He got a good chin, that's for sure and he got some good boxing skills.
ButI don't feel he's a durable fighter. The two times he was pushed to the limit, his body failed him both times.
Against Byrd, his shoulder gave out due to a variety of factors. Against old Lennox, the only time he took serious damage to the face, his face fell apart.
Vitali is definitely an ATG Heavyweight, but I do not feel that he is durable at all. His history of injuries and his weak skin imo would have always kept him from being a top tier fighter in an era like the 90's.
Wladimir actually cuts easy as well. This is a big weakness that would have been much more noticeable in a tougher era. There is no indication that Vitali or Wlad's face will hold up if he fought someone like a Prime Bowe or someone like an aggressive Holyfield.
I think people under estimate just how great Lewis was as a cutter. If you watch Morrison and Tyson against Lewis, you will notice very very similar cuts in terms of place/angle. Vitali's cut was just much bigger and deeper, but the place of the actual cut was the same as Morrison's and Tyson's.
I believe Lennox might have cut Vitali again in a rematch.
ButI don't feel he's a durable fighter. The two times he was pushed to the limit, his body failed him both times.
Against Byrd, his shoulder gave out due to a variety of factors. Against old Lennox, the only time he took serious damage to the face, his face fell apart.
Vitali is definitely an ATG Heavyweight, but I do not feel that he is durable at all. His history of injuries and his weak skin imo would have always kept him from being a top tier fighter in an era like the 90's.
Wladimir actually cuts easy as well. This is a big weakness that would have been much more noticeable in a tougher era. There is no indication that Vitali or Wlad's face will hold up if he fought someone like a Prime Bowe or someone like an aggressive Holyfield.
I think people under estimate just how great Lewis was as a cutter. If you watch Morrison and Tyson against Lewis, you will notice very very similar cuts in terms of place/angle. Vitali's cut was just much bigger and deeper, but the place of the actual cut was the same as Morrison's and Tyson's.
I believe Lennox might have cut Vitali again in a rematch.
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