With the winner getting a shot at Joe Louis of course. What would have happened if these two had met in their respective primes?
I think Klitschko would outbox Tua just like the lesser skilled and smaller Rahman and Maskaev did for many rounds .. however, unlike those, Vitali has an iron chin to see him through the moments that Tua does land his bombs. Also, landing the left hook is very hard for a 5'10 fighter against a 6'7 boxer who epitomizes "fighting tall". Just look how much trouble he had reaching Lennox Lewis, who is two inches shorter.
Vitali probably decisions Tua, but Tua has a shot. He is a much better version of Arreola. More power, arguably a better chin, and some defense/head-movement. His combo punching isn't as good but his left hook and right hand are vicious. His foot-speed and pressure in his pace is tenfolds better than Arreola which was exactly WHY he really stood such a little chance against Vitali. I'm going to say it's a 70/30 fight for Vitali. But this would expose Vitali a lot more. This whole "barely losing rounds" and the fact that he fares far worse than Lewis did is going to expose himself as flawed, beatable, and make him seem a lot less great.
I am going to agree with Pete on this one. Vitali will outbox to win a comfortable decision but Tua will cause some problems for Vitali. Vitali doesn't like fighters that pressure him and Tua provides some heavy pressure.
Can't really see Tua doing a whole lot here...he never did much to Lewis, and Vitali's dimensions and mobility would give him the same problems. Tua wasn't the hardest guy to outbox. Tua's pretty much one-dimensional and once that dimension isn't working, his limitations become cruely exposed. It'll become (once again) a case of Vitali dominating with the jab, and throwing the right occasionally to spice things up. Tua will offer very little resistance after a few rounds, and basically just go through the motions. Vitali by easy decision.
VITLAY doesn't have the power to discourage Tua like Lewis did though....I see this as a close one like Tua V Ike (who I would bet my life would beat VITLAY by the way) Close VITLAY decision but I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if Tua shattered the Klitschko glass.
Vitali fight very tall, his legs are alway moving for angles but his upper torso is stiff for a guy 6"8 it would be hard for Tua to land solid and Vitali has a solid chin...Tua could give up on his stool or TKO'd or RSC but I think Vitali would be content out boxing David, using the jab and test David with his right hands and hook uppercuts for the UD....David may get hit with more than he has in the past
The guy has one of the best chin's in the division over the last couple decades. Where's the "glass" come in here?
He uses angles in his other fights. Always. It might be at 11 or 1 o'clock or noon, but the guy uses angles and can punch while moving his feet. Depends on the opponent. The guy with the **** poor footwork is Tua. He's got steinway piano legs as far as mobility and cutting off a ring goes. 1 or 2 steps and stop. Completely stop. He'd be 2 or 3 feet from Klitschko & he doesn't have the balance to throw a punch while moving his feet.
VK will be regarded in boxing history as a far better fighter than Tua. But this is closer than history would have you believe - purely because of Tua's characteristics. Tua was always good for 12 hard rounds, could punch like few can and has a chin like few do. VK won't stop him. But, VK has a warrior mentality and a good solid chin. VK by comfortable decision (10:2) with a few scary moments early. If it goes beyond 4 and VK gets in a groove, he wins every time. If VK looses, he looses inside 4.