Vitali Klitschko would KO Prime Tyson

[Mugwump]

I can't see Tyson living with Vitali or Lewis for that matter.

The size and power difference is just too much. Guys like Vitali can wreak colossal damage using not much more than a jab!

Of course, there remains the puncher's chance. Prime Tyson had pretty fearsome power (although I doubt very much he could hit as hard as a Lewis uppercut). Although Vitali has a pretty good chin (he must have to remain upright after the bombs Lewis dropped on him) and vice versa.

I'm not accepting comparisons drawn with the likes of Golota. Look what happened to him at the hands of Lewis.

With people growing larger every year in the Western world we all know there is room for one, possibly two extra divisions above HW. Lewis and Vitali are genuine superheavys. Like a cruiser taking on a battleship Tyson would simply be outgunned.

[Benny Leonard]

I can't see Tyson living with Vitali or Lewis for that matter.

The size and power difference is just too much. Guys like Vitali can wreak colossal damage using not much more than a jab!

Of course, there remains the puncher's chance. Prime Tyson had pretty fearsome power (although I doubt very much he could hit as hard as a Lewis uppercut). Although Vitali has a pretty good chin (he must have to remain upright after the bombs Lewis dropped on him) and vice versa.

I'm not accepting comparisons drawn with the likes of Golota. Look what happened to him at the hands of Lewis.

With people growing larger every year in the Western world we all know there is room for one, possibly two extra divisions above HW. Lewis and Vitali are genuine superheavys. Like a cruiser taking on a battleship Tyson would simply be outgunned.

So how is Valuev doing?

The jab is useless if it can't land. Tyson isn't some plodder; he’s not Sam Peter. Tucker could barely hit Mike with his jab and he has a better jab than both Vitali and Lewis...especially in speed. Not as powerful as Vitali though.

Tucker is 6'5, and has an 81 1/2 inch reach and Mike out-jabbed him. Vitali is 6'7, but only has about a 79 inch reach. If Vitali has to come down to jab Mike, that makes him vulnerable. Lewis is 6'5 and has a 84 inch reach; so he does have the longest reach. It is a shame he paws with it.

The big thing would be if Mike could handle them pressing down on him through the course of the fight. Vitali, unlike Lewis, tends not to follow this strategy.

They would also have to be able to take Mike’s his body shots. The majority of HWs don’t throw to the body. I know at least Wlad wouldn't. Both are big targets.
Bigger guys also tend to run out of steam quicker; especially if they are pressed beyond their control.

Vitali keeps his hands down.

Lewis paws with his jab and doesn't have a "great" chin; although good and underrated by some.

When you miss punches, especially with longer arms and throwing straight extended punches, you risk injury; Vitali knows what I'm talking about.
Lewis avoided Chris Byrd for a reason.

Big Guys can be knocked off balance.

Speed may pose a problem; especially when the punches are fast and coming in combinations with power behind it.

Everybody is basically bigger than Tyson.


You know according to articles, Joe Choynski did quite well against Jim Jeffries. Go figure.

[Mugwump]

So how is Valuev doing?

Valuev is a bum kept afloat by his sheer size - which illustrates my point. As for Tucker - he's not in either Lewis's or Vitali's league. You know that as well as I do. I firmly believe a prime and focussed Lewis is unbeatable - and Vitali's not far behind him. I'm sure Mike would endeavour to get inside and hunt the body. But I can only see him getting picked off time and time again. Once he realises he can't put away his man with an early onslaught whilst getting HURT each round you can expect the usual brain fart followed by fouling/attacking ther ref/cannibalism or some other heinous activity.

[TheManchine]

Vitali would have destroyed any version of Tyson

[Benny Leonard]

Valuev is a bum kept afloat by his sheer size - which illustrates my point. As for Tucker - he's not in either Lewis's or Vitali's league. You know that as well as I do. I firmly believe a prime and focussed Lewis is unbeatable - and Vitali's not far behind him. I'm sure Mike would endeavour to get inside and hunt the body. But I can only see him getting picked off time and time again. Once he realises he can't put away his man with an early onslaught whilst getting HURT each round you can expect the usual brain fart followed by fouling/attacking ther ref/cannibalism or some other heinous activity.

My point with Valuev was to be funny but to also prove a point: Too much size can be a disadvantage. Sometimes a freak of nature comes along and can put it all together, like Shaq did in basketball, but this is boxing and it can work against you.

I don't think a prime/focused Lewis is unbeatable...nor do I really think any HW for the matter is. Lewis's paws way too much with his jab, and his suspect chin will always keeps you knowing he wasn't unbeatable.

