Let's say Sanders knocked Vitali out during their clash (his first round punch was a lot more devastating in this timeline), then retired for golf. Everything else continued as it did in the real world. (Vitali beat Danny Williams for the retired Sanders' belt, etc. etc.) Where would you rate Sanders?
Very low. Nowhere. Vitali's rating takes a MASSIVE hit and Wlad becomes one of those "two careers" guys where beating him early counts for less. One additional win isn't going to make that much difference.
As one of hell of a fun fighter, who could bang, and it was clearly a lot more than luck... He would get kudos ala Johansson, but still would be struggling for a top 20 Heavyweight spot.
Not very highly. Sanders had already had his chances in the past and failed. It would have just put Vitali more in proper perspective of where he would be had he been fighting in the mid 90's. Lets face it Sanders had two runs at the title and he was stopped both times by fighters about on his same level. They pulled the guy out of retirement to face Wlad, and he just went for the early KO, because he was in no condition to fight 12 hard rounds, which turned out to be the right game plan. All of sudden his boxing career was back on.
