Vitali vacates

[keithmoonhangover]

David Haye believed he was going to beat Wlad and I think his confidence would have been shattered if he hadn't had the broken toe to blame for his less than stellar performance inside his own head.

I wonder if this has made him extra sensitive about not fighting unless 100%.

Say what you want about the broken toe, but......

ask every boxer on the planet if they'd rather fight with or without a broken toe and see what they say.

I'd imagine the sensible ones would say without the broken toe?

In fairness I've had my little toe broke twice, once by an angry drug dealer and the other time by the frame of a door. On neither of those occasions did I feel it improved my chances of beating the Heavyweigh Champion of the World.

[handsofstone]

Just thinking about banging my toe on the door frame makes me wanna

[Final round]

In fairness I've had my little toe broke twice, once by an angry drug dealer and the other time by the frame of a door. On neither of those occasions did I feel it improved my chances of beating the Heavyweigh Champion of the World.

An angry drug dealer

[keithmoonhangover]

Just thinking about banging my toe on the door frame makes me wanna

I walked into the living room, my little toe stayed in the door frame of the hall. OUCH!

[keithmoonhangover]

In fairness I've had my little toe broke twice, once by an angry drug dealer and the other time by the frame of a door. On neither of those occasions did I feel it improved my chances of beating the Heavyweigh Champion of the World.

An angry drug dealer

When I'm nervous, I get cocky/sarcastic, so when the dealer accused me of banging his Mrs and I couldn't remember, I said something along the lines of, "I honestly don't remember, I might have." Then two big fellas held me down while he broke my toe with a hammer.

It's funny looking back at it. At the time it wasn't funny in the slightest.

[mickey1975]

I don't follow, Keith?

Didn't you used to be a pro mickey? If so, how many fights did you go into 'expecting to lose'?

No, never.

[keithmoonhangover]

I don't follow, Keith?

Didn't you used to be a pro mickey? If so, how many fights did you go into 'expecting to lose'?

No, never.

What makes you think Haye did mate?

[mickey1975]

I meant I've never been a pro!

[keithmoonhangover]

I meant I've never been a pro!

Ha'way Mickey man, you've made me look like a reet clown!

[Grilling Machine]

I wonder if this has influenced Haye's retirement. I think he'd struggle to find enough hunger to get past Fury without Vitali on his horizon.

Haye could beat Fury, but that doesn't mean he would. There's nothing but money in that fight for him. To Fury, it was a life-changing opportunity. Latterday Haye's always turned up in great condition, but anyone who isn't a K must be a struggle for him mentally.

Post-Thompson, he went on to his greatest night againt Mormeck. And although - still new to HW - some of his old boxing arrogance crept back in against Barrett, he was super-sharp in that one. In that sort of form, I'd pick him against Fury every time.

For his part, though, Fury is intimidating outside of the ring. I think this confuses some fans who misread his opponents' diplomacy as fear. In a brawl, the dude's huge. He's also pretty damn capricious when it comes to moods; is it Bruce Banner today, or the Hulk?

To draw comparison with someone like Cobb, how many heavies of his day could've beaten Tex? And how many of those would've fancied riling him on the streets?

[lillywhite14]

I think Fury was quite passive when he was actually in the company of Haye. Refusing to look him in the eye, playing around etc

I think Haye doesn't rate Fury at all though, which might have been dangerous. Haye is/was a quality fighter but he did have supreme confidence and maybe overrated his own ability somewhat. I'm sure he saw Fury as an easy nights work. Looking back over what Tyson has done so far, Haye probably thought he had showed nothing that would cause him any grief.

It was a life changing fight for Fury, regardless if he won or not. The payday would have been bigger than anything he can expect from any other fight.

[Final round]

In fairness I've had my little toe broke twice, once by an angry drug dealer and the other time by the frame of a door. On neither of those occasions did I feel it improved my chances of beating the Heavyweigh Champion of the World.

An angry drug dealer

When I'm nervous, I get cocky/sarcastic, so when the dealer accused me of banging his Mrs and I couldn't remember, I said something along the lines of, "I honestly don't remember, I might have." Then two big fellas held me down while he broke my toe with a hammer.

It's funny looking back at it. At the time it wasn't funny in the slightest.

Nice story my man if it's true nuts m8!

