Vitali Klitschko vs. Larry Holmes.

Fixed.

 

Would be a hard-fought battle. I see Vitali pressuring despite the size advantage. Larry jabs and counters to a close points win.

 

Holmes wins, just way quicker, more accurate, better jab, better footwork and just a league above in skills. Vitali's chin and stamina won't make it an easy night by any means but still Holmes UD.

 

if they fought ten times Holmes would win ten times . Vitali receives a very hard lesson in boxing in this fight and his face get butchered

 

I think Holmes was perhaps the best boxer the division has ever seen. Many talk about his jab. While Holmes had a great jab for sure, he also had a good cross, and uppercut. Holmes could also target the body and throw combinations with speed. Up close, mid range, or from a distance( Holmes had an 80 or 81” reach ) , Holmes could adapt. His footwork was rather good as well.



However, Holmes had trouble with good boxers, partly because he was aggressive, and partly because he kept his left hand a bit low. Norton, and Witherpsoon lost very close matches to Holmes. I think VK could win or lose a decision here, depending on your preference of scoring. If you prefer to score for the total amount of punches thrown, and landed VK has the edge. If you looking to score for cleaner shots Holmes has the edge. This would be a very close match. Holmes never fought anyone like Vitali, and no Cooney who won about 4-5 rounds on my card wasn’t nearly as good as Vitali is on offense or defense.

 

This is my opinion right down to a "T".

While Holmes towered over Klitschko from a legacy standpoint, Vitali brought too many factors to the table for this to be an easy fight. The man was bigger than Gerry Cooney with comparable power plus the added features of durability, better conditioning, stronger mental resolve and dare I say a better outside fighting game.. Holmes has my vote to win but he'd have to be at his best and fighting sometime between 1978 to 1982. From about 83' onward I would make him the underdog.

 

Holmes stops him on cuts.

 

This is a serious question as I've never seen it happen yet, have you ever picked/favored Holmes over another heavyweight that would be ranked in the top 20?

 

yes I put him in the top 10 but am not overly impressed with Larry's career, he missed to many top guys in his era and never re-matched a tough fight....I thought he had the best jab in the business but can not forget his avoidences

 

Vitali a hard ass?

 

Holmes as usual against walking statues dominates with his jab. Round after round hard jabs batter Vitali again and again. By round 9 Vitali has lost most every round, is seeing only through slits and is bleeding from the nose and from cuts above both eyes. Round 10 Holmes opens up with overhand rights that back his opponent to the ropes. Helpless Vitali is hit by several consecutive right hands and the ref mercifully stops the fight.

 

Which top 20 ATGs do you favor him over?

 

A very tough fight as any objective student of the sport knows Vitali is an extremely tough guy but Holmes outpoints him w hand speed ... a tricky bout ..

 

He has a good chance with certain fighters. At the best I would say he had a good chance over Foreman but could also lose. He has a good chance against many in fact but I do not see him having a great chance with Louis,Marciano or a prime Ali. Lennox would be a tough one for Holmes but if Larry survives early a 15 rounder may favor his chances. I favor him over Patterson, SHarkey,Primo,Willard, WIlls, He has a 50-50 chance with Scheling and Baer but not a certainty. I favor him over Liston, not Tyson or Frazier. harles and Walcott should beat him in decisions but close matches.

Holmes best wins were Cooney and Shavers, both beatable, he did not get to fight co-champions, Weaver, Coetzee,Thomas,Tate, Dokes and never rematched Weaver,Norton,Witherspoon or Williams and I hold it against him because those wee fights I wanted to see. Also Holmes Split tile reign was one of the worst I have seen as far as fighting very inexperienced opponents 2 of them had 10 wins, one had 13 wins and 2 had 14 wins and another 2 had 15 wins.....I think Holmes had loads of talent but did not do what th elite guys did Louis,Marciano,Ali and that is fight the best and be sole Champion.

 

I was just curious, thank you for answering.:good