How would the Klitschko's faired from 1985-1999?

[La_Vibora]

Wlad as we've seen him the last 7 years or so would be a tough out. He's a handful in any era in this form. The problem for him in that era would have been getting the chance to develop. Losses to guys the level of Purrity, Sanders, and Brewster in his first eight years would have seen him discarded. Too much depth.

Vitali is a wild card. Tough. Big punch. He'd have been a factor. He couldn't beat a Lewis on his worst day and the young Lewis had speed the older one didn't. Vitali and Holyfield would have been a fascinating war. Holyfield had the speed and volume to get inside and touch him. They would have beat on each other pretty fun.

Umm what? Vitali was kicking Lewis' ass when that doctor decided to stop that fight, otherwise we we were on the way of seeing a gassed Lewis get knocked out. Vitali clearly had Lennox's number, I think he beats any version of Lewis.

[beez721]

Umm what? Vitali was kicking Lewis' ass when that doctor decided to stop that fight, otherwise we we were on the way of seeing a gassed Lewis get knocked out. Vitali clearly had Lennox's number, I think he beats any version of Lewis.

it was kinda unlucky to get that gash but it was still up in the air at the time of stoppage and lewis was a bit past his best. I think if a more prime lennox and prime vitali fought 5 times lennox would probably win 3 of them

[LacedUp]

My guess is probably pretty well. Wlad would undoubtedly have been knocked out a few times, but I see both him and his brother being in amongst the belts, without being THE dominant force.

[LacedUp]

Umm what? Vitali was kicking Lewis' ass when that doctor decided to stop that fight, otherwise we we were on the way of seeing a gassed Lewis get knocked out. Vitali clearly had Lennox's number, I think he beats any version of Lewis.

He had his number? His face was smashed to bits and he needed 50 stitches. This was despite Lewis being tired from round 2 and onwards.

[SthPaw]

I think they would have still faired very well to be honest, they would be nowhere near as dominant as they had been in the 2000's till now but they would still be up there.

I agree that maybe Wlad would have found that era a lot harder, Vitali being tougher may have lasted longer/faired better, but they both would have still been up there and contending with the other big names, but more than likely they would have found themselves losing a few times.

Fights like Holyfield vs Wlad and Vitali vs Foreman would have been great, and that is before you even think about the fact that Tyson was around then!

[bojangles1987]

Umm what? Vitali was kicking Lewis' ass when that doctor decided to stop that fight, otherwise we we were on the way of seeing a gassed Lewis get knocked out. Vitali clearly had Lennox's number, I think he beats any version of Lewis.

You mean Vitali was doing well until Lewis ripped his face off with right hands? The doctor didn't randomly decide to stop the fight. Vitali had a very good start, the fight evened out, and the momentum was turning Lewis's way at the time of the stoppage, which again occurred because VITALI'S FACE WAS A VAGINA.

Honestly, the way people talk about that fight you'd think some random guy squirted blood on Vitali's face with a squirt gun while Lewis was unconscious on the mat, and the ref stopped it for no reason.

[beez721]

You mean Vitali was doing well until Lewis ripped his face off with right hands? The doctor didn't randomly decide to stop the fight. Vitali had a very good start, the fight evened out, and the momentum was turning Lewis's way at the time of the stoppage, which again occurred because VITALI'S FACE WAS A VAGINA.

Honestly, the way people talk about that fight you'd think some random guy squirted blood on Vitali's face with a squirt gun while Lewis was unconscious on the mat, and the ref stopped it for no reason.

well,,,if you watch the sky broadcast they showed it was a cuffing shot with the laces of the gloves raking the eye. its not like it was from a monstrous shot that wobbled vitali. anyway,,,,lennox did win fair and square and may or may not have stopped vitali anyway. it was close at the stoppage and both guys looked spent. he really should have given vitali the rematch tho as he originally promised and we wouldnt have to keep debating this topic over and over again

[Daddy T]

They'd have done okay but I think wlad would have quit before getting good ... i.e. I don't think we'd ever have seen this version of wlad. he'd have been ko'd by the likes of tyson, bowe, lewis etc.

I think vitali would hang with them but i see him breaking v the top guys like he did v old Lewis ... prime Lewis, old lewis, bowe, tyson etc all take him.

Of course the Tyson thing depends on the moment ... prime Spinks Mike beats vitali, but that's a small window of time ... vitali would beat down post rooney Mike.

I feel that vitali Holyfield would be another epic trilogy in the making. i'd edge it 2 -1 for Holyfield.

As a note I think this version of Wlad is the best and highest level either brother has reached. i just don't think wlad would have stuck around long enough to reach it. he was on the verge of retirement after brewster after all and that version of Wlad would get owned by too many guys and would have quit.