Prime for prime it was obvious, but lately I had been wondering if Wlad had surpassed his brother due to Vitali's age. He hasn't though. Vitali has a better jab, better punch variety, at the very least the same speed and reflexes, more power still it seems, far better chin obviously. Dude doesn't even go all out anymore and he impresses me more than Wlad.
I'm beginning to wonder if Wlad does anything better than his brother. Even now, if these two fought and weren't brothers, Vitali would crush him.
Lewis said he was "at the peak of my powers" when he got his ass whooped by Vitali.
Lewis was coming off the KO win over Tyson. In the Lewis-Tyson post fight interview Lewis stated "I'm like fine wine, I get better with age"
In an interview right before the Vitali fight, Lewis said "I'm at the peak of my powers, I will keep fighting for many more years"
Vitali dominated Lewis and scared him into retirement. That's a FACT.
Vitali Klitschko vs Lennox Lewis
THE TRUTH
Vitali took the fight on just 10 days notice.
Vitali was clearly winning the fight 4-2 on all 3 scorecards at the time of the controversial doctor stoppage. Lewis barely survived the 2nd round, he was badly hurt, holding on for dear life, wobbling everywhere and staggering around the ring like a drunk. Lewis was badly hurt several times in the fight and was getting outboxed, outworked, outmuscled and outlanded by Vitali.
punches landed
Vitali 156
Lewis 102
Lewis was exhausted, worn down and hurt from the accumulation of punches and was ready to get KTFO again, he collapsed onto his stool at the end of the 6th round, Vitali was clearly the fresher of the two, he was a man on a mission and would've KO'd Lewis for sure if the fight had continued.
After the fight, Vitali intimidated the shit out of Lewis and made him look like a bitch.
All the fans at Staples Center cheered for Vitali and booed Lewis after the fight.
Lewis promised Vitali a rematch.
Vitali destroyed Kirk Johnson in 2 rounds and called out Lewis again in the post fight interview. The scared Lewis retired shortly after that fight.
Lewis turned down 30 million dollars for a rematch and retired like a coward because he knew he would get destroyed by Vitali.
Vitali dominated Lewis and scared his bitch ass into retirement.
http://i34.tinypic.com/izb4on.gif
George Foreman: "Vitali was winning the fight. Lewis got lucky. There has to be a rematch!"
Jim Lampley: "A lucky escape for Lewis who was clearly losing the fight"
Even Emanuel Steward was upset and pissed off at Lewis for blatantly ducking a Vitali rematch.
Lewis is scared to death of Vitali.
Vitali's D is better.
I honestly am starting to think that Vitali's left is just as if not more effective. Half the time it isn't even a jab but a uppercut, hook, shovel punch but it is just as effective at detering his opponent from getting inside.
Vitali's handspeed isn't as fast but i think his reflexes especially on defense are superior to Volodymyr's.
It's hard to say actually it's close.
I don't know if he's really fast for his size...I guess. He strikes me as lumbering and slow these days. But yeah, I agree that Wlad is much faster and has much better defense.
Vitali is fast for his size I agree Wladimir is faster.
Vitali now seems to still be in his prime, I'm not sure but he is around it still his performances show it. Wladmir has been in his prime for a few years. They both have areas where they are better than one another, Vitali has a better chin,mentally tougher, higher work rate, more variety of punches. Wladimir is more athletic,better defence, better footwork, harder puncher, better jab.
Vitali's D is better.
Better jab and the same speed? Sorry, no. Wladimir is clearly superior in both categories. Reflexes I'd edge to Wlad as well.
More power? Hard to say. He has naturally heavier hands it seems, but his inferior speed and crispness of technique also hurt him in that regard.
Better punch variety? Yes, though it's not like Wlad is incapable of throwing anything other than a jab right hand left hook. He just chooses not to.
Far better chin? Better obviously, but Wlad gets underrated here whilst Vitali generally gets overrated. It's more in their responses to punches where Vitali really outshines him.
It'd be intriguing to see a fight between the two as I can't see either man the clear winner. Both possess strengths and weaknesses which the other can exploit.
I honestly am starting to think that Vitali's left is just as if not more effective. Half the time it isn't even a jab but a uppercut, hook, shovel punch but it is just as effective at detering his opponent from getting inside.
Vitali's handspeed isn't as fast but i think his reflexes especially on defense are superior to Volodymyr's.
Vitali is more entertaining because he's more active. He's more entertaining while also not even losing any rounds. Impressive.
