Prime Mike Tyson VS Prime Vitali Klitschko...Winner?

[Master]

Vitali's height and especially his jab would have created big problems for Iron Mike. Early Vitali didn't know how to grab/hold which would have been a problem if Tyson could close the distance, later Vitali has seemed to figure it out. I don't see Vitali committing to the KO so I see him fighting a controlled fight jabbing, moving and tying Mike up when in close...I believe it's Vitali by decision.

Vitali is far too slow for that strategy.

I'd argue that he's not as slow as you think with an excellent chin, he's also far taller than anyone Mike Tyson ever beat....Styles make fights and this is not a good match up for Iron Mike (coming from a Tyson fan)

Tyson fought Biggs, Tucker who were similar height with little trouble.

[Eloking]

Yeah I'll have to agree with most people there. Even if Klitschko should have won his fight again Lewis, Lewis was completely out of shape. And a prime Lewis dominated Tyson that was also a pitiful figure compared to his prime.

Still, the Klitschko brother dominated everything the boxing world have brought to them. We cannot forget that. But we also have to acknowledge the fact that the actual heavyweight division of boxing, well, sucks (except for the Klitschko brother). So everything we say in this thread is mostly speculative.

Still, the way I see things, I honestly doubt the Klitschkos would have been able to become world champion 10 years earlier. And if they did, they wouldn't have stayed champion for long.

[The Promoter]

Vitali's height and especially his jab would have created big problems for Iron Mike. Early Vitali didn't know how to grab/hold which would have been a problem if Tyson could close the distance, later Vitali has seemed to figure it out. I don't see Vitali committing to the KO so I see him fighting a controlled fight jabbing, moving and tying Mike up when in close...I believe it's Vitali by decision.

Vitali is far too slow for that strategy.

I'd argue that he's not as slow as you think with an excellent chin, he's also far taller than anyone Mike Tyson ever beat....Styles make fights and this is not a good match up for Iron Mike (coming from a Tyson fan)

Tyson fought Biggs, Tucker who were similar height with little trouble.

Well first off, the 6'5" Biggs was on Crack when he fought Tyson and never had the punching power to give Tyson any concern, so this is not a realistic comparison. The 6'5" Tucker was a good heavyweight that gave Tyson a very competitive fight only losing by 3 rounds on the cards. Tucker's greatest victory was over Buster Douglas and he really never beat any top tier fighter. Tucker was hardly in VK's class and actually the Tucker fight is a great argument for a VK victory over Tyson ..... With another 2 1/2 inches and far more punching power than Tucker, I'm beginning to believe Vitali knocks Mike out....

[Master]

Vitali is far too slow and ponderous for Tyson, Vitali had a great chin but that would mean a bigger beating.

[jon09]

Tyson's biggest advantage was his intimidation and I do not think Vitali would have bought into it. Vitali has a good arsenal of punches, great chin and keeps his composure in the ring. He would have given Tyson all kinds of problems and probably would have knocked him out in the mid to late rounds.

[JonesJrMayweather]

Vitali beats him... seems people are only thinking prime tyson.. but prime in shape vitali (not the one that took the fight on short notice v Lewis yet was still still winning at time of cut) I think he beats tyson easily. Just don't see how tyson would have reached him.

[Master]

Tyson battered Golota, he would pulverise the body, he was way too fast for Vitali. It would be easy for Tyson to take a part him.

[JonesJrMayweather]

Tyson battered Golota, he would pulverise the body, he was way too fast for Vitali. It would be easy for Tyson to take a part him.

In all fairness, every one that tyson beat, vitali would would beat them all in similar fashion. Vitali would also have beaten Holyfield. Tyson was good/great but his size would be a huge disadvantage against a 6'7 guy who could take a punch and has skills.

[Master]

Tyson battered Golota, he would pulverise the body, he was way too fast for Vitali. It would be easy for Tyson to take a part him.

In all fairness, every one that tyson beat, vitali would would beat them all in similar fashion. Vitali would also have beaten Holyfield. Tyson was good/great but his size would be a huge disadvantage against a 6'7 guy who could take a punch and has skills.

Vitali is not that great for you to say that he could beat Holyfield either. I say Tucker may have been to fast for Vitali and Rudduck may have knocked Vitali out and stopped him.

[JonesJrMayweather]

Tyson battered Golota, he would pulverise the body, he was way too fast for Vitali. It would be easy for Tyson to take a part him.

In all fairness, every one that tyson beat, vitali would would beat them all in similar fashion. Vitali would also have beaten Holyfield. Tyson was good/great but his size would be a huge disadvantage against a 6'7 guy who could take a punch and has skills.

