How to Beat a Klitschko Part I – Vitali
Published: Oct 10 2009 by: Nathan Nau
What Type of Fighter Can Defeat the Klitschko Brothers?
There is no question that the Klitschko Brothers are the two dominant fighters in a weak heavyweight era. In a two part series, Pro Boxing Fans identifies what type of fighter matches up well with the Klitschko’s and explores the technical side to devising a strategy for defeating each of the Ukrainian giants.
Vitali Klitschko
Vitali Klitschko Record: 38-2, 37 KOs Height: 6’7 1/2’’ Reach: 80’’ Notable Wins: Samuel Peter, Corrie Sanders, Chris ArreolaFighting Style
Vitali Klitschko’s fighting style is as straight forward as you can get. Vitali uses his size and reach advantage to methodically break down his opponents and score mid-to-late round stoppages. Vitali is the prime example of a fighter being underestimated. While judging fights at ringside, I have seen countless fight plans fail due to a boxer’s skill level not being properly evaluated.
Even though the general public would view Vitali Klitschko as “clumsy” or “goofy,” his fighting style is predicated on using a small amount of technical skills in order to put himself into a position to utilize his physical attributes as an advantage. Below is a break down of Vitali’s strengths and weaknesses:
- Strength: experience, ring generalship, jab, punching power and stamina
- Underestimated Strengths: footwork, keeping proper distance and punching angles
- Weaknesses: overall speed, form (slouching over), hand position and exchanging
How to beat Vitali Klitschko
In order to defeat Vitali Klitschko, a fighter will have to utilize above average technical skills and have the heart to provide relentless pressure. Vitali is able to use footwork to keep his opponents at the end of his powerful punches and mitigate the scoring opportunities of fighters when they press forward by using effective, but underrated side stepping techniques.
In order to consistently score against Vitali, a fighter will need the technical skills to close the gap and the strength to stop Vitali from side-stepping, clenching or pushing his opponents away. The aforementioned skill set could put a fighter within striking range to take advantage for Vitali’s habit to slouch forward, average hand speed and the fact that he is willing to exchange.
Outside of the most skilled heavyweights of all-time, such as Muhammad Ali, a fighter using this strategy will need a strong chin and big heart to endure the punishment that Vitali could unleash on a fighter with a plan to continuously apply pressure. No one can argue with the fact that Vitali does a good job keeping his distance, has long arms, punches from unusual angles, has a good chin and has a big heart.
Some would argue that the heavyweight most likely to defeat Vitali fighting today would be his brother, Wladimir. On paper, Wladimir appears to have what it takes to defeat Vitali, which includes technical skills, a big punch and the size and strength necessary to control ring generalship. However, would Wladimir crumble after eating some of Vitali’s hard shots, presumably some that he didn’t see coming from unusual angles? I think the question speaks for itself.
Below is a list of more commonly known fighters and how they stack up against Vitali. These lists are certainly up for debate, but keep in mind it is assumed that Vitali is being compared to each fighter in their prime:
Fighters that would defeat Vitali:
Muhammad Ali, George Forman, Joe Louis, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Sonny Liston Mike Tyson
Fighters that are even with Vitali:
Lennox Lewis, Riddick Bowe, Evander Holyfield
Fighters that could upset Vitali:
Floyd Patterson, Max Schmeling, Wladimir Klitschko, Eddie Chambers
As always, tune into Pro Boxing Fans to review columns from the best boxing writers on the web. And be sure to check back for Part II in the How to Beat a Klitschko Series: Wladimir.
Image Credit: Mike Boehm/Pro Boxing Fans
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Tags: eddie chambers, fantasy fight, muhammad ali, vitali klitschko, wladimir klitschko
Good article, Nathan. But I’m glad you noted that your opinions are open for debate. Your list of guys who would supposedly beat Vitali has some huge flaws in logic IMO. In fairness, a lot of people would agree with you, but I think it’s more a case of these former greats being legendary or iconic rather than people actually EXPLAINING how someone like Joe Louis or Joe Frazier could beat Vitali. When you say these guys are supposed to be considered when they were in their “prime”, do you mean height/weight adjusted? As in Joe Louis might be 6’4″ and 240lbs. if he was alive today? Because the truth of it is Joe Louis is sometimes listed at 6’2″, but he was just over 6′, and usually fought around 210. And he NEVER fought anything resembling a Klitschko or a Lennox Lewis. No, size isn’t everything. But when you have a skilled big guy against a skilled little guy, you favor the big guy. And with Frazier and Louis – great as they certainly were – the size disparity is HUGE. Same with Marciano. Even Liston was a little under 6’1″. And you have him beating the Klitschkos??? How??? Liston was intimidating in his era. He’s another iconic figure. He destroyed Cleveland Williams twice. But you can watch those fights on YouTube. The “Big Cat” wasn’t that big a cat, not by todays standards. He was like 6’3″, 215. Plus the athleticism wasn’t there. Williams didn’t have the jab the K bros have, or the power. Liston had a great jab, but he was slow. I think Vitali destroys him. And Wlad would jab him to a pulp, tie him up inside, and eventually land a big right or left hook. Not a competitve matchup IMO. To me, the only guys I’d pick over the Klitschkos are Ali and Lennox. And neither are a lock. Foreman, Holmes, and Tyson would have a shot, but none of them faced fighters like the Klitschkos. I was a doubter at first too. There have been a lot of big white stiffs from Europe who couldn’t beat top heavies. But these guys are the real deal. I think its a huge assumtion to make that former greats could beat them when they never faced even remotely comparable opponents. I don’t buy it. It’s like when people say Bill Russell is the greatest NBA center of all time. Sure he was awesome in his day. Eleven rings speaks for itself. But at 6’9″, Russell would have a tough time with modern day power forwards, let alone someone like Shaq. The human animal is evolving and improving. Remember that. If you’re comparing middleweights from the past to todays, it’s a different story because there’s no size disparity.