Wlad is less entertaining and may lose some rounds.
it didn't go either way. It went one way. Lewis stopped him.
but looking merely at the outcome is a bit like the counterpart to the facts (highest ko-ratio, most dominant ...) posted by domination.
i'm just saying he fought great in that fight and he would be a dangerous thread to any ATG.
lewis landed the harder punches and vitali landed more punches. it could have gone either way on that night, i think. if you say prime for prime lewis had an edge i maybe would agree
Old slow out of shape lennox on short notice had an advantage so yeah a prime lennox probably does too.
lewis landed the harder punches and vitali landed more punches. it could have gone either way on that night, i think. if you say prime for prime lewis had an edge i maybe would agree
it didn't go either way. It went one way. Lewis stopped him.
Yes, by getting stopped in the sixth round.
lewis landed the harder punches and vitali landed more punches. it could have gone either way on that night, i think. if you say prime for prime lewis had an edge i maybe would agree
Absolut true, Wlad is much better and has the much better resume.
he is much better? why do you think so? he has the better resume but why is he much better?
Wladimir is the better technical boxer. Wlad fights tall cautiously behind his jab and a high guard and uses his boxing skills to outbox his opponent.
His jab, Right hand, Left hook, Defence, Footwork and speed are better than Vitali's.
He also has one punch KO power which Vitali lacks.
Vitali is a very awkward unconventional fighter. He fights tall, with his hands low, mainly uses his jab and loves throwing a big right hand behind it.
He is far more aggressive and throws more punches than Wladimir because his better chin allows him to take more risks.
Although Wladimir has the better power, Vitali's power is nothing to joke about. He breaks his opponents down round by round with hard jabs, right hands and a mixture of combinations.
Vitali's speed is also very good for someone his size, his defence isn't very good but his high workrate tends to leave his opponents without much opportunity to throw.
Both are great fighters, Wladimir has the better resume.
i don't care about the byrd fight it is just a statistical value. vitali was without a doubt by far the better boxer and clearly dominated him. injuries just happen that's not vitali's fault.
the lewis fight was a tough one and i think it could have gone in either direction if it wouldn't have been stopped. lewis ist one of the best ever and vitali proved he is in the same league!
Yes, by getting stopped in the sixth round.
He's lost to the two best opponents he's faced
No hate or disrespect to any Klit fan, but NO ONE ever seems to mention this, just that he was "up on the scorecards" when he lost. He's like Ricky HAtton except Hatton beat Kosta where Vitali beat, Kirk Johnson.
i don't care about the byrd fight it is just a statistical value. vitali was without a doubt by far the better boxer and clearly dominated him. injuries just happen that's not vitali's fault.
the lewis fight was a tough one and i think it could have gone in either direction if it wouldn't have been stopped. lewis ist one of the best ever and vitali proved he is in the same league!
Looking better is one thing, your opposition is another. Vitali's resume is so unimpressive..I don't know. Wladimir deserves a lot more credit than he gets on these boards.
Absolut true, Wlad is much better and has the much better resume.
I admit, I went overboard saying same reflexes and speed. I don't think there's that much a difference in there jab though. Vitali is rarely as tentative throwing his jab as Wlad is at the start of fights.
I'd have no hesitation in calling Wlad's jab one of the top five HW jabs of all time. It's an astonishing jab, with incredible speed, power, snap, accuracy and versatility, and it more or less wins fights for Wlad on its own. Vitali has a good heavy jab and he uses it well, but it's nowhere near the same level, nor is it such an indelible part of his entire arsenal as Wlad's is. Gotta disagree about the tentativeness as well. Rewatch the Chambers and Haye fights. Wlad starts pumping out the jab from the very first round and takes the centre of the ring. Wlad's whole style is jittery looking and he feints and parries a lot, but he's usually asserted control of the fight by about the second round. That's not the sign of a tentative fighter.
Punch variety comes really naturally to Vitali, whereas it seemingly doesn't for Wlad. Vitali will throw whatever punch fits the situation at any time, and usually does.
Yes I agree. Vitali is the more fluid fighter and more willing to throw uppercuts and bodyshots and chain his punches which makes him a more dangerous fighter, even if he's a lesser puncher. Fighters get beaten the hell up when they fight Vitali whereas with Wlad it's usually a clean knockout. I doubt Wlad would have brutalised Adamek in the same fashion, but would most likely have knocked him down at some point.
I think Vitali would have Wlad fighting far too cautious after a couple big right hands. There's no way Wlad keeps Vitali from landing those big shots.
I was rewatching the Thompson fight the other day, and Wlad had more than his fair share of problems (relatively speaking) than he usually does. He was forced to fight in a more traditional upright way and had to throw a wider variety of punches than he's accustomed to. Also had problems clinching Thompson up due to the height. Based on that fight I'd give Vitali the edge. Then again, Vitali has been vulnerable to fast jabs. Kevin Johnson was jabbing him at will when he bothered to throw, and even Sosnowski was getting through at times. Gomez caused him problems also. There's no way Vitali can fight hands down and not expect to eat Wlad's jab. How will it affect him to have to keep his hands higher than he normally does? This Wlad, I think, would be too sharp for him.