Vitali should get out soon in a historical sense

If it's not broken, don't try fixing it. He's got a fight or two left in him of that I'm certain. As long as he doesn't go down the path Holyfield's on I think he should continue doing what he's doing. Given his age he'll get a little slack if he wins in a less impossing manner than he would have in his prime.

 

He might not be around long, perhaps 3 more years at the top maybe.

 

Big Vit-Klit has a canny few years left of WBC rule IMO. :bbb

WHO can really beat him except his bro?? :huh

 

Is Vitali really slipping? I think a lot of people simply look at a guy's age and say, "Well, he's at an advanced age for a pro boxer, so he must be over the hill and past it." Looking at Vitali fight, I don't see much difference in Vitali today versus Vitali of five years ago. He's just as clumsy, uncoordinated, and slow as he always seemed to be. But he's damn effective with his style. I mean, maybe he is "past it" and on the downside, but I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that he is. If you didn't know how old Vitali is, would you still feel that he was slipping?

 

I think he's been consistently dreadful since the Peter fight, despite hardly losing a round.

 

Vitali used to actually use his feet very well. Watch him move in and out of distance against Lewis, Williams, Johnson, Sanders... He was excellent at dictating range and lining up counters with movement.

Nowadays, its all above the waist, trying to just dodge and line up pull counters. Its clear he doesn't have young legs.

His power is beginning to dimish because he can't put much behind each shot. His power punches, today, are little more than arm shots that are thrown well. In his prime, he hit quite hard, and had one of the better knockout percentages ever, but now, he's struggling to even get the accumulation stoppages he was able to pound out in his prime. A reason for this could be bad shoulders, and indeed, Vitali suffered a shoulder tear against Chisora, which isn't gonna help matters.

There are other signs, but the clear indication of his legs and shoulders going is the best example of his decline.

 

With the big money on the table, as long as he enjoys or tolerates the training, there is no good reason to quit. If he was absorbing a beating every fight it would be different.

 

A shoulder injury limited Vitali:

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/i...ulder-ligament-vs-dereck-chisora-need-surgery

 

A blind man can see he's slipped a fair amount. His legs look stiff and wooden and it's clear as day his best years are behind him.
But, does it matter? He still beat Chisora handily, although the scorecards don't tell the whole story of the fight.

I don't think it was a bad styles matchup. Chisora didn't show much except willingness and a good chin. He will never beat either brother with those wild swipes and occasional punch to the body. He has not much of a jab at all. He does not punch in combination.
He's very average ultimately, if gutsy.

Honestly? Klitschko's punches didn't hurt Chisora, and that more than anything was why it was slightly competitive. (Relatively speaking.)

But, if watching Johnathon Banks sleepwalk to a decision over a late substitute is any indication of the current standards of the so-called up and coming crop of fighters, then Vitali can earn a few more paydays yet.
He doesn't have a lot to worry about.

 

Given the sorry state of the division he could likely go on for some time yet.

 

Agreed,

I don't see anyone else who displays the kind of style combined with the right physical attributes who I'd favor to beat him, asside from his own brother, and we all know that fight isn't happening.. Guys like Helenus and Fury are big enough but lack the right fundamentals.. Povetkin is a good technician, but lacks the size, power and strength. David haye vs Vitali would be a waste of ink and paper. Barring any injuries or fluke upsets, the man could probably stick around for another 3 years at least..

 

"Potty" Povetkin also lacks EXPLOSIVENESS, SPEED And any kind of WORKRATE.
PLUS his headmovement is ****.

Magoo - do you guess someone has to be teh same enormous gigantic size as "Horrible" Helenius or "Terrible" Tyson Fury, But with mint skills instead of **** skills And fast hands to beat a Big Klit???

 

Well, even before Klit's fight with Chisora last Saturday night I heard V.K. say he's not looking to break George Foreman's record by being the oldest fart ever to hold the title... I think V.K. is eyeballing retirement this year... I say he fights one more time against whoever is available and then makes his exit outta boxing... 2012 is his year to exit the game...
bbb

MR.BILL:hat

 

I know this wasn't put to me, but if you don't mind I'll give my 2c...in a word, no.

Huge heavys are mostly slow-footed, plodding types. I think the Klits eat guys like that for breakfast.
Obviously mint skills and fast hands are an asset no matter who you fight, but there aren't too many heavies with both knocking about...

But, in my opinion, a guy with a solid chin, a good jab and someone who can counter and throw punches in bunches would be my prototypical heavyweight to beat the Klits...he doesn't have to be huge either...220 or so is fine.