[Autobarn]

I hope Vitali fights again. It would be a very anticlimactic end to his career if not. Perhaps a fight against the new WBC champion in the Ukraine as a final challenge/farewell/platform to win votes towards the back end of 2014 will be possible.

never was the most active of champions, was he?

he pissed off, after first winning the WBC title, just when ppl genuinely were intrigued and wanted to see him in action.

he came back, taking some strain off his more fragile (but more athletic) brother - and went again, and no one seems that intrigued, outside of germany.

I've even forgotten most of his title fights. who'd he last fight, and did he really allow Shannon briggs to go the distance (or am I dreaming) a few years ago?

[Tuan_Jim]

Vitali did not allow Shannon Briggs to go the distance. He was unable to KO or stop or even knockdown a 40 year old and immobile Briggs with a history of chin problems. I think Vitali tackled the people who might bother little brother and little brother took on the guys who might make Vitali look bad.

It really has been a dreary spectacle and I hope someone soon employs the Lamon Brewster blueprint and keeps going straight at Wladimir swinging whenever Wladimir jumps back. Keep going and keep swinging. Of course under the new rules Wladimir is allowed to hold, squeeze and lean on you, and score KDs by throw downs, so perhaps you're not allowed to even attack Wladimir anymore.

[JimStone]

Vitali has been a physical wreck for years. His back is bad, his knees are goosed and his shoulders are an absolute mess. He did well to keep fighting at all. If he didn't have such a big ego (not an insult) he'd have stayed retired after he fought Williams. That he's managed to become one of the ATG heavyweights with that crocked body is some achievement.

[Final round]

Now that his career is over who was Vitali's best win?

[JimStone]

Now that his career is over who was Vitali's best win?

Good question. I'd say Corrie Sanders.

For me, Vitali's greatness rests on the output of the sum rather than any individual factor, if you know what I mean. When you cast an eye over his record, there's a temptation to shrug your shoulders, but if you watch the way he brutalised pretty much every guy on that list, it alters the perspective. At least it does for me.

[Final round]

Now that his career is over who was Vitali's best win?

Good question. I'd say Corrie Sanders.

For me, Vitali's greatness rests on the output of the sum rather than any individual factor, if you know what I mean. When you cast an eye over his record, there's a temptation to shrug your shoulders, but if you watch the way he brutalised pretty much every guy on that list, it alters the perspective. At least it does for me.

Yeah it's not the most exciting record of opponents but he dealt with what was in front of him. (apart from Lewis)

[Tuan_Jim]

He missed Chris Byrd all night and sat out the last three rounds because "it hurts too much". Chris Byrd and Lennox Lewis are easily the most high calibre men he boxed and he wasn't going 12 with either of them.

After Lewis and Byrd you have to move to Corrie Sanders... which says it all. And Sanders despite being hindered by middle age, low activity, poor stamina and a shaky chin stayed on his feet and gave him a rumble. Nearly had Vitali on the deck in the first or second.

I really don't think Vitali was built for an era when heavyweights were fit and could box, move and punch. The Era of the Overweights fitted his limitations perfectly.

[Syntax Error]

He's handed his belt back and been named Champion Emeritus (effectively meaning he has a guaranteed title shot when he wants one).

A number of so-called contenders will start lining up for a title shot - Stiverne, Arreola, Wilder, Fury all among them. Could be about to see some life blown into the Heavy division.

I don't think so.

We're about the see the fat, the overrated or the untested lining up to swap the WBC trinket around, as in the 1980s, until a decent HW comes along & wipes them all out; someone like Wladimir, or even an ancient Vitali returning in a couple of years because not enough people have voted for him.

[Teddy's Toupee]

He missed Chris Byrd all night and sat out the last three rounds because "it hurts too much". Chris Byrd and Lennox Lewis are easily the most high calibre men he boxed and he wasn't going 12 with either of them.

After Lewis and Byrd you have to move to Corrie Sanders... which says it all. And Sanders despite being hindered by middle age, low activity, poor stamina and a shaky chin stayed on his feet and gave him a rumble. Nearly had Vitali on the deck in the first or second.

I really don't think Vitali was built for an era when heavyweights were fit and could box, move and punch. The Era of the Overweights fitted his limitations perfectly.