People say the same with Tyson: Under Rooney he was focused and at his best and that Tyson was unbeatable. He was a much better fighter and can't be even compared to the one that left Rooney. But in a fantasy match-up, I would favor Ali before he was forced out of the game for 3 years. I don't think we saw either of their prime to be honest. Ali was just about to come into his and Tyson was too young to be fully developed.

Actually, Tucker wasn't a bad fighter; he was quite good; just not "great."
Tucker's speed, agility, and along with some decent power, made him a solid opponent. Tyson was the first to defeat him and then about 5 or 6 years later Lewis came along to beat him. Tyson went the full 12 and I think Lewis did as well. Tucker did go on the slide but that happens with fighters; they just fall off. Foreman actually avoided Tucker.


Tyson's attitude was much different when he was with Rooney; you should know that. Confidence is key in this game and it went downhill when he wasn't trained right and wasn't supplied with the answers anymore. Doing it yourself is a *****.
It was the difference of Tyson saying things like: "I refuse to lose" when he was with Rooney and looking confused and angry when he was under King.




I just wonder with Vitali keeping his hands so low what happens when Tyson makes him miss and he counters and lands those big shots on Vitali's skull. Will he be hurt? Does he cut?


There is no opponent Vitali faced that is like Tyson, and the same with Tyson with Vitali.

The only thing we really have is some attributes certain fighters have of each.

Byrd was able to reach Vitali, even before the injury to Vitali, but Byrd has no power and he was also hesitant to throw enough. Byrd is 6'0; Tyson 5'11.

[Benny Leonard]

Vitali would have destroyed any version of Tyson

I doubt it. I think neither would destroy the other. If Chris Byrd can take Vitali's punches as well as Wlad, Tyson can certainly...especially since Mike was more elusive.

I am actually surprised at how good Chris's chin was when he was in his prime. He started at middle in the amatuers and ate his way to HW.

Tall fighters, and even Bruno said this, will always have trouble with Tyson. Because of his height, speed, agility and elusiveness, it's hard for Tall fighters to reach down and connect.

This is why the tall fighters decided to just grab him.

I can see Vitali winning...it wouldn't shock me.

[Jim Jeffries]

I doubt it. I think neither would destroy the other. If Chris Byrd can take Vitali's punches as well as Wlad, Tyson can certainly...especially since Mike was more elusive.

I am actually surprised at how good Chris's chin was when he was in his prime. He started at middle in the amatuers and ate his way to HW.

Tall fighters, and even Bruno said this, will always have trouble with Tyson. Because of his height, speed, agility and elusiveness, it's hard for Tall fighters to reach down and connect.

This is why the tall fighters decided to just grab him.

I can see Vitali winning...it wouldn't shock me.

Tyson was more elusive than a prime Chris Byrd? You sure about that?

[Benny Leonard]

Tyson was more elusive than a prime Chris Byrd? You sure about that?

OK, maybe not...but Chris played elusive defense, while young-Tyson was elusive-offense. Tyson stood in front of you and was elusive, while Chris could do this, his best was when he stood two feet away and used his legs.

Chris didn't fight Vitali like he did Ike either...not from what I remember (which is kind of foggy; I'll have to get the fights). Chris started to play Winky with Vitali.

Of course IKE put Chris's ass down, but that stuff happens.

[Mugwump]

My point with Valuev was to be funny but to also prove a point: Too much size can be a disadvantage. Sometimes a freak of nature comes along and can put it all together, like Shaq did in basketball, but this is boxing and it can work against you.

I don't think a prime/focused Lewis is unbeatable...nor do I really think any HW for the matter is. Lewis's paws way too much with his jab, and his suspect chin will always keeps you knowing he wasn't unbeatable.

It's odd then that Lewis's chin was never suspect when he was taking a fight seriously. Hell, even when he wasn't he stood up to Vitali's bombs - and I don't think Tyson hits anywhere near as hard as Vitali. Bruno, Ruddock, Golota, Tua, Mason and Tyson all packed serious wallop and all connected squarely on Lewis's chin. Not so dodgy then.

Of course, he was KOd by McCall (even if the ref did call a premature end to the fight, IMO) and Rahman. But this is heavyweight - the division which has the least tolerance for mistakes. Fail to take a fight seriously (as Lewis occasionally did) and regardless of name or fame you're going down. When Lewis's mind focussed on the re-match, the effects were spectacular. The punch that starched Rahman would have put down a gorilla, let alone Tyson.

[RichCCFC]

50/50 fight, styles make fights.