Zack your knowledge about boxing is zero.Joe Louis had 6′ 2″ and he destroyed Tony Galento=Chris Arreola in 4 rounds.Vitali needed 10 to do the same against arreola,but Arreola was still on his legs to continue instead Galento could not continue even if he wanted.
Vitali coudn’t even ko a chump like Kevin Johnson.Joe Louis destroyed easily Primo Carnera who had 6′ 5½″.
Vitali got a beating from lennox who had a glass chin,but still took Vitali best punches easily.
Big fighters or small fighters have advantages and disadvantages.The better man will win,look at Pacquiao destroying the bigger man over and over again.Vitali is pretty one-dimensional as fighter jab straight right hand and an occasional clumsy left hook,terrible footwork,slow,etc.
Speed kills and a great combination boxer puncher like Louis would destroy Vitali.Sanders a B-fighter with a good punch hurt Vitali almost decking him.Sanders is a joke compared with Louis.
Vitali is not that hard to hit. Klitschko or a Lennox Lewis NEVER fought anything resembling an Ali or Joe Louis either or a prime Tyson in the 80′s under Cus and Kevin Rooney guidance.
Wladimir is even worse the guy lost by KO several times and he quited
against Daryl Williamson a C fighter when he was in serious trouble.
Vitali defeated bums and some B-fighters and Lennox did the same,but he added some great names like Tyson or Holyfield when they were washed up,plus Lennox got knocked out with a single shot twice,unique in the heavyweight history.
Lennox is a little like Floyd Mayweather picking his fights at the right time to manipulate his real value and trick the audience.
But everyone inside boxing knows that he is out of the top 10.
after beating a bum Kevin Johnson by decision in one of the worst title fights in history,Vitali wants to fight another B-fighter named valuev.
If Vitali wants more credit,he has to fight Tua.
Tua today would beat all these chumps by KO.
Good article Nathan, I enjoyed it.
I agree with you for the most part but I have to take um-bridge with your “fighters that are even with Vitali” list. Vitali lost to a faded Lennox Lewis and you’re going to put them on an even playing field? Vitali was in his prime for that fight and Lennox was out of shape and a shell of his former self. Barring that cut, Vitali may have won that fight but a prime Lewis dispatches with Vitali without question, cut or no cut.
I think Riddick Bowe vs. Vitali would be a very interesting fight. Same with Holyfield/Vitali.
-Ben
BEN – I beg to differ. That wasn’t a “faded” Lennox against Vitali. People like to say that. But it was the same Lennox who crushed Tyson 6 months earlier. I’m a fan of Lewis. I think a case can made for him being the best heavyweight ever. But the Vitali fight was interesting. Lewis was not past his prime at all. He was a late bloomer, and actually peaked during his mid thirties, unlike a lot of other greats. But people say he was out of shape when he fought Vitali, and I don’t buy that. Maybe a few pounds. But what people don’t say is that Vitali took that fight literally on two weeks notice. The idea that Lennox would ever have “easily dispatched” him is nonsense. Its great to see a champ retire on top and not come back. But it surprises me to this day that his competetive spirit didn’t make him want to have a rematch. I think it will be a blemish on his career – even more than his losses to McCall and Rahman. Most people realize both those losses were cases of over-confidence and lack of preparation. But the Vitali fight was different. Vitali took Lennox’s best shots and wasn’t hurt. That NEVER happened to Lewis. Then after Lewis “retired” he took an active interest in Vitali’s next two opponents, even saying he wanted to co-manage Corrie Sanders. Vitali knocked both of them out and Kirk Johnson – all the while calling Lewis out and telling people “Lennox promised me a rematch”. He ducked Vitali. Period.
Due to the overwhelming interest in this article, I have been asked to do something that I normally don’t take part in. Comments! Here are a few responses to posted comments:
The size debate: Yes, size does matter in the case of boxing. However, one of the top three heavyweights of all time in my opinion (Mike Tyson) is a very short fighter. If a smaller fighter has the defensive skills to roll with Vitali’s punches or dodge them altogether, then he can beat the big man.
Remember, styles make fights. If you can close the gap on Vitali then he cannot extend his arms and his two top advantages are gone, length and power. If a fighter is able to close the gap, that fighter will most likely be a good inside boxer. He should certainly be able to take advantage of Vitali’s poor habit of slouching forward.
Lennox Lewis: Good comments from a knowledgeable fan. For the most part I agree, but remember that both Vitali and Lennox were out of shape for that fight due to short notice. I understand that Lennox was in training for another fight, but he clearly wasn’t taking it serious and he had to change his strategy. Lewis was a stand-still, jab, right hand fighter – hence, he still was close enough to his prime. All things being equal, I think these fighters are too close to go one way or another.
Nobody could, can and will beat Vitaliy.Lewis was knocked down, Vitaliy never was, so Klitshchkos are and will be best forever and ever
Lennox conditioned properly would beat Vitali. I am not sure about Joe Louis. Total respect to Joe but he has never faced a modern boxer- puncher. Vitali would destroy Patterson and Chambers. Interesting how Sonny Liston with an 84 inch reach would have done against Vitali. And not the “old man” 40 plus Sonny Liston who fought Ali.