What if, instead of fighting Golota and Byrd respectively, these two fought each other instead? Lets say it's an alternate universe and Wlad had got his shot at Byrd a few months earlier and as such represented a title shot for Mike in say November. Would Wlad have been ready - mentally & physically tough enough - to survive the early onslaught & exploit his physical advantages like Lewis did?
I'll kick off. I think the answer is no. Firstly, I believe Wlad would have been terrified at that point and clammed up. But beyond that there are certain things Lewis does well which were key in establishing authority early against (an even further declined) Tyson that Wlad doesn't do. One is uppercut on the inside (or punch effectively inside arm range AT ALL) & the second closely related factor is fight moving backwards effectively or comfortably. The third of course is take the odd very hard punch well. Tyson still had fairly quick feet against Golota, far quicker than any offensively minded fighter Wlad has ever fought and I believe quick enough to get inside Wlad's jab occasionally. And when he's in that territory he's almost immune from incoming, unlike against Lewis & what's more Wlad is really all at sea trying to set his feet to respond. That being the case Mike stays ferocious & encouraged just long enough to get the job done, which wouldn't take more than 3. I don't wanna exaggerate how poor Wlad's chin is, but he certainly doesn't get up from the type of shot Mike landed on Golota & I think Mike would land such a punch (I envision the left hook) before Wlad is able to establish authority at range and slow Mike down.
I read your initial post & thought, "I really have no idea," remembering vividly how shot Tyson was by 2000, & how quickly he lost both steam & heart. Klitschko of course had even more severe frailties then than he does now. As such, consider me convinced.
Yeah, Wlad was still pre-prime in 2000. I think the Tyson that blitz Savarese would have taken Wlad out early.
I think Tyson was completely done by 2000...so much so that even a pre-prime Wlad would have beaten him. Wlad may have actually killed him. Tyson would only have a punchers chance in this one (which given Wlad's chin...would be a BIG chance)
He was beating Golota pretty comfortably. And for the rounds Foul Pole would deign to fight he was still pretty handy at that point. I think by the time Mike went away and gained 20 odd lb before fighting Neilson he was due a fork, but I think there was still a very dangerous 3 or 4 round fighter in there by 2000, if motivated. And moreover I think his aggression & the speed of his attack was pretty much perfect stylistically to have Wlad as panicked as a flock of 14 sheep heading in 6 different directions.
I see your point..and it's a good one. Tyson, however, could easily be discouraged also..at that point in his career. He was never mentally the same after the first Holyfield loss. if Wlad stuck his heavy jab in Mike's face and nailed him with a couple hard hooks and what not...I could see Mike capitulating early also..
Yeah, definitely. Mike has 3 rounds, mentally, IMO before he effectively gives up. It had to be easy for Mike by that point or it wasn't happening, he wasn't reaching any fruit on the high branches.
Wlad quits respecting the thin boundary film containing the mundane aspect of consciousness to fly through Mexican deserts with the azure cosmic coyote before then.
Tyson wins by KO Wlad of now beat Tyson of 2000 Prime vs. Prime...:giggle: Vitaly would be in his brother's corner :Steve-Dave/MMA:..knowing Mike is one guy he won't be getting vengeance on.
