Vitali-AT LEAST in the top 3 highest KO percentages in history for a heavyweight.

OF COURSE HE DID!

Byrd made Vitali miss with his looping haymakers, and did his usual trick of swatting punches away which puts lateral strain on the shoulder joint.

Byrd's style and defence, along with Vitali's lack of accuracy and inability to land properly directly led to the shoulder injury.

Therefore Byrd proved himself to be the superior fighter on the night - Byrd survived Vitali's assault, but Vitali couldn't last the distance against Byrd's tactics.


In the Lennox fight, Lennox's accuracy along with Vitali's lack of defence and inability to defend an obvious target led to the facial damage.

Therefore Lennox proved himself superior to Vitali on the night - he survived Vitali's assault, Vitali couldn't withstand his.

 

Yes, that's true as well. Anything can happen in HW boxing.

 

I second this post. Byrd making Vitali miss repeatedly HAD to have contributed to Vitali's injury, and Lennox carving up Vitali's eye led up to the stoppage. We can argue about what could have happened, but there's no arguing with what did happen.

 

Well it doesn't take a genius to figure out what would have happened in the next rounds considering that Vitali did nothing in the last 2 minutes of round 6 and was punch drunk at the end of the round when he almost wne to the other corner. He was eating monster uppercuts.

Vitali was done, no rocket science there.

 

Let me refresh your failing memory with the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAcBecJrTtQ

Lewis walked back to his corner ( he had lost the round but was not punch drunk. Lennox ( who hit again well after the bell) collapsed exhausted into his corner, punched out.

He could have been KOd in the 7 th.

The point is , no-one KNOWS what would have happened next.

Lennox win on cuts, a completely legit TKO victory (unlike Byrd's, despite Drexl's very far fetched analysis). No-ones disputing that. No-ones disputing that prime Lennox was better.

However, Vitali did well in the fight and I believe Lennox judged that he couldn't beat him in a rematch.

 

Care to explain how it is far-fetched that repeatedly missing and having your punches slapped sideways WON'T contribute to a shoulder injury?

You ARE aware that Holyfield suffered the exact same injury in the same way against the exact same opponent, right? Coincidence...? Only if you are a moron.


Oh, and I love the "Lennox sat down harder, therefore he was more exhausted" argument. Thanks for providing me with a few chuckles by bringing up that one. :yep

 

And it was due to the massive cut that Vitali's onslaught slowed down, Lennox couldnt risk another cut in a rematch! Without the cut, I believe Klitschko would be a threat to Lennox's prime. Lennox never fought someone as big and determined. Luck was with Lennox this time, enuff said!

 

I'm missing your point here Drexl.

Re: Lennox, I have stated that he won a legit TKO. My post in response to PATSYS very foolish statements: I know personally that Vitali would have been KO'd in the 7th...

and: It doesn't take a genius to figure out what would happen next...

On what would happen next, opinion is roughly equally divided and as I've mentioned earlier in this thread, it's unknowable.

My point re how they each sat down was in response to the idea put forth by PATSYS that Vitali was punch drunk and Lennox was ready to pounce in the next round.

What the clip shows is two exhausted fighters at the end of the round, and if anything, Lennox looks more exhausted.

And if pointing that out brings you a few chuckles, then you're pretty simple to amuse (or maybe just pretty simple).

 

Did somebody say "simple"...? :yep


I notice you didn't (couldn't) explain how my description of the LEGIT Byrd victory was "far-fetched"...

:think


:yep

 

Easy? I hate to rain on your parade, but you're getting your ass kicked.

 

How old is he?

I suspect he is the one providing you with your opinions. :think

 

I already described that analysis as far fetched.

If your strategy for winning fights is to hope that your opponent tears his shoulder in missing you while, at the same time he's landing enough on you to win nearly every round, I would call that 'far-fetched.'

If things transpired in your favour in such a case, I would call that 'lucky.'

As most folks know (including Chris), this loss was on pretty much of a technicality, something like Montel's 'victory' over Roy, officially legit, but...

The record books don't tell the tull story in either case.

If that's not evident, then SIMPLE might be too weak of a term.

 

How many stiches did VK need in that fight again? I remember reading that it was the most in HW championship bout over the last 30-30 years or so. I don't ever remember seing a cut that bad in a HW championship fight.

 

I would call Lennox great--Ali is the only man that could have beaten him, and that by a close decision.

 

So did Wlad, in equally brutal fashion.:yep