Difficult to say with a degree of certainty (but then all hypotheticals are uncertain). I don’t think it is fair or easy to determine how he would do in the 13-15 rd era. Even more difficult to guess at how his endurance and style are impacted in unlimited rd era. Likewise how do previous eras adapt at being thrust into a mere 12 rd era... I think he would beat many that have been listed and perhaps lose to some who are not. He would not be an easy opponent for anyone, and he will have some natural advantages over many. Ali, Holmes, Tyson, Lewis are 4 I would favor. Bowe, Louis, Holyfield, Wlad, Foreman or Liston are pick em type fights. The other greats would be live dogs. Although I think he walks through many of them like Paterson, Ingo, Schmeling etc. He would fare well against other greats but I don’t see him as a mythical unbeatable either.
seeing as a top five ATG in worst form stopped him in 6, then top ten ATGs would also stop him inside 6, less arguably. top 5 to 10 would stop him outside 6 top 11-20 would stop him late outside that 21-30 beat him on points. A better question would be to match vits with bitpart titlists like himself - so thats guys like wlad k, shaggy, iggy, bentty, Bruno, Tucker etc. He would win some of them (eg Bentty), lose some of them (wlad k bruno tucker)
The size factor comes into play, the reach and weird lean back movement would render all these small shuffling fighters ineffective. Wlad would not beat him either, Tyson had zero chance, the size difference is hilarious,
Byrd was comparable size to Mike and took the fight on 10 days notice and won. Plus Vitali punching down against Byrd his accuracy halved compared to previous fights. In fact Byrd landed a fair amount of punches a much bigger hitter like Mike who was equally difficult to hit could do real damage. Whilst injured Vitali he looked fine for most of it he threw over 500 punches over 9 rounds.
size factor never came into play in a tyson fight. but it magically does with a crude fighter like vitali, nice one.
When you consider the troubles Tyson had with skilled big men, and how smaller men easily out boxed Joe Louis, I say judging by the films those two are not the best picks. No man ever won more than three rounds vs. Vitali in his entire professional career, which includes his late 30's and early 40's. He was never floored by a punch either. Those two facts combined mean a conventional stoppage or points win over Vitali is unlikely. As I have said before, Vitali has the highest percentage of rounds won to rounds lost % in the history of lineal / ring magazine champions, not just at heavyweight, but all weight classes. Looking back at his career perhaps his largest weakness was injuries, many if which stem from a pro and amateur kickboxing career where he attained the rank of champion. I'd pick Lewis, Holmes, Wlad and Ali as having the best chance.
Which trainer? Fritz Sdunek? I'd like to read that one. Is there a link on the web? Vitali wasn't easy to counter punch.
his main trouble being, should I knock this one out early too, or carry him for a bit. Your trouble is recognising the fact.
plenty of men never gave away more than 3 rounds to fighters below the standard of a retired corrie sanders - vitalis best win, a guy who couldnt reach world level when he was prime. do the hundreds of guys who match that criteria make your cut as well? or is it magically just vitali once again.
The fighters I'd favor to beat him (at their respective Peak): Ali Liston Frazier Tyson Foreman Lewis Wlad Bowe Holyfield Holmes 50:50 Byrd Ibeabuchi Marciano Golota Moorer Everyone else I favor Vitaly.
Sanders never had the chance either. But my statement stands. You cant name ANY champion who never lost more than three rounds in their career on any score card. The Byrd fight is irrelevant, unless your the type that likes to pick fantasy fights when one guy was injured and the other was not.
he never earned it. Dont pretend one man should be above everyone else in history that has to earn their shot, just becos he easily killed middling wlad in seconds.
