Originally posted by Thunder Lips
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The first round of the Byrd fight was dull, and in the second round Ike starts to let his hands go, show head movement and land hard punches on Byrd and frusrtates him.
Also, look at the punch stats. Ike out landed Byrd while landing the more effective/telling blows. The pitter pat shots that Byrd was flicking wasn't being recorded.
Again, I don't see how people use the Sanders fight as evidence of Vitali's vunerability against pressure fighters; it essentially proves the exact opposite.
Even at 240+ Sanders had more noteworthy 1-3 round early knockouts than Ike. Regardless of weight it was claer the guy was always a dangerous early round killer that quickly faded and gassed. Even when he was fresh in the early rounds, Sanders couldn't touch Vitali when he was on his backfoot. Just once he caught Vitali with a good counter while he was coming in and he not only took it well but responded well by not letting Sanders touch him again when he tried to press.
Look at Ali/ Doug Jones. Jones was out boxing Ali at times in the fight and the decision was some what contrversial by many. Judging by that fight, boxers like Liston, Bonevena ect should have all beaten Ali because of that horrible performance.
Everbody gets caught and hurt; it is how they react that is important and I don't see any evidence that Vitali would fold under power shots
Again Ike faded against Tua and gave up most of the late rounds, a fact you continue to ignore when I bring it up with evidence. Struggling to stay inshape and active, he also fatigued against Byrd before catching him with a killer punch on the ropes. He still kept up an impressive workrrate but the guy was human, he got tried, and was even hurt and holding on at the end of 11th against Tua(he never held before I don't think). He was a human being regardless of the almost mythical status his brief career has took on.
The Byrd bout really supports my case, as he was letting his hands go in volume right when the knockout occured. He was getting closer and closer and was closing the gap, stepping up the pressure and connecting with hard punches. All comentators talk about his incredible stamina. Hes a human being yes, although he is the first human being that i have ever seen fight at such a blistering past and not show signs of fatigue.
As far as Ike outboxing Byrd in the center of the ring...Just NO! Regardless of what Lederman had, Byrd made Ike look like a clown for the first two rounds. Problem is that in round 3, Ike just started pushing through Byrd's punches and muscling him into the ropes. The undersized Byrd just didn't have the power to hold him, push him off, or back him up with his punches. Byrd still fought well off the ropes, he just got caught with a killer shot. Ike never outboxed Byrd or outjabbed him in the traditional sense of the word. Ike's very words before the fight was that he needed to be the Foreman to his Moorer.
I don't see Ike's jab having much effect on Vitali, who out jabbed the longer armed Lewis with no trouble. As said, Ike was getting outjabbed by Tua in the middle rounds and beyond for ****'s sake. I see Ike not having an answer to Vitali's jab and right hand leads, getting held on the inside, and losing a wide decision. Remeber how the one handed Tua scored with the right hand lead at will on Ike, now picture Vitali doing the same. Ouch.
Also, i am really not feeling the comparison to Tua to Vitali. Tua is a short fighter and power puncher, Klitscko is a rangy boxer with good technical skills. Ike would find a home for power shots in Klitschko's long body. Lewis was able to get body punches off while Klitschko tied him up on the inside. Ike would make Vitali fight.
I would give Vitali a better shot at beating Tyson.
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