Yeah, that's how he was able to beat him. He read his mind, so he knew what he was going to do. The second time they fought, he went beserk and was beating him before the bodyguard ended it and they escaped. Then a bunch of issues later they met in a fighting tournament where Wolverine realized that he was a mindreader, so he purpusly went beserk and was beating him when the bodyguard once again saved him.
just because he saved his life means nothing. people have had to save wolverines life several times in the past. it's just circumstancial. so wolverine isn't simply better. like i already stated, cap is more tactical, smarter, know's all about wolverine, he's the better fighter, more disciplined, more focused, more agile, everything points to cap as the winner. unless the fight is drawn out. way out. because wolverines healing factor would afford him more stamina, and durability over long periods of time. setting i'm sure would also play a role. without being described in great detail i'm sure none of us could say who would win for sure or not. but i stick with my opinion that cap would win.
well cap is is still tactically better. he is faster, he is atleast as strong, he is still more skilled. so it's not just me, it's marvel comics also. they will tell you that captain america IS the better fighter. so besides wolverines healing affording him more stamina, and some durability, i can't see anything else that helps him. although if he did get a lucky shot in on caps, it could put him down. for good.
In ultimate war(the ultimates V X-men) they came across eachother and Cap says:'James Howlett, you look as young as I do'. Wolvie:'who?what are you talking about?stop messing with my mind man'.Cap had earlier said to his team mates Iron man, Thor and the rest that he'd worked with Wolvie in WW2 and that no matter how many times 'Jim' got shot at, he was always ok and that 'we all used to call him 'lucky Jim', we never knew he was a mutant with an enhanced healing factor!'. so back to their fight: cap whips out an automatic rifle and says 'that healing factor of yours still work?'', then shoots the shit out of him! Very funny scene.So cap won that coz it would have kept Wolvie out of action for an hour or so I would guess