Vitali did well in disposing Gomez... but does anyone else think he's slowing down?

There is a pattern: fighters rarely look good against decent to good southpaws. It's hard for an orthodox fighter to make use of his entire arsenal.

 

Yes, Gomez would knock Haye out.

 

I wasn't that impressed by Klitschko, but he got the win. He has slowed - his timing was off and he was very 'erky jerky' - not that he has ever been ultra smooth or anything.

 

That would be a good way to finish.....and if Vlad beats Haye there is no one left but if Vlad loses then Vitali fights Haye...if not after 40 wins its time to go

 

Klit ONLY looked slow because of Gomez' slick but ugly style.... Naturally Klit looks quicker when he's facing big bulky dudes like "Williams & Peter.":yep

MR.BILL

 

It's not even arguable.. Vitali has slowed down a lot and his reflexes/timing have gotten significantly worse. I would be willing to do a lifetime bet with any Klitschko fans here that Povetkin beats Vitali if they ever fight.

 

Has Vitali slowed down? I thought his stamina and work rate was fine as usual; his footwork in terms of backing away from punches was fine too. His hand speed, when he wanted to fire quick shots was decent for a man his size.

Lets us not forget that Gomez is perhaps the best defensive heavyweight out there. He is well schooled, quick, with a good guard and capable of ducking punches. In addition, he is a southpaw. Sometimes in boxing, you have to slow down a bit to gain accuracy. Gomez is also a pretty big heavy at 6'3", with an 80+" reach. Gomez has never come close to a split decision win in his entire professional career. Out boxing him is no easy task, and I get the hunch Gomez would out point either Chagaev or Valuev. Povetkin vs Gomez would be a very interesting fight.

While Vitali looked razor sharp vs Johnson, and Peter, these guys were much easier to hit than Gomez was. I felt Vitali took a while to warm up, from rounds 5-9 he was fast handed and landing well. The right hand that dropped Gomez in the 7th was a legit chin checker, and one that most heavies would not recover from.

Did Vitali slow down? Maybe just a little, but I think the guy he was in there with had a lot to do with that. At his age, I still think Vitali is a pretty quick-handed man with good reflexes, and a quick and focused mind in the ring. No man will come close to out boxing him. Gomez in my opinion was the best boxer in the heavyweight division not named Klitschko.

If Vitali is forced to fight Maskeav, he will look fast.

 

It entirely depends on his opponents. He looked slow against Danny Williams as well.

 

He did look slower, older, not as sharp but what else would you expect? It's only the second fight back after a very long lay off and he is well into his thirties. He obviously still has far too much left for the likes of Gomez though.

 

If Klitschko stays busy he can still establish some genuine renown and recognition as a good if not spectacular champion.

He really needs some hungry, fresh new challenges to push him in tougher fights, while ever it looks easy and the opponents are older than him, he'll be doubted.

Haye, Povetkin etc are essential to Klitschko long-term repute. And he is, and someone suggested elsewhere, always going to be diluted as a champion by the simultaneous presence of his sibling.