Vitali explaining the Byrd loss.........

[jimmy1569]

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Now this interview is from last year before he fought briggs.

His views on losing the WBO title against Chris Byrd:

“It was not an easy fight. Chris Byrd has a special style and it was not easy to get him. In the second round I had a tough round. I had a pain in my shoulder and every round the pain grew more and more and more. I remember I moved my left arm and it was so painful it was like having a fork in my eye.


I couldn’t see and I was very close to losing control because this was after the pain had become too painful. I stopped the fight in round ten. After this fight I took a lot of criticism from boxing experts. ‘How can a world champion stop the fight?’


So everyone understands how it’s like running without one leg and not everybody can understand how a boxer cannot fight with one arm. It was a really big problem in my career because many boxing experts said, ‘Vitali Klitschko will never be world champion, he has no heart’. This was really painful to listen to that. Three years I spent to get in form, and I actually had a chance to fight Lennox Lewis.


I showed my heart, I showed my performance, and I actually beat Lennox by points in six rounds but the doctor stopped the fight because I had a huge gash on my eye. I was very happy when Jim Lampley commented after the fight and told me sorry for his words a couple of years ago. He said he didn’t believe I had an injury in my shoulder, but right now that he knows my skills were good. I always show my performance, show my skills, show my heart.

I always show that I am the best one and I am the strongest one. In this fight against Lennox Lewis I did not win but I won the hearts of many people who watched the fight and I showed my skills. I want to thank Lennox Lewis for giving me a chance to prove my boxing skills and to show my heart.”

On whether he ever regretted the decision following the Byrd fight or whether he believes he made the right choice in stopping the fight to prevent permanent injury:

“Right now actually it was eleven years ago. I am more than sure I made the right decision because I was very close to go, not out—not from my opponent, but from the pain that I had. I couldn’t see and the pain it was not from my opponents. The pain stopped me because I couldn’t see my opponent because I had a huge problem with my shoulder. Right now it was eleven years ago, and I am than sure this was the right decision.”

[IIG]

Thanks, I never read that. If he had to stop it so be it, but something tells me he wouldn't pull out again given the exact same circumstance.

[jimmy1569]

Thanks, I never read that. If he had to stop it so be it, but something tells me he wouldn't pull out again given the exact same circumstance.

I don't know about that... unbearable pain is unbearable pain.... he doesn't have to prove anything to anyone.. especially knowing what we now know about how he REALLY rolls.

If you look closely at the last rd or 2 when Chris ALL of a sudden became the aggressor after cowering for much of the fight against the ropes deftly afraid it was going to be Ike all over again if Vitali catches him. He became brave because he sensed Vitali was being passive & somethng wasn't right with him.. up until then he was content to be the first man to go the distance with Vitali & halt his recordbreaking 27 ko streak to start a heavyweight career. Byrd was coming on & to Vitali it was like mosquitos just buzzing at him while he was dealing with severe pain from the shoulder.

[chitownfightfan]

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So everyone understands how it’s like running without one leg and not everybody can understand how a boxer cannot fight with one arm.

I cant post links, but as most everyone knows, Danny Williams KOd Mark Potter with a dislocated R shoulder. It's available on youtube, under Danny Williams vs Mark Potter.


Byrd don't have Potter's power either, and Vitali COULD have jabbed his way to a UD.

[Dubblechin]

The question I've always had is why didn't Vitali fight Byrd again? Wlad somehow found the time to fight Byrd not once but TWICE after Vitali lost to him, but Vitali apparently never, for some reason, felt the need to avenge the loss that Vitali freely admits derailed his career.

Why was that?

This interview answers some questions. Vitali states Byrd had a difficult style. It sounds like he just wasn't comfortable fighting Byrd.

I think Vitali took the easy way out. After Wlad beat Byrd the first time, I think Vitali just thought he wouldn't have to bother with Byrd anymore. But he really should've avenged that loss.

