Vitali's punching power - 9, 10, 11 or 12?

[Jim_Kidd]

Here's an article from fightnews.com that may explain some of Vitali's "power shortage" against Williams. It seems that he went to the hospital after the fight due to swollen hands. Although they weren't broken, it could explain my earlier theory of him not commiting to his power shots as much as he could have.

That being said, he still won by a one-sided stoppage.

Here's the article:

Klitschko post-fight comments!

Sunday, December 12 2004




Photos: Rick Guzman
After returning from the hospital at around midnight, WBC Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko met with the press to discuss his devastating eighth-round knockout victory over Danny Williams Saturday night on HBO Pay-Per-View at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, his future plans and more.
On the fight:
"I feel good. I did not take a lot of punches in the fight. Danny Williams did never hurt me...I tried to finish him in the first round, but Danny Williams showed a lot of heart and came back. I was very surprised at how many punches he took. I am happy with my performance, but fights, like life, are all about learning and gaining experience. I hope the fans enjoyed our fight tonight. I fight for the audience. They are the ones who pay to watch me fight and I hope they will want to watch me again. The best is yet to come."
On his hands:
"I went to the hospital as a precaution because both my hands were swollen, They are taped now but the doctor said I will be fine and could fight in a couple of months. Nothing is broken. This is no big deal...I cannot say exactly when I hurt them, or with what punch, but I first started to feel pain in the hands in the second round, and felt more and more pain in each round thereafter."
On his future:
"I am not prepared to say who I will fight next, or when the fight will be, or where. There are several possibilities, lots of big names. We will see. This victory was important not just for me, but for my country. This is the first time a Ukrainian sportsman is a boxing world champion. I hope I made the people there happy. My brother, Wladimir, and I leave for Germany early in the morning (Sunday) and will spend one day there before heading to Ukraine."

[BrocktonBlockBuster]

This guy's OVER-RATED IMOP! Exciting to watch yes! Lennox in shape would've destroyed this guy!

[meade95]

I think Vitali is probably the best of the weak bunch of HW that is out there right now - With that said, I think he is a pretty solid fighter ....not great....but he would be a good defense for any of the past champions (simply his size helps him) -

As for punching power....I personally have thought his hitting power has been over-valued for some time....(not just based on his last fight)...I'd say his power is a 10..... I would also say though....that is his punches landed is a 37 or 38 (not the 36 TBCB has him ranked as).

[erickdamac]

Danny williams said that tyson hits WAY harder in a interview danny said he just had problems seeing the punches and also made some comments about not being able to move his back for the last week in a half of traing take that how you want, But he said that Klitsko is more of a beat em up then a one punch power, But we cant make our judgement off of one fighter.

But for cory sanders to take all of Klitsko punches flush and still come foward, make me wonder if he really hit that hard, I say 8 or 9 IMO The Control facter should be alittle higher 11 for sluggers 10 for boxers, Chris byrd did get in alot doing there fight, and power should be 8 or9 depending on what you want his control facter to be.

[dlirag]

I vote for 10 HP.

[Mr Big]

I vote for his "official" TBCB of 12. 35 victories, 34 knockouts, speaks for itself.

[erickdamac]

LOL Most of those KOS was TKOS with the fighters still standing, and thats not power that beat em up.

[Mudster]

So a lower HP with a higher number of 3pt punches might be the way to go then if he is a "beat 'em up" kinda guy??

[wildhawke11]

In my Title Bout Game
I have Klit at 10 hitting power.
CF 9/10
Punches 38/38
KD 2
KO 2
REC 1 Until proved otherwise i think a 1 will suffice here.
Absorb Pun 2 The safe bet

On the other hand my most powerful one hit HW fighter George Foreman i have reduced to a 13 HP

[Mr Big]

Wildhawke:

I agree with the George Foreman thing. A "14" is simply too high.

[Mr Big]

Originally Posted by erickdamac

LOL Most of those KOS was TKOS with the fighters still standing, and thats not power that beat em up.

eric:

Just some food for thought. 20 out of 34, or 58.82% of Vitali Klitschko's stoppages have been via the TKO. Compare that with 38 of 68, or 55.88% for the man believed by many to possess the most awesome one punch KO power in heavyweight championship history; the aforementioned George Foreman. I remember reading something from the Trunzos once that this is the reason they gave him an "off the charts" 14 in the power department. Something to think about.

[erickdamac]

Mr. Bigs

Ok, but now we go to the Opponets do you do really have a case? Vitlia IS not his brother his brother had power! He do no not have the devastating power if that was the case corrie sanders wouldnt say Rahman hits waaay harder. And danny williams says he have good power and his punching power from round 1-8 it didnt change. Im not here to smash the guy I'll leave that up to maxboxing, and Dan Of USA today Im just giving my opinion im not trying to start a arguments.

[Jim_Kidd]

If you take away the stats from Big George's "second career", you'll see that he had the highest KO percentage of all time. In his younger days, I think he would have done to Tyson the same thing that he did to Foreman. It may have taken a few extra rounds because Tyson always took a beating before being kayoed... but I think Foreman would have blasted him.

[meade95]

Originally Posted by Mr Big

eric:

Just some food for thought. 20 out of 34, or 58.82% of Vitali Klitschko's stoppages have been via the TKO. Compare that with 38 of 68, or 55.88% for the man believed by many to possess the most awesome one punch KO power in heavyweight championship history; the aforementioned George Foreman. I remember reading something from the Trunzos once that this is the reason they gave him an "off the charts" 14 in the power department. Something to think about.

But MR. Big that is only one half of the equation - The fact is Foreman has KO's or TKO's over the Fraizer's, Lyle's, Norton's, etc of the World....while Vitali doesn't have a KO or TKO over one big time person - Heck, Old coming backing George's KO over M. Moorer is more impressive than any KO Vitali has -

I don't say this really to be to hard on Vatail either (I kind of like him).

[Mr Big]

I'll agree with you there meade95. But, unfortunately for Vitali, he will never have the opportunity to fight the Fraziers, Lyles, or Nortons; let alone the Alis and Foremans.

The late 1960's, early 1970's produced a crop of heavyweights unparalleled in boxing history. Many of the "also rans" of that generation would have been heavyweight champion in any other era.

The fact that there are few heavyweights today that can stand up to Vitali Klitschko isn't his fault. I think he is the legitimate heavyweight champion of the world, and, as such will defend his title with dignity against anyone the "powers that be" place in front of him. He seems to be a man of integrity, who is confident in his skills, and won't duck anyone. I believe he is the best of his generation, and that's really all we can ask of him.

[dempsonny]

If you're rating him as a whole to face fighters of another era, I would rate him as follows

CF B/S 8/9
HP 8 KI 7
KDR 3
KOR 2
KDR1 2
PL 38
DEF 0
AGG 8

Foreman in his prime was ferocious. I think the 14 may be too high for anyone. A 12 or 13 is probably justified and should be the highest rating. I do believe the game has too many 1's in HP. It could be that I'm just used to the board game where I believe a 5 was the lowest HW's HP.