Vitali

[diddy]

If Fury wins the rematch against Wlad, would Vitali dare to make a ring return? As the heavier handed of the brothers one has to wonder if he could regain the titles. As they say, punching power is the last thing to go on a fighter.

[Bard of Boxrec]

Vitali was never more heavy handed than wlad. I expect better from you.

[crusader]

Vitali was never a major puncher despite his high KO ratio.....his stoppages, especially in the later part of his career, were mainly the product of him landing at high volume against overmatched opponents.

I doubt that he'd return and Fury (as well as probably several others) would beat him handily at this stage in my opinion.

[diddy]

Vitali was never more heavy handed than wlad. I expect better from you.

His KO % says otherwise. Unless 91% is really less than 81%?

[crusader]

I think that has more to do with stylistic differences....he was significantly busier than Wlad and tended to hit his opponents more as a result.

I can't imagine someone like Sosnowski lasting deep into a fight with Wlad if the latter were landing as often as Vitali did.

[Bard of Boxrec]

Vitali was never more heavy handed than wlad. I expect better from you.

His KO % says otherwise. Unless 91% is really less than 81%?

Diddy, you are one of the most knowledgable posters on this forum. How do you not understand this ? Crusader's post sums it up. Ko percentages don't always tell the full story. Wlad punched harder. Vitali had the volume that just overwhelmed guys.

[diddy]

I think that has more to do with stylistic differences....he was significantly busier than Wlad and tended to hit his opponents more as a result.

I can't imagine someone like Sosnowski lasting deep into a fight with Wlad if the latter were landing as often as Vitali did.

Significantly busier and more aggressive would be an important component against Fury, no? Since, well, ya know, Wlad threw 12 punches a round vs Tyson.

[crusader]

Could be, but Vitali was looking slow and creaky towards the end of his career, and in his last seven fights he went the distance three times and into the tenth round on two other occassions.

I don't want him to return and I highly doubt he beats Fury at this point, who is leagues better than the Fury of even just a couple years ago.

[diddy]

Could be, but Vitali was looking slow and creaky towards the end of his career, and in his last seven fights went the distance three times and into the tenth round on two other occassions.

I highly doubt he beats Fury at this point.

Volume vs Fury could be equally as important as punch power. Wilder could maybe put his lights out with one shot while a volume puncher like Vitali is (was) could draw him out of that ultra-conservative moving around jab-pawing BS we saw tonight. That sort of style only works against a guy who isn't throwing any punches. Against a guy not throwing you can beat him simply by jabbing.

[lillywhite14]

Clutching at straws.

The Klitschkos reign is finished.

[man]

Clutching at straws.

The Klitschkos reign is finished.

[Ilya Muromets]

I had been thinking that Vitali might come back to avenge his little brother's loss just as he did against the late great Corrie Sanders. Both of the brothers always keep themselves in top shape.

[greg]

..I think some of you guys don't quite realise what age does to a boxer, in fact to ANY sportsman...Vitali slowed down at the end of his boxing career still winning against limited Chisora but never looking his old/young self...it's not like he's gonna be better now, 3 years later...plus he was plagued with injuries when much younger...

[bigjack]

Vitali was never more heavy handed than wlad. I expect better from you.

true,he was much tougher and could dig,but Wlad is much the better boxer with one punch power.

[Ilya Muromets]

..I think some of you guys don't quite realise what age does to a boxer, in fact to ANY sportsman...Vitali slowed down at the end of his boxing career still winning against limited Chisora but never looking his old/young self...it's not like he's gonna be better now, 3 years later...plus he was plagued with injuries when much younger...

Alas, no one can stop the ravages of time...and boxer years are somewhere between human years and dog years.

[Bodyshot3]

Vitali won't be playing; he's a self-aware and very bright man who knows that fighting is not part of his future.

I actually thought VK was far less enthusiastic about a rematch and blunt about Wlad's overall performance than most at the post-fight presser.

His body language and tone of voice was interesting; sort of a case of a former champion and concerned brother feeling that Wlad would be far better to sleep on things but holding back to be supportive of his brother.

[Ricky_]

Vitali or Lewis could lace their gloves tomorrow and clean out this embarrassment of a division.

[victor-romeo]

If Fury wins the rematch against Wlad, would Vitali dare to make a ring return? As the heavier handed of the brothers one has to wonder if he could regain the titles. As they say, punching power is the last thing to go on a fighter.

Doubt it Vitali looked way out of shape while sparring with his brother, we are coming to the end of the Klitschko train, although I say he rematches Fury and wins.. The end is near for Wlad..

[aquinas]

Vitali only just got re-elected as Mayor of Kiev 2 weeks ago and has become leader of his political party.

There is absolutely no way he is going to have the time or motivation to fight Fury.

Both brothers should retire safe in the knowledge that in their prime they would have beaten Fury.

[jezzamundo]

If Fury wins the rematch against Wlad, would Vitali dare to make a ring return? As the heavier handed of the brothers one has to wonder if he could regain the titles. As they say, punching power is the last thing to go on a fighter.

I actually think heavy handed is a good way to describe Vitali - he's a heavy handed arm puncher who never hit nearly as hard as his younger brother, yet was always the superior fighter. For an arm puncher, he hit pretty hard, but never with anything like the pop that Wlad possesses. I'd be confident that a prime Vitali would beat Fury, but he's a politician now, given the length of his layoff, Fury would have to be a big favourite.

[lillywhite14]

Vitali wasn't as good a 'boxer' as his brother nor punched as hard but he was game and had a very solid chin. He would take risks. Thats why he would have levelled both Wlad and Fury in his prime. Thing is, that was ten plus years ago ( the comeback Vitali wasn always there for the taking imo )

[Tuan_Jim]

Vitali was never more heavy handed than wlad. I expect better from you.

His KO % says otherwise. Unless 91% is really less than 81%?

I think it's more useful to examine statistics, rather than blindly reciting them.

Vitali couldn't put Shannon Briggs or Corrie Sanders on the floor, two old men with a history of knockdowns. He couldn't put Obed Sullivan down, who David Tua then splattered in 60 seconds. He couldn't put Vaughn Bean down, who Holyfield decked heavily. He couldn't put Chisora down, who Haye then nuked. He couldn't deck Sam Peter, Chris Arreola or Lennox Lewis, all of whom he hit square. He's a strong, heavy handed man but he is no puncher, irrespective of what statistics says.

[Boxing Writer]

Vitali or Lewis could lace their gloves tomorrow and clean out this embarrassment of a division.

Fury would beat both of them much easier than he beat Wlad. Especially 50 y.o. Lewis

[diddy]

I'll always remember Vitali for the EPIC fight with Lennox. Now THAT is heavyweight boxing. Not the garbage we were subjected to yesterday.

So so sad the cut ended that prematurely. What an amazing half a fight. I'd never seen Lennox get hit like that.

[fanman]

I'll always remember Vitali for the EPIC fight with Lennox. Now THAT is heavyweight boxing. Not the garbage we were subjected to yesterday.

So so sad the cut ended that prematurely. What an amazing half a fight. I'd never seen Lennox get hit like that.

Yeah. Not to drag up old news but i think that was actually the last good 'undisputed heavyweight title' fight. And lewis being outreached by a younger fresher man showed how a champion digs deep.