Can ANYBODY in history defeat 1967 Ali?

[Gandalf]

I maintain that Vitali would have been good as his size was something different. He would get hit, but he threw 80 punches a round and could punch. Ali would have issues with the range. Ali was more of a David Haye in terms of height and build. Wlad was technically better, but bad stamina and delicate. I always enjoyed Vitali. He just seemed like such a tough bastard. Shame about the Lewis fight as he was winning that too. Lewis was okay, but I find him overrated. Easily outboxed by Bruno, bad stoppage losses, and a bit robotic. I can see Ali doing well there as Lewis was not that out of range.

It is strange you call Lennox Lewis robotic when Vitali was far stiffer and slower. Sure Lennox had poor spells in fights but he generally came out on top. Wlad became a better champion than Vitali who was injury prone. If Ali was going to have trouble it would be to Wlad who was more fluid and had speed.

He had serious output for a HW though and would throw in combination. He knew that he did not need to worry so much about his chin. In a weird way he was a bit Calzaghe like in terms of letting his hands go. Lewis on the other hand had a chin that seemed to implode against lesser fighters. Even against an ancient Tyson he was doing the octopus routine all too often. I see him a bit like Wlad in that he had a good jab, but was fragile. A real great would cut him down. Vitali on the other hand was solid, knew how to use distance, and Ali really was quite small compared to him. Would have been one of his smaller opponents and in 1967 really a jumped up Cruiser Weight.

You remember Vitali differently to how I did. I definitely did not see him having a punch output that was similar to Joe Calzaghe. Sturdy chin and almost impossible to knock out but slow and methodical in his boxing style.

Hands down and throwing punches in bunches. That's Vitali. He kept them up when he needed to, but he systematically broke his opponents down. I always found him fun to watch unlike his brother. AJ is robotic, but Vitali had a motor and I always enjoy fighters who don't seem to be conserving. Vitali along with several others was outboxing Lewis too. He was up at the time of the stoppage, same with Bruno too. And then the weak knockouts. Was never that impressed with Lewis. He knew not to mess with Vitali again who was well up for another dustup.