Should've Lennox gave Vitali a rematch?

[mykolakozak]

A little less controversial question. Who should've won and who was stronger in that fight, forget about it. Lets handle this smaller and hpefully less controversial issue.

No winner likes to give a rematch to someone who lost. Most of the time it doesnt happen. Fair and square. You lost. Goodbye. So what makes Vitali special? Lets see:


1. That was a win by Lennox being behind on all points, and Lennoxed was booed.
2. Lennox is a athlete and he should have some respect to the fans, and the whole boxing organizion as a whole, and accept a fight that caused an extremely immenseful hype. (Remember the reaction in the arena, it doesnt get too much crazier than that.) Everyone next day was talking about it.
3. HE PROMISED ON LIVE TV TO VITALI's FACE. (Vitali came up to him, Live, seconds after the fight, and asked, do you promise me a rematch, I want a rematch: Lennox said yes.) And told Larry Merchant, "if he wants a rematch I will give it to him"


You decide.

[mykolakozak]

Originally Posted by FloydP4PChump

For what? Vitali looked like he ran face first into a semi-truck after their first encounter. Imagine if Lennox had been in shape.

But in defining a man, does one keep a promise?

[KO Boxing]

The guy was old, out of shape, and had a helluva lot of ring rust. His performance that night was enough for him to say I'm out, and EVERYONE should respect that decision... When the guy has done as much as Lewis had, and was what, 39 years old? Older?

Remember, he was originally scheduled to face Kirk Johnson, who injured himself (or pulled out) 2 weeks before the fight. Vitali, on the other hand, was also preparing for a fight, so in good condition. So they BOTH only had 2 weeks to prepare, but for a pugilist like Lennox, this probably would have put him at more of a disadvantage (and let's face it, a 255 pound Lewis still knocks out Johnson, who is clearly much EASIER than Vitali).

If Lewis chose to stay in boxing, of course the first and only guy he should have fought was Vitali. But he didn't chose, but he had/has nothing to prove. It wasn't Vitali vs Lewis prime for prime, best shape vs best shape. And despite losing on the scorecards after SIX bloody rounds, lol, he still won.

[box03]

Lennox was at the end of his career and I think he realized it that night, it was a sad way for Lennox to go out losing in alot of peoples minds who saw the fight. I think its a tough call if your Lennox, I believe he thought if he would fight Vitali again he might lose which would hurt his legacy.

[KO Boxing]

Originally Posted by mykolakozak

But in defining a man, does one keep a promise?

And it would be another of at least a million times in the history of boxing a fighter has said they'll give a rematch and didn't. So why is Lewis picked on so much?

If he was 30, 32, 34 or even 36 - he woulda kept on fighting and given him a rematch (and this time, made it more convincing, although I don't think Vitali can hang with a prime Lewis the first time anyhow). At 39, his weight and shape, after doing everything he had done, including a win over Vitali (you can call it close, or Vitali was winning, but if anyone tries to argue that cut should not have stopped the fight, is plainly and simply nuthugging).

NO.

Lewis didn't have to give Vitali a rematch, although it woulda been interesting if he stayed around and did. STILL, prime for prime, Vitali doesn't make it to the 6th, let alone is leading in it.

[Jazzo]

Lewis TKO 6

[Scar]

Originally Posted by mykolakozak

A little less controversial question. Who should've won and who was stronger in that fight, forget about it. Lets handle this smaller and hpefully less controversial issue.

No winner likes to give a rematch to someone who lost. Most of the time it doesnt happen. Fair and square. You lost. Goodbye. So what makes Vitali special? Lets see:


1. That was a win by Lennox being behind on all points, and Lennoxed was booed.
2. Lennox is a athlete and he should have some respect to the fans, and the whole boxing organizion as a whole, and accept a fight that caused an extremely immenseful hype. (Remember the reaction in the arena, it doesnt get too much crazier than that.) Everyone next day was talking about it.
3. HE PROMISED ON LIVE TV TO VITALI's FACE. (Vitali came up to him, Live, seconds after the fight, and asked, do you promise me a rematch, I want a rematch: Lennox said yes.) And told Larry Merchant, "if he wants a rematch I will give it to him"


You decide.

