Vitali Klitschko Through Larry Holmes Title Defence's?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, Sep 14, 2026 at 5:50 AM.

  1. brb

    brb Boxing Addict Full Member

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    They all get smacked down, easily.
     
  2. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    He wouldn't manage the longevity aspect period.
     
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  3. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    He’s the only guy to have a double digit title run that started in his late thirties.
     
  4. Philosopher

    Philosopher Well-Known Member Full Member

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    If he stays healthy, Vitali cleans house...
     
  5. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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    Only Tim Witherspoon presents a problem.
     
  6. 723

    723 Delusional Old-Head + New Boxing Fan (on a hiatus) Full Member

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    Clears soundly
     
  7. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    I agree with the majority, the jury is out whether he had the longevity and body to do it. I think the odds are he doesn't.
     
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  8. Man_Machine

    Man_Machine Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He fares reasonably well, but it's unlikely that he goes unbeaten.
     
  9. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He was also getting injured in every other training camp, including 3 back-to-back injuries when he was supposed to face Hasim Rahman.
     
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  10. Bummy Davis

    Bummy Davis Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I think Vitali would go through them all, most probably in more spectacular fashion than Holmes. A few Holmes did not fight may offer a bit more opposition like Pinklon Thomas and Greg Page and Coetzee, but those men were not always in shape or basically erratic and Vitali after Lewis was pretty consistent. The 15-rd. distance would probably also favor Vitali because of his consistent fitness, but I don't think he would need it vs the caliber of Holmes actual opposition. The negatives were injuries that Vitali sustained because of his long kick boxing career etc.
     
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  11. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Holmes had finished his reign by that age.
     
  12. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Still had 2 years left of his reign. Holmes also started his reign 3 years earlier.
     
  13. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    I don't think the thread is asking to match them age for age and assume that Vitali's back injuries would prevent him from from fighting Carl Williams or whatever.
     
  14. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Vitali's career was heavily impacted by his fragility and injuries, so we need to consider this, especially if he's fighting way better fighters than in reality.
     
  15. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Depends on your vantage point. He’s the only heavyweight of his age to have racked up a title reign that was anything like that, so must have had something going for him in terms of durability.