Vitali Klitschko vs. Mike Tyson prime for prime.

[N!Ck F.]

Prime Tyson would have won with superior head movement, speed, and combinations. I think Vitali could have taken Tyson's power, but would have wilted under the pressure of Tyson's aggression. UD victory for Tyson who maybe picks himself up off the canvas to scrap his way to victory.

Tyson has no heart tho. He’s in there with 6’7 250 Pound iron chined opponent with just as much devastating power...guys like Vitali..those tough sob’s that are screaming at the ref after being covered in blood and stopped are the guys that show tyson he’s nothing more than a bully...Vitali, Lewis,Holyfield,Ali those type of guys all beat mike easy. Again, Tyson’s physical abilities do NOT compensate for a complete lack of heart.

[GhostofDempsey]

Tyson has no heart tho. He’s in there with 6’7 250 Pound iron chined opponent with just as much devastating power...guys like Vitali..those tough sob’s that are screaming at the ref after being covered in blood and stopped are the guys that show tyson he’s nothing more than a bully...Vitali, Lewis,Holyfield,Ali those type of guys all beat mike easy. Again, Tyson’s physical abilities do NOT compensate for a complete lack of heart.

It's unfair to say Tyson doesn't have heart, at least during his prime. Vitali actually quit on his stool versus Chris Byrd. Tyson was undisciplined against the likes of Holyfield when being outboxed, but he tried to get back to his feet against Douglas and was completely shot by the time he fought Lewis.

Tyson fought big opponents, I don't think Vitali's size would have been enough to overcome Tyson's speed, agility and combinations in his prime.

[N!Ck F.]

It's unfair to say Tyson doesn't have heart, at least during his prime. Vitali actually quit on his stool versus Chris Byrd. Tyson was undisciplined against the likes of Holyfield when being outboxed, but he tried to get back to his feet against Douglas and was completely shot by the time he fought Lewis.

Tyson fought big opponents, I don't think Vitali's size would have been enough to overcome Tyson's speed, agility and combinations in his prime.

No such thing as “heart in his prime” you either have heart or you don’t. Tyson was a bully. He looked spectacular against lower competition, but was knocked out at the highest level. You don’t have heart at certain stages of your career, your born with it or your not. Tyson was not.
Vitali was.
Lennox was.
Holyfield was.

[Teetotaler]

Vitali easy

[TheBigLug]

Vitali would be too tough for Tyson. Tyson used to lose heart quickly if he couldn't bully his opponent. Vitali stops him.

I actually rate Wlad over Vitali in some ways but i think Vitali would be the only one out of the two that would beat Tyson comfortably. Tyson could probably get to Wlad.

[GhostofDempsey]

No such thing as “heart in his prime” you either have heart or you don’t. Tyson was a bully. He looked spectacular against lower competition, but was knocked out at the highest level. You don’t have heart at certain stages of your career, your born with it or your not. Tyson was not.
Vitali was.
Lennox was.
Holyfield was.

There is no such thing as a bully in boxing. Two men come fully prepared to fight in their respective weight class. If one gets his ass beat, he wasn't bullied, he accepted the risks. Tyson fought many opponents who were much larger than him. Fought Olympic gold medalists and feared no one. It wasn't until his legal and personal problems that he became distracted and it affected his performance. Boxing is as much mental as it is physical.

Heart can be taken from you in a number of ways. Ask any so-called badass or tough-guy who has been to prison.

[Schmerzen]

wladimir 2007 would beat tyson. vitali 2000 would be a 50/50 fight.

[Mr Objecitivity]

These are all 50/50 fights between peak Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and the Klitschko brothers. Too close to call! If they all fought each other 10 times, it'd probably be something like 5/10 or 6/10 in wins / losses for all of them.

[Squ□redCircle34]

Prime Iron Mike with Cus D'Amato in the corner would put Vitali's lights out like it's curfew!

Vitali had an amazing chin and was very rangy but guys gotta understand we're talking about a Tyson that had all his cylinders clicking and actually was training with no distractions from jail,coke and women!

Tyson TKO 7th round!

[iamboxing]

He'd be a Gerry Cooney in Tyson's era. Tough, solid opponent, but won't take Tyson's best punches for long.