Before the fight, I have tried to bring some sense to the posters here who stated that Peter will beat Vitali because of the ring rust issue, but to no avail. Vitali appeared far less rusty than Peter, apart from the size difference and Vitali's superior innate ability, if you watched the fight, whom would you have guessed to be the inactive fighter? Here is why Vitali's ring rust was a non - issue and to anyone with some understanding of sports physiology this was clear before the fight: - In most fighters who go inactive then stage a comeback years later, ring rust is coupled with getting out of shape, gaining weight etc. They need muc of their training camp just to get into the shape to actually train for a boxing match. Vitali always staed fit and slim, ring rust in that case is far less of an issue. - Peter gets horribly out of shape between fights, which prevents him from ever really improving his skills in a consistent manner. He used a jab and some skills against a smaller and completely shot Toney, big deal. He needs so much training just to get from obesity to just being overweight. I take ring rust in a guy who stays in shape over an active fighter who abuses his body anytime. - Vitali has not been in many ring wars, he was hit hard a few times by Sanders and Lewis, very few other opponents landed anything of significance on him. Fighters lose their reflexes and timing much more due to brain damage from blows than from inactivity alone.
Vitali and Vlad never get out of shape. I think Vitali needed a layoff to heal up, he has had so many amateur fights, both boxing and kickboxing and he can think within a ring. I have waited for this time to come for years now. I hope the haters will finally give some respect.
Smauel Peter was to Vitali Klitschko what David Tua was to Lennox Lewis. He is powerful and durable yet very one paced and very beatable by the excellent boxers who can fight tall.
