Vitali Klitschko vs. Mike Tyson prime for prime.

[VG_Addict]

How would a prime Tyson do against Vitali's height, awkward style, and iron chin?

[p4pking]

Neither fought anything remotely like the other in their primes, I could see just about any outcome here.

[VG_Addict]

Neither fought anything remotely like the other in their primes, I could see just about any outcome here.

It's really hard to prepare for someone like Vitali. Not many men that size with his style and reflexes.

[mikeeod]

Feel like this is a really bad match up for Mike. Vitali was very durable and effective at fighting tall and using his height/reach to full advantage. Against Wlad I would give Mike the proverbial puncher's chance, but Vitali seems like he would bully Tyson and score the late stoppage. Mike would have some moments and Vitali would take some hellacious shots, but I don't see Tyson breaking his body down enough to land the head shots necessary to cut/stop Vitali.

[vidgil]

Tough fight for both men... it's really a toss up for me! I'd probably go with Mike though. Maybe he'd fell Klitschko with a body shot.

[palmerq]

I will vote for vitali, even though he was the more aggressive of the brothers he is still just as smart so I think you would see more leaning and pushing from vitali than he usually did and greatly frustrate tyson unti mike went mental and started doing silly stuff.

[Primo Carnera]

The key here is "Prime for Prime." I'm not saying it would be easy, but no matter how tough Vitali is , Tyson KO's him. I think Tyson was underrated, yes underrated as a technically gifted fighter. His head movement, the way he got inside guys much taller than him and his power/torque were amazingly freakish.
I'm sure a lot of people will think the longer it went , the more chance Tyson would gass it, but remember, we're talking Prime.

[p4pking]

That was my take too, if you're talking both guys at their absolute peak Tyson on points isn't that unlikely imo. I don't think anyone could say he wouldn't be able to get inside and unload on Vitali fairly easily, it's not as if he wasn't tough as nails himself, it's a hard fight to call for sure.

[TitoFan]

Hard to disagree with any of these viewpoints. A classic battle for sure. I lean toward Vitali myself, only because of his durability. Tyson would land, but not necessarily take Vitali out with his punches. He'd have to get inside and would be sure to absorb some punches of his own from Vitali. It's basically a tossup, though, and I could see it going the other way.

Against Wlad, however... it's a whole 'nother story. Tyson crushes him inside 5 rounds.

[Vendettos]

Tough one.

Prime for prime Tyson hurts and stops him late after wearing him down.

Vitali didnt fight many half as good as Tyson.

[mikeeod]

I really like Mike and think he was a phenomenal fighter during his peak years in the sport. That being said, I think people tend to overrate him based off of how he looked against a pretty pathetic class of heavyweights (Pinklon Thomas, Tony Tubbs...etc.). It's not that those guys had no talent, they just all had that classic 80's party mentality going and didn't train after winning the title.

Vitali was always in shape, and he was a BIG man. You have to remember, Vitali was like 6'7", 240 and in single digits of body fat. Too damn big for Mike, who was 5'11", at best (seemed shorter when I saw him in person). Bonecrusher Smith, Razor Ruddock, Tony Tucker, and even Buster Douglas gave Mike tons of trouble, and none were as big or formidable as Vitali (Douglas was more fluid and the better boxer/more skilled fighter, in my opinion though).

Tyson had a HUGE punch and stylistically I think he matches up well with guys like Joe Fraizier, Ken Norton, Marciano...etc., he just doesn't seem to do well against large, durable, skilled fighters. I would have Mike stay away from guys like Lewis, Bowe, Foreman, Vitali, Evander...etc.

[Dark Lord Al]

Vitali for me via mid - late round stoppage.

[Master]

You lot are having a laugh?

Peak Tyson beats Vitali, probably on points, but taking a brutal beating.

Tyson was too fast and the speed of his combinations would cause damage to the much slower Vitali.

Tyson would have a relative easy time getting his combinations off on the bigger and slower fighter.

[Dark Lord Al]

You lot are having a laugh?

Peak Tyson beats Vitali, probably on points, but taking a brutal beating.

Tyson was too fast and the speed of his combinations would cause damage to the much slower Vitali.

Tyson would have a relative easy time getting his combinations off on the bigger and slower fighter.

Tyson couldn't break down Boneclutcher Smith , Vitali is to strong for him and Tyson would not KO him

[Master]

You lot are having a laugh?

Peak Tyson beats Vitali, probably on points, but taking a brutal beating.

Tyson was too fast and the speed of his combinations would cause damage to the much slower Vitali.

Tyson would have a relative easy time getting his combinations off on the bigger and slower fighter.

Tyson couldn't break down Boneclutcher Smith , Vitali is to strong for him and Tyson would not KO him

I never said Tyson would KO Vitali and Smith was just surviving and negative. Tyson won every round in that fight.