Vitali Klitschko vs Larry Holmes

I struggle to pick a winner, people seem to **** on Vitali a lot, I think it’s because Lewis beat him and people also like to discredit him as well.
I struggle to pick a winner because Holmes didn’t fight many taller guys than himself, he fought Cooney and we seen that he fought the same way he always did, at range looking to setup punches from distance, it worked against Cooney because he gives up his reach a lot, yes he does jab, but it’s mainly to close the distance, we never seen Holmes fight anyone who was taller than himself who actually could fight at distance, Holmes against Cooney never got low and came over the top or used any shorter man tactics in general and if you’re fighting an elite guy who is taller, you probably need to have that ability, Spinks against Cooney was getting low and coming over the top, throwing the right over Cooney’s jab and what have you, but Holmes doesn’t seem to have that in his arsenal, but Holmes was a lot quicker than Vitali, so it’s possible he could beat him at range simply by beating him to the punch, but let’s be hones, Vitali is a lot better than Conney at range.

 

Carl Williams fought at distance and was as tall as Vitali with a longer reach.

Holmes did struggle in that one but he was also considerably past his best at that point.

 

I get it. All good my man

 

Holmes should be the favorite and I went with him via decision. But this would be an extremely hard fight and he couldn’t afford to be complacent. Klitschko was bigger than Gerry Cooney, only more durable and better skilled

 

More durable certainly, & more skilled, mildly. He was less talented though & unable to get himself out of any trouble with one big punch that might turn the tide in his favour.

 

Less talented and less able to get himself out of trouble once hurt than Cooney ? Not sure I can agree with either of those. And I’m not even sure Holmes fought the BEST version of Cooney as the man had only seen 54 seconds of ring action in 20 months and had never been beyond 8 rounds.

 

Less able specifically in regards to a big punch that can turn a fight. Obviously Klitschko was substantially tougher physically & had much greater strength of character & composure than Cooney. He could hang in there & win a fight he’s losing in his era, but he’s not going to rescue a fight he’s losing against any all-time great opponent.

 

He almost certainly didn’t fight the best version of Cooney. Cooney’s rust showed in the second half of the fight.

Best version of Cooney was against Young imo.

 

Yeah while I have no proof one way or the other I’m inclined to agreeing with you. It can’t be any good for a developing prospect to be THAT inactive going into the biggest fight of his career.

 

He had a couple of blemishes in front of the mic. Yeah a white guy would have been crucified. Heck, some try to crucify Hopkins.

 

Vitali too robotic to beat Holmes for mine. Holmes faster and facing a predictable opponent. He has solid stamina so Vitali won't wear him down and once he's in the ring he's going to give it his all. Holmes decision. Is there a chance he might bust him up a bit and discourage him toward the later rounds? Maybe.

 

Larry probably but Vitali could pull it off

 

Prime vs prime...I'll take Holmes by ud or cut stoppage. I can see those jabs and quick, straight right hands slicing Vitaly up.