressure fighters.

Here is some film of the 22 year old Tszyu defeating Vernon Forrest in the 1991 world amateur boxing championships held in Sydney, Australia.

Kostya slowed down a lot by the end of his pro career and he also tended to get outta shape in between fights with doesnt usually help a fighter stay sharp.

Cheers All.

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Tszyu never fought at 147 and in 1995-96 Whitaker had been at 147 for a long time.

In saying that Whitaker was past his peak by that stage. Still great defensively, smart and tricky but he'd lost a lot of movement and was beginning to have tough tussles with fighters who once wouldn't have won a round against him. Put it this way, if Gary Jacobs and Wilfredo Rivera can cause Whitaker problems then so could Kostya Tszyu.

I'd back Tszyu to still be strong enough at 147 to compete against a smallish welterweight like Pea and to find a way to land enough of those thumping right hands (Tszyu had an underrated sneaky left hook as well) to cause Whitaker genuine problems. Whitaker would make adjustments and make Tszyu miss way more than normal as well. I think Whitaker visits the canvas but does enough work with his jab and with body work to eek out a disputed MD or SD.

Prime Whitaker (of say the Nelson fight) wins easily over any version of Tszyu, even though I too agree that Tszyu gets sold short on here sometimes.

 

Whitaker by decision.

Totally shot Roger Mayweather went 12 with Tzyu in 95 and of course we know what Vince Phillips did to Tzyu in 97.

Not to mention Whitaker was a division higher and still had enough left to take DeLaHoya to a razor close decision loss in 97.

 

Tszyu has no shot in Hell against Whitaker. Totally different classes. We're talking an all time great versus someone I would argue wasnt even a great.

Pea would totally outclass him. Better technician, and tougher. I mean mentally tougher. Pea was a bull, and Tszyu was a soft, mental midget.

 

Excellent post.

He simply didn't fight like that for much of his pro career, so that just is what it is I guess. Guess he and his trainers well in love with his power.

In the end, I believe the best version of Whitaker at 147 would be a little too much for Kotsya. He'd be the smaller guy, the worse ring general of the two, the least diverse offensively, and the worst defensively. I see Pea dominating with the jab and subtle movement that Kotsya isn't used to seeing at the level Pea operates at. You're right in that Kotsya makes a better showing than many Whitaker opponents, but I think the decision would be clear. Who knows though cause Whitaker wasn't quite as consistent at the stage proposed, but I'm using a version that shows up to fight.

 

Pea easy.

 

This is Pea in 95-96. He wasn't what he used to be at that point as evidenced by the Jacobs, Rivera and even the Hurtado fights.

You're selling Tszyu short if you reckon he couldn't compete with the coked up, hittable Whitaker of that era.

Prime Whitaker I agree would whip Tszyu. Mid 90's Tszyu could give him a tough fight.

 

Pea is a level above Kostya. Pea pitches a shutout.