Vitali nearly Knocked Out!

[baulks]

Watching Vitali Klitschko's 5th pro fight, he back peddles against Troy Roberts and appears off balance, then Roberts lands a left hook and sends him to the canvas in the 2nd minute. The Ref ruled it a slip and refused to count. Their feet don't appear to tangle, Roberts if anything wrong footed him and I think it was a legit knockdown.

What do you guys think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRu84wMegwc

[raylawpc]

The referee obviously had a better view, but it looked legit to me. I don't think he was hurt - kind of a slip / knockdown, i.e., Lurch was off balance but a punch landed.

[Brutu]

Not a legit knockdown.
Troy Roberts rush and crowded him in a corner and had his right knee
in back of Vitali's left knee and he just knee tripped him off balance.

[Brutu]

watch at about 2:10 of it.
Roberts right leg/knee gets behind Vitali's left leg/knee
while he was retreating and there seemsto be a delayed reaction while
Vitlai tried to regain his balance going backward.

[raylawpc]

watch at about 2:10 of it.
Roberts right leg/knee gets behind Vitali's left leg/knee
while he was retreating and there seemsto be a delayed reaction while
Vitlai tried to regain his balance going backward.

i see what ur talkin bout but i dont think there was enough contact to say that's what made vitali go down. look to me like it was there for not even a second all the while vitali was rushing backwards and off-balance to start with against the ropes and then ate a left hook.

if vitali learned how to truly box and not rely on just arm length & size he could have been so much better (as in learning how to slip punches and create counter punching angles/opportunities from the sides rather than relying on his arm length & sheer size to avoid opponents blows or leaning his upper torso back or just galloping backwards in a straight line). still a pretty good fighter tho so kudos to baulks for makin this a thread

Wasn't much of a hook, but he went down after getting hit by it so it was a legit knockdown.

[dempseyfire]

It was an off-balance KD due to Vitali leaning back too far but a legit knockdown nonetheless . . that's why it's typically a boxing no-no to lean straight back from punches, although Vitali has done it with success for the wide majority of his career.

[Brutu]

I forgot to mention that when Robert's right knee made contact with
the back of Vitali Klitchko's left leg,Roberts foot would have been directly
under his own knee of course and his toes even further out right behind the left heel of Vitali Klitschko and when Klitschko hurridly
was trying to evade being cornered ,he tripped over Roberts front part of his shoe and lost his balance.

[Diamond WEAPON]

I agree with Brutu.

[BoxBuzz]

He may have legitimately knocked OVER versus down.

And nowhere near KO territory.

[pound per pound]

watch at about 2:10 of it.
Roberts right leg/knee gets behind Vitali's left leg/knee
while he was retreating and there seemsto be a delayed reaction while
Vitlai tried to regain his balance going backward.

About right. Its not a clean knockdown. I would say no knockdown. The ref made the correct call. Only a fool would think Roberts had Vitali hurt.

[NazNaci1]

I agree with Brutu.

I have to say the same.

[gregor]

It looked like Vitali was starting to lose his balance (more because of his poor footwork than any contact with Roberts I think), but since his opponent managed to land clean shot clearly before he went down he should be counted IMHO. Vitali wasn't hurt at all, but that is not the point there.

BTW, Roberts did better than many title opponent of Vitali - just because he came in shape and actually tried to win (and he landed a couple of punches as well).

[crusader]

Does it matter that Roberts was in shape? The bout lasted a round and a half....

[Diamond WEAPON]

Why are we debating the legitimacy of a knock down Klitshcko suffered in his fifth pro fight?

Because its evidence that Dempsey would kill him in 30 seconds. Old-timers FTW!!!

[raylawpc]

Why are we debating the legitimacy of a knock down Klitshcko suffered in his fifth pro fight?

We're bored . . .

[Brutu]

It is interesting to note at this early stage of his pro career,
his fighting style.
looks like he has sort of a slouching stance
that he goes in and out of.