Vitali Klitschko vs Jersey Joe Walcott

What's interesting, to me, in the V. Klitschko - Byrd fight is what caused the injury.

 

While I disagree with the narrative around the Klitschko fight - to me, it was very close and showed that the men were near equals; Vitali was slightly ahead (5-4 IMO, could see Byrd up), but fought injured but still clearly effective with both arms, Byrd took the fight on a weeks notice and tried several different styles before finding one that worked (he'd have ran away with the momentum after the ninth IMO - if we apply that TKO6 'logic' to this fight) - but I think Vitali is bad for Walcott.

Byrd isn't as good as Walcott, in an absolute or pound-for-pound sense but he was a midgie's more versatile - and that almost Whitaker-esque stalking was what really gave Vitali his issues. He used his southpaw-ness to partially take away Vitali's jab, and just constantly got under his cross. He came back up and landed cleaner, if not more often. It was full of messy, either-way type rounds. In short, the attributes that Byrd both had in common with Walcott, and troubled Vitali, were applied in a manner that Walcott couldn't do. He just can't walk Vitali down in that fashion. He can square up in front of him, but constantly stalk and look to get inside?? No, Walcott didn't ever show he could do that - for a full fight - to the level he'd need to, here. IMO, obviously.

No, I think Vitali would be best suited to fighting how he did vs Kirk Johnson. That non stop aggression from such a taller guy would be perfect to grinding Walcott down. But I don't think Vitali himself had the same faith in his chin that other's do (and it's hard to think why, when it was so obviously brilliant), Walcott's countering skills would keep him honest. Jersey Joe just doesn't have the capacity to win the rounds against Vitali's height and reach. Vitali would be missing lots, and likely eating some horrible counters every now and then, but he'd be in control at range and Walcott doesn't have the capacity to get inside those long arms and win from there.

I'm torn, because I think Walcott's chin is underrated, and Vitali's power is overrated, but I don't know if Vitali stops him.

 

Sub 200 pound short of reach and height Walcott vs Vitali, sorry cannot see Walcott winning under any circumstances, Vitalis heavy ring walk outfit might possibly affect his performance i guess.

 

what you say about the byrd fight is interesting. I agree