Vitali is not that great for you to say that he could beat Holyfield either. I say Tucker may have been to fast for Vitali and Rudduck may have knocked Vitali out and stopped him.

Evander is 1-3-1 against big/tall heavies, really 1-4 because we all know he lost that first lennox fight. It's also funny that tyson has been stopped three times while Vitali was stopped by two injuries, the second was cut caused by the corner of the glove, and didn't want to stop fighting. Yet somehow Vitali is the one who would be stopped if they met?

[TitoFan]

Tyson had too much head and body movement. By comparison, Vitali is and was always a plodder. It would've taken more than one punch, to be sure, but eventually Tyson chops down the big tree. Those flying left hooks with the feet off the ground were fearsome. A few of those is too big a dose for any mere mortal to take.

Mike Tyson would never throw a left hook with both feet off the ground. He was a fighter with great skill and balance and that type of shot would be far too wild, raw and primitive for a man of his fine boxing ability.

And of course we all know Mike Tyson was anything BUT "wild, raw and primitive" in his prime.

[tysonesque]

An EASY one sided win for Tyson - no doubt about it.

Tyson either breaks him down and knocks him out after 5 or 6 rounds or wins a very one sided points decision.

People forget just how good Tyson was in his prime - particularly defensively. This was a guy who stood right in front of his opponents, well within range, but no one could hit him. I've never seen any other heavyweight that could do that.

For every jab or hook his opponent threw Tyson would easily avoid it and come straight back with 5 or 6 perfectly timed lightning quick punches and all of them would land. Tyson did have massive one punch knockout power, but the effect of his combinations was what really set him apart from any other heavyweight.

I doubt Vitali would have been able to do so much as hit Tyson with anything particularly telling, let alone win the fight.

[Julius Rain]

Was a big fan of Tyson but I think Vitali is all wrong for him. Tyson would have a chance against Wlad because of his chin but Vitali is tougher mentally stronger physically a offensive monster and with an iron chin. Tyson offense was great but he is in such a disadvantage in every department. P4P I think Vitaly hits even harder than Tyson plus Tysons chin isn't as strong. I dont see how he can have a chance against Vitali.

Vitali by KTFO 9th round.

[RohanKnight]

HOw can people pick Vitali? Hes strong, with good skills and a height advantage, but several of Tysons 80s opponents were just that and they all went the same way.

The only chance you had against Tyson at full steam was to be faster than him and keep him at bay with a jab for a points victory or to wear him out (meaning Ali could do it, for instance, and its the reason why Tyson couldnt stop Tucker, and Tillis) or to outmuscle him (eg George Foreman might well knock him out before Tyson could land his bombs). And of course if he wasnt right in the head duiring the fight. Tyson was of course beatable - Tony Tucker might well have decisioned Tyson if he hadnt broken his hand in the 4th round. Tucker was very underated.

But Vitali doesnt have any of that. HE JUST ISNT FAST ENOUGH OR STRONG ENOUGH. You can easily visualise his jab working for a while, but at some point Tyson coming through it and Vitali would be all over the place, trying to run away with panic on his face asthese punches came at him from different angles that he couldnt block. In his prime he would put up the same show as an ageing Larry Holmes ( though then comparison is unfair - 37 year old Holmes would take Vitali) - however I cannot rule out the chance of a Vitali victory on points, perhaps in 1 fight out of 3).

[BIG H]

HOw can people pick Vitali? Hes strong, with good skills and a height advantage, but several of Tysons 80s opponents were just that and they all went the same way.

The only chance you had against Tyson at full steam was to be faster than him and keep him at bay with a jab for a points victory or to wear him out (meaning Ali could do it, for instance, and its the reason why Tyson couldnt stop Tucker, and Tillis) or to outmuscle him (eg George Foreman might well knock him out before Tyson could land his bombs). And of course if he wasnt right in the head duiring the fight. Tyson was of course beatable - Tony Tucker might well have decisioned Tyson if he hadnt broken his hand in the 4th round. Tucker was very underated.

But Vitali doesnt have any of that. HE JUST ISNT FAST ENOUGH OR STRONG ENOUGH. You can easily visualise his jab working for a while, but at some point Tyson coming through it and Vitali would be all over the place, trying to run away with panic on his face asthese punches came at him from different angles that he couldnt block. In his prime he would put up the same show as an ageing Larry Holmes ( though then comparison is unfair - 37 year old Holmes would take Vitali) - however I cannot rule out the chance of a Vitali victory on points, perhaps in 1 fight out of 3).

Dunno about that? I think he fights like Ivan Drago did in the 1st 2 minutes of round 1 against Apollo Creed