Holyfield is obviously the greater fighter but tbh I've always picked Vitali in this one. I get why people will disagree with me, their resumes are lightyears apart, but I've always felt Vitali is a stylistic nightmare for Holyfield.
Yeah I could obviously see Holyfield landing plenty but I wonder if over the long haul Vitali’s size and awkward style would prove problematic.
Holy beats the shit outta both Klit bros. Vitali didn't have the tools Bowe had - not as quick and dynamic, not the infighting ability, and not the stamina. Once Holy figures out his awkward style after 5 or so rounds, he would tear him up with combos in close.
Weirdly, I think that's the reason Vitali wins. You're totally right, Vitali doesn't have Bowe's infighting ability. The reason the Bowe-Holyfield trilogy was so great was because Bowe fought inside and gave Holyfield chances. Vitali won't do that, he'll fight tall and not give Evander the same opportunities. I think Holyfield will struggle mightily to get inside. I will say again though, I get it and I won't argue too much. Vitali fought mainly smaller guys and none of them were anywhere near the level of Holyfield, and Holyfield seemed able to get to everybody, even the tall blokes, with varying degrees of success. He'd always at least have moments, so it is unchartered waters for Klitschko, admittedly.
Just to clarify my point- Bowe, despite being a huge guy, liked being in the kitchen, and had no qualms about putting himself there. Vitali would do everything to avoid it, and I think that strategy would swing it for Klitschko imo.
One of those fights that's kind of hard to picture. I think it would somehow be both entertaining and awkward. For me Holyfield edges a decision because his punches would be more clear to the judges than the kind of arm shots that Vitali K tended to throw. The volume would favor Evander too even if the effectiveness did not.
It is difficult to pick Vitaly against anyone good, because his resume is so thin. He was dominant, but many would be dominant facing Kirk Johnsons and Larry Donalds My problem with Holyfield is that he never had an easy fight after the Douglas farce. He dropped several rounds against old Foreman and Holmes, struggled bad against Moorer and Cooper and was lackluster against no-hopers such as Czyz and Bean. He didn't beat anyone easily. Holyfield's greatest moment was the Tyson win, which is shitload more than Vitaly ever did. However, Tyson was stylistically a perfect opponent for Holy, and as far from Vitaly as can be. I think this comes down to styles. I just can't see Holyfield coping with that huge reach disadvantage nor doing enough damage up close, and with his lack of defense he wouldhave troublewith Vitaly's work rate too. Vitaly by 8-4ish decision
Holyfield 8-4/9-3….Holyfield has too many punches for Vitaly… the jab, right, body shots, uppercut..young Holyfield was too fluid.
