Vitali is in the top 15 all time. Just an amazing fighter, I will contend that he struck more fear in the hearts of fighters than his brother every did. Whom would you rather face in the ring, Vitali or Wlad? Vitali is not someone you want mess with.
Then why did he quit on his stool with 3 rounds to go vs a feather fisted cruiserweight? I would be a lot more scared about the guy who had 18 consecutive title defenses!
I agree. I'm a Sanders fan, and I knew from the get-go that Wlad was just the appetizer, Vitali was the main course. Which is why I was so disappointed when it was obvious that Corrie had been visiting the local Spur more than his gym in preparing for Vitali. I believe that if he'd kept the level he was at for Wlad, and built on it ... maybe, who knows what might have been ... :-( That said, Wlad certainly has the better resume of the two brothers, and has to be considered the "greater" fighter, even though H2H I think Vitali takes care of him.
I very much agree with this. People underestimate what it takes to be a top twenty fighter in any weightclass. The world's a big place, and if you're there, you are special at what you do. If you seem to be doing a lot of things wrong or in an unusual way, I'm interested and have all the more respect for you. Vitali was a monster, imo. I have a broader range of boxers I call a monster because I have so much respect for the sport. Reach, toughness, that incredible timing, a good eye, toughness to boot...there is no easy way to win vs Vitali. Win or lose, you're going to have to fight tooth and nail because he's a stayer, and he has that dogged determination and confidence bordering on arrogance. I think he's a lot more like Monzon than a lot of people are willing to admit.
Vitali also has that thing where if he wants to take a little break, he doesn't do the usual. He just doesn't lead much, and just watches opponents and times then just as they are about to throw. Not hard, but since they're coming in it stings and resets them. He's a big guy, and because of the above he rarely had to clinch for air. So good at relaxing in the ring. Probably the most herky-jerky guy to relax that much.
I think in Vitali's second reign it was more about regaining the title and enjoying being on top. The job he did on Peter was very impressive though..
I think this is a poor thread to support if one looks at it realistically .. the man came back after four years and re-won the title without any tune ups ... exceptional accomplishment .. never done before in the divisions history. He overcame bad injuries than essentially forced him to modify his style from his previous reign. When he beat Peters, Sam was coming off his most dominant win, was a feared force in the division and had given Wlad a life and death battle .. as far as the opposition goes, he ducked no one. No one went on to win a title because of the dominance of both brothers who held the titles .. If you compare Vtali at 38 or 40 ( or essentially the age of a Marciano title opponent ) to the other greats he is so far superior it is a joke .. Johnson was dethroned, Dempsey spanked by Kingfish, Louis retired by Marciano, Rocky waddling around picking up handouts fat and bald , Ali a shell .. ect .. How would the 40 year old Vitali have done against the Foreman or Holmes that fought at 42 ?
HE's correct. The other flaw in this thread is fighters typically side out of the rankings after a knock out loss. Only the very best contenders stay in the top ten over a long period of time.
No fighter does something he doesn't want to in the ring giving his opponent more chances to hit him. Ali wasn't coasting. He simply didn't the physical tools to make these fights easy for him, which is why tier 3 title opponents gave him fits. Regardless of skill level, even hall of fame level opponents no man ever knocked Vitali down. No man ever won more than 3 rounds vs. him. Vitali rounds won to rounds lost ratio vs. top 10 fighters towers above anyone you can name in the history of the division. It's not his fault Haye and Valuev ran, or Lewis would not give him a re-match.
I think both Kiltschko brothers will be remembered far better over time .. Vitali was a stylistic nightmare for almost everyone .. of course there were better pound for pound heavyweights but his combination of size, strength, chin, heart, conditioning, intelligence and over all skill make him a very tough guy to beat H2H .. no doubt a top ten to 15 H2H ..
Suzie have you ever torn your rotator cuff? I did, my arm went numb, I could not move it, not only couldn't I move it I had to stay super still so that it didn't tear more,,,i went stone cold wanting to get to the doctor, in many ways I acted like Vitali as I watched that fight live,,,,he keeps his left arm in one position, becomes stone cold and wants out, the stone cold is the shock from the pain and the fact that when it rips you cant move your arm and you get freaked out. the guy had shoulder surgery soon after the fight, if you cant accept that a guy would quit in such a situation I question your judgement of bravado. Unless you are the type of guy that could continue in a fight with a seriously broken arm and win? When my shoulder ripped I lost the ability to move my arm and it freaked me out big time. The pain was really bad but the pain wasn't from trying to move my arm, my arm wasn't working, I could move my fingers but I couldn't move my arm, it was fooked, anyways, I reacted to it very much like Vitali reacts in that fight against Byrd, I went into a stone cold silence and wanted to see a Doctor asap and sure enough I had to have surgery soon thereafter. You are a good poster, don't sell Vitali short on courage by denying him the benefit of the doubt that in one of all his many fights something in his shoulder may have broke and it could of broken bad enough that he couldn't continue :good
Buddy McGirt went into the Whitaker fight with this injury he went the distance. Pac man did the same against Floyd. Vitali was well in front against a non puncher he could have won with one hand. Danny Williams toughed out a fight against a guy with a dislocated shoulder . A past prime Jack Johnson toughed out a draw with a young strong Jim Johnson after breaking his arm in the second round. Ali broke his jaw against Norton in the second round yet continued to lose a split decision. Kevin Finnegan did the same thing in a fight. Lamotta fought with a broken hand ,Tom Sharkey with a broken finger and broken ribs against Jeffries.Mugabi broke his hand against Hagler. Boxing is a tough game. Bottom line Vitali elected to quit .
Agreed. I've never done it but I've worked with people who have and its extremely debilitating. What should also be added is that Vitali suffered that injury in the third or fourth round of that fight, meaning that he went on for several rounds longer continuing to get the better of Byrd before he couldn't go on beyond the ninth. So if anyone asks if Vitali showed bravado, the answer is yes he did.