Vitali Klitschko vs Evander Holyfield

Here's a simple fact,Vitali fought 7 ring ranked opponents, Evander 14!

 

As will anything else that's actually pertinent to a discussion about a head-to-head contest.

 

At the time I thought it was respectful of the Klitschkos not to feast on the name of a past great. I would have given them little credit for beating the ghost of Holy and probably hospitalizing the old man. But maybe they should have fought him after all, because it seems that some people would have given them kudos for the win

 

Vitali can only lose on an injury while ahead, which could happen.

 

You need to use he's old in this conversation to excuse numerous losses, I do not.

 

Oh your math is off...AGAIN. One guy has 9. One guy has a much better winning percentage vs Ring Magazine ranked opponents, other other guy, well he might have more losses and draws than wins.

Do list these 14 ring magazine ranked opponents for Holyfield. Were they currently ranked when they fought Holyfield?

 

Chris Byrd stopped Vitali. '91 Holyfield would tattoo him.

 

Chris byrd stopped Vitali? What an ignorant comment. Stop reading boxrec and Making a fool of yourself. Vitali could not fight anymore because he was injured.
Plus vitali was in his prime in 2003 not in 2000.

 

Boxrec fools should actually click the Wiki link now and again.

 

Man. He got exposed badly

 

The Klitschkos seem to have many different primes throughout their career while its always assumed that their opponents were all at their very best when they fought them. That isn't true.

I see no mention of the fact that Byrd had recently been expunged by Ike Ibeauchi and beat nobody of note when he fought Vitali on a weeks notice. Byrd did not even get to see Vitali fight as the footage wasn't available. He went into the fight completely blind.

Vitali could have used his rematch clause to avenge the loss but chose not to. He knew Byrd had figured him out and feard he would have done better in a rematch.

 

Mate. What i said was that Byrd did not stop Vitali, i agree that stylistically byrd looked very very good against Vitali but you must to admit that Vitali was green in 2000, he was in his prime around 2003-2004. Byrd has nothing to do with this fantasy fight.

 

Vitalli was 27-0 and WBO world champ. He improved as he went on , but he wasn't green. My main point was Byrd wasn't at his best either.

 

Prime Holyfield from 1988-92 is a H2H nightmare for anyone in history. Fighters like Lewis and Vitali peaked older (later) in their careers. But Holyfield was at his best from age 26-30. The fact a shot Holyfield remained competitive at elite level well into his 40’s is nothing short of amazing.

 

Holyfield fought the following opponents who were currently ring ranked.
Valuev
Douglas
Bowex3
Foreman
Dokes
Thomas
Moorerx2
Toney
Byrd
Ruizx3 Ranked 2001 no7
Lewis x2
I made a mistake it's not 14 ranked opponents ,its 15!