Vitali has the chin and toughness to make it competitive. And an awkward style. But I think prime Bowe who beat Holyfield would wear him down late and possibly stop him.
Bowe would beat the fuck outta him. Vitali couldn't beat a washed up Lewis. No Vitali dick rider can convince me that an old, fat Lewis was on par with the 92 Bowe.
Based on their common opponents (Donald and Hide, who were about the same when facing either guy) and careers otherwise this is a very evenly-matched couple. Bowe has the victory over Holyfield which is much better than any victory Vitali had, but Bowe also has those beatings against Golota and the gift over Tubbs, which are weaker performances than Vitali's defeats. It is also very difficult to predict the styles matchup. Vitali usually beat aggressive guys easily (before getting old and injuring his hand against Chisora) but Peter, Williams or Arreola doesn't tell much about him dealing with Bowe. Bowe had power and he threw good hooks, but he was hurt by the big punchers he fought and had surprising difficulties against tall guys such as Tyrell Biggs and Golota. Thus, either pick is plausible to me here, but to see it as mismatch either way is rather infantile
I don't think Vitali would be able to grab and hold Bowe inside. Bowe was just too strong and skillful.
Luckily Vitali usually didn't grab and hold before he grew old (from Arreola bout onwards), he wasn't Wlad. Bowe's skill was weird though, as you said he had very good infighting technique for a strong guy, but he was also almost defenseless himself
Agreed, but you knew it was coming. Vitali never seems to get a fair shake in MM's because of his little sister. I wouldn't even say Vitali wins this one but to make out like Bowe just walks through him with no issues whatsoever is ridiculous hyperbole.
92 Bowe vs. today's vatali is a mismach bich 92 Bowe vs. 03 vatali is a fight I would favor Bowe but I don't think it's a mismatch.
Put it this way, if a peak Vitaly couldn't take out Lewis and fought on even terms with him he's not beating 92 Bowe. 92 Bowe was better than 03 Lewis. Don't compare prime Golota to Vitaly, completely different styles. Golota was a great technican with a great jab and body punching, Vitaly just paws with his arm shots and slaps these little guys around. Bowe at 6'5 would easily get to Vitaly just like Lewis did. I think it would be a good brawl for the first couple rounds, but a 92 Bowe unlike Lewis wouldn't fade and get tired, he would just coming at Vitaly and either bust up his face and get say a 9 round tko or Vitaly's corner/referee would stop it late. Vitaly has heart, and chin and an awkward style, but that style works best against under sized medicore heavyweights, I don't think he gets away with his arm punches and awkward footwork against a great prime heavyweight. Call it Bowe tko8
I don't see a mismatch, either I'd favor Bowe, but I don't see anything approaching a mismatch... Vitali can fight