Wlad and Vitali are two different people. After Oliver McCall beat Lennox Lewis and then Frank Bruno outpointed McCall ... Lewis didn't decide he no longer had to avenge that loss because another Brit had knocked off Oliver.

Vitali should've taken care of his own business, rematched with Byrd and avenged his own loss.

[Joeyzagz]

Sounds like a crybaby to me.

Byrds style is kryptonite to a volume puncher like Vitali. Vit doesnt have one punch power like Wlad or Ike, and he cant accumulate damage landing at 26%. No mystery why Vitali never requested a rematch.

[Cutthroat]

Speaking of fighting with 1 arm:

[Rossman]

It was a classic fight. Vitali never fought anyone that made him miss so much. He might have got him if they rematched though.

[jimmy1569]

The question I've always had is why didn't Vitali fight Byrd again? Wlad somehow found the time to fight Byrd not once but TWICE after Vitali lost to him, but Vitali apparently never, for some reason, felt the need to avenge the loss that Vitali freely admits derailed his career.

Why was that?

This interview answers some questions. Vitali states Byrd had a difficult style. It sounds like he just wasn't comfortable fighting Byrd.

I think Vitali took the easy way out. After Wlad beat Byrd the first time, I think Vitali just thought he wouldn't have to bother with Byrd anymore. But he really should've avenged that loss.

Wlad and Vitali are two different people. After Oliver McCall beat Lennox Lewis and then Frank Bruno outpointed McCall ... Lewis didn't decide he no longer had to avenge that loss because another Brit had knocked off Oliver.

Vitali should've taken care of his own business, rematched with Byrd and avenged his own loss.

While I agree with you for the most part... i would've definitely wanted to see him destroy Byrd while healthy... perhaps as you said he didn't want to risk another shoulder injury chasing him around the ring. This could've played a big part in Vitali not seeking him out again... the thinking could've been that he had nothing to prove & he won almost every rd against & when his shoulder wasn't hindering him.. he didn't lose any rds & let's face it Vitali likes to engage.. he's not about chasing the featherfisters around the ring so they can potentially throw off his shoulder with the duck & weave defensive techniques.


He was visibly upset when Kevin Johnson didn't come to fight & just was there & his sole purpose was to take the sting off Vitali's punches & or make him miss outright with absolutely zero engagement for fear of giving Vitali counter opportunities which we all know he's deadly at... regardless he STILL won 20 of the 21 rds fought against these defensive specialists.. so no worries & he is his brother's keeper.. Vitali took care of the big hitters & let Wlad pound Byrd for two fights... so he's certainly content with that... to him..


IF HIS BRO GOT 3 belts.. It's his 3 belts as well.. that's just how close they are & are all about family... i definitely respect that about the brothers & there selflessness when it comes to each other & how they ALWAYS root for one another... unfortunately these are the qualities most haters can live without because they live to hate...it is what it is.

[jimmy1569]

Sounds like a crybaby to me.

Byrds style is kryptonite to a volume puncher like Vitali. Vit doesnt have one punch power like Wlad or Ike, and he cant accumulate damage landing at 26%. No mystery why Vitali never requested a rematch.

Shut it Joe C... If Vitali landed flush on Byrd.. he would be in deep ***** & you know it.... doesn't have one punch power my aSSSS.... Loolk what his one punch did to Adamek... knocked him senseless around the ring several times... & how quickly we forget Solis & his ability to take Vk's ONE punch power.. This blatant underestimation of power when it comes to the heavyweight KO king is beyond disrespectful... just be glad Vitali doesn't put full force behind most of his shots these days to avoid putting strain on his knees & joints & also avoid getting himself off balance.. He was actually trying to finish Adamek at the end of the 8th rd & had him on the ropes but fell off balance...& because his knee operations & all those injuries.. the potential to be off balance when throwing bombs is always there.... The power is still intact & is still brutal... all of his opponent getting it by halfhearted shots from him for the majority of fights still wind up in the hospital.. Vitali almost took lennox' head off with one shot.. how many times did he tattoo danny WILLIAMS with one shot.... so please save that noise!