I totally agree with you and said the same exact thing back in the day but before I get into that I'll answer your question. Should Vitali have gotten the rematch right after the first fight?, OF COURSE he should. He fought his heart out and EARNED everyone's respect including Lennox. The fight was too close and the cut(caused by a punch) ended the fight despite Lewis losing it and Vitali controlling impressively at some points. He even had Lewis looking like he was out on his feet on MANY occasions but didn't have the vision to take full advantage and bomb away like he was supposed to. Lewis was also making it competitive but Vitali was given a lot more credit for losing than Lewis for winning, so the situations ALL had "REMATCH" written all over them. Why did Lewis ignore Vitali?, don't think anyone knows. The only logical answer to that is Lewis knew that he doesn't have the motivation to make a rematch and also knew that he was too old for a tough fight like that and could possibly lose it all by making a mistake and taking the fight as a 38 year old. Smart decision?, of course it's smart since he did care about history more than money. Conclusion?, Vitali deserved a rematch and earned it, too bad he didn't get it instantly like he wanted to and had to wait for 1 year to get absolutely nothing(Thought it was a cheap move by Lewis there, totally) but that's what happened in the end and we ought to move on. You clearly aren't talking about a rematch RIGHT NOW so my reply is all about the past, if you're talking about right now then I'll be more worried about Vitali in the fight than Lewis.

[Joe Gans]

Vitaly is way out of Lennox Lewis' league, lucky him that it was just a good beating and busted eye he got away with.
Why should Lennox have given him a rematch, to prove what ? Lennox' legacy is well secured, he most certainly will enter the HOF, has beaten the best in his division, and in defending his title, ranks along with the great accomplishments of a Joe Louis, Ali and Larry Holmes.
Vitaly is a tough guy, though nothing special in the legend of heavyweight boxers.

[Thom]

Originally Posted by mykolakozak

But in defining a man, does one keep a promise?

Promise? You mean the "promise" Lennox made to Vitali when the latter was roaming around the ring acting like a lunatic after the fight was stopped?

[PIRA]

LOL - obviously an honest, unbiased question from a neutral fan. Perhaps the topic should be reworded "Should Lennox have given Vitali undeserved rematch after rematch until he actually won one?".

And as events have shown Vitali has been an absolute warrior in the HW division and cemented an unrivalled legacy since that floggin by Lewis.

[PIRA]

Originally Posted by mykolakozak

But in defining a man, does one keep a promise?

LOL - sounds like a line out of a romance novel.

Personally I thought Lewis should have headbutted his disrespectful arse as soon as he cowardly pushed him and ranted and raved - but Lewis has far more class than that crybaby in the ring and out of it.

[maximumsg]

every one talks like he was behind on points because he was out of shape, I say bull shit the fight did not last but 6 rounds so being in shape had shit to do with it. The punches that lewis took made him look sluggish not because he was not in shape. Look if it was later in the fight I would agree but not when he lost 4 out of 6 rounds in the first and only half of the fight.

[elTerrible]

That fight was very close and Lennox did get lucky with the cut.

A cut, even if it comes from a punch, is still a matter of luck. No boxer goes in with a strategy of "well Ill get him stopped on cuts".

Lennox knew it was a rough fight, a fight he barely won. He knew his best days were behind him and decided to do the smart thing for his health and retire. I don think theres anything wrong with that.

IF Lennox were to continue fighting, he would basically HAVE to rematch Vitali. If Lennox went and fought someone like McCline or Trex Sanders after the Vitali fight, it would really hurt his legacy because it would be seen as an admission that he didnt think he could beat Vitali again.

[box03]

Originally Posted by PIRA

LOL - obviously an honest, unbiased question from a neutral fan. Perhaps the topic should be reworded "Should Lennox have given Vitali undeserved rematch after rematch until he actually won one?".

And as events have shown Vitali has been an absolute warrior in the HW division and cemented an unrivalled legacy since that floggin by Lewis.

I dislike Lewis and Vitali, the fight was so good to watch Lewis owed the boxing public a rematch not Vitali.

[PIRA]

Originally Posted by box03

I dislike Lewis and Vitali, the fight was so good to watch Lewis owed the boxing public a rematch not Vitali.

No - he owed it to himself not to follow the sad route of so many other fighters having one more unnecessary fight, then another, then another in order to satisfy fans who really just want to see massacre's rather than class.

Lewis let his intentions to retire well before the fight - and Vitali was handed the chance to elevate himself on a silver platter and insted looked like he had lost a fight with a lawnmower. Four cuts to the face is not luck - that is a fundamental inability to deal with Lewis' accuracy with DEFENCE.