Performance of the Year 2008: Vitali's Return

[potatoes]

I think the best performance of 2008 was Vitali Klitschko's return against Sam Peter for the WBC title.

He hadn't fought in nearly four years, longer than Ali's layoff in the late 60s. And Vitali was 37 not a young 29 when he returned. He fought the WBC titleholder, a man 8 years younger, without first taking a warmup, and won every minute of every round!

Wow, what an accomplishment. He beat up a bum who was scared of him.

[The Hammer]

Wow, what an accomplishment. He beat up a bum who was scared of him.

Sam Peter was the WBC champion, and the #2 heavyweight in the world according to The Ring.

You weren't calling him a bum before Vitali beat him.

It's poor sportsmanship and low class, discrediting boxers by saying their defeated opponents are all bums.

[Testdead]

I think the best performance of 2008 was Vitali Klitschko's return against Sam Peter for the WBC title.

He hadn't fought in nearly four years, longer than Ali's layoff in the late 60s. And Vitali was 37 not a young 29 when he returned. He fought the WBC titleholder, a man 8 years younger, without first taking a warmup, and won every minute of every round!

NO!

Peter fought like a bum.

[T-97]

I think it was either Hopkins domination of Kelly Pavlik or Pacs destruction of DLH, those were 2 that very few saw coming. Klitschko was favoured, although his performance was, as you said, incredible.

[mellow_mood]

Sam Peter was the WBC champion, and the #2 heavyweight in the world according to The Ring.

You weren't calling him a bum before Vitali beat him.

It's poor sportsmanship and low class, discrediting boxers by saying their defeated opponents are all bums.

I agree with this post....


but.. .totally disagree with you in the performance of the year.

[The Hammer]

I think it was either Hopkins domination of Kelly Pavlik or Pacs destruction of DLH, those were 2 that very few saw coming. Klitschko was favoured, although his performance was, as you said, incredible.

Vitali had been inactive longer than Ali was in the late 60s, and we've heard so much about that.

And Vitali was age 37, the same age Joe Louis was when Marciano defeated him, and he's had a lot of serious injuries in his long combat sports career.

Yet people refuse to give him the respect and credit he deserves.

[Njord777]

Performance of the year? That's quite an award. It's like the Oscar for 'Best Picture'. It means that the boxer's in-ring accomplishment in the fight mentioned bests all other fights for that entire year.

Was Klitschko's comeback better than Pacquiao's triumph? Better than Margarito's breaking of Cotto? More impressive than an older Bernard Hopkins spanking undefeated, young middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik? Better than every other battle or victory in the entire sport in 2008?

I'd say 'no'. It was impressive the way he dominated- especially after the long lay-off, but honestly many people have expressed doubts about Peter's head movement and overall skill level. The performance itself was very good- but look at, say, Margarito's break-down of an elite level welterweight champion. I think that has my vote for 'Performance of the Year'.

[Patty Tanager]

You could also say:

Worst performance of the year: Samuel Peter.

[T-97]

Vitali had been inactive longer than Ali was in the late 60s, and we've heard so much about that.

And Vitali was age 37, the same age Joe Louis was when Marciano defeated him, and he's had a lot of serious injuries in his long combat sports career.

Yet people refuse to give him the respect and credit he deserves.

The one thing I always felt diminshed the impact of the win was that Vitali was the favourite. If he had been the underdog it would have been...I dunno, it's hard to explain. But I always find a win more impressive if it's done against the odds.

I would have to rank Vitali-Peter right up there though, I would say it was 3rd best behind Pac-DLH and Hopkins-Pavlik.

[The Hammer]

The one thing I always felt diminshed the impact of the win was that Vitali was the favourite. If he had been the underdog it would have been...I dunno, it's hard to explain. But I always find a win more impressive if it's done against the odds.

I would have to rank Vitali-Peter right up there though, I would say it was 3rd best behind Pac-DLH and Hopkins-Pavlik.

Good post. Thanks for being fair and objective about it, T-97.