Vitali Klitschko would've beaten Lewis

Then how sickening it must have been for you to face the fact that Klitchko's dial was LEGITIMATELY opened up like a cows kunt. LMAO.

 

He was washed up.. And he sure didn't look like he had trained for a fight with an elite opponent. Vitali benefited just as much from that fight being made at the last minute, and that doesn't even factor into the equation Lewis's age and inactivity. The fact that Lewis had been knocked out by Rahman in 2001 was an indication that the lights were starting to flicker regardless of his victory in the rematch. Vitali was in there with a diminished champion and still lost.. That's really about all there is to it...

 

Vitali gained experience and confidence from this fight and IMO he showed it in his next fight vs Johnson. Lennox had a short career and had issues earlier with recovery McCall and then Rahman and I am not sure we can blame it on age. I think his experience and roughhousing were an edge against Vitali and he won from a just injury (CUT) there was some hold and hit. Still I do not think it was the best version of either man and unfortunately for Vitali the cut caused the stoppage while he was up on the scores

 

This has nothing to do with weather or no Lewis was finished, and Johnson showed by in abysmal shape for the Vitali fight. Funny how Johnson showed up at 243 lbs for the fight right before Klitschko then 240 lbs for the bout immediately AFTER Klitscko, but was 260 for Vitali and hardly made an effort. Makes one wonder about weather or not that bout was even on the level.

Lennox was a pro from 1989 to 2003 and had right around 45 pro bouts. That's a longer career than Joe Frazier had and almost as many fights as Rocky Marciano, with the key difference that Lewis spent a larger portion of his career fighting rated opponents than either of those men. Klitschko was winning the early rounds but was fading after the fourth. Lewis was hitting him with some huge bombs and let's be honest. This was not the Lewis of 1996-2000.

 

How do you know he was washed up? He wasn't far removed from one of his best career performances ( Rhaman KO Rematch ). Vitali is hard to hit. Lewis said he had a trouble reaching him. And for a big guy Vitlai moves around a lot and has some head movement.

Vitlai's size and style could have made Lewis look the way he did. In truth, Lewis had some issues with boxer mover types who could jab back.. Even an older Holyfield had his moments, and previous to this so did Mercer and Ocasio. That is the truth. Vitlai was even longer then these guys, which is why he easily out jabbed and landed Lewis.

The only way to confirm if Lewis was shot is if he fought a lesser talent and looked bad. He wasn't in his prime. But he wasn't shot either.

This was Lewis best win. You could say the result raised the stock of both fighters, but I still say Lewis knew he would not win the re-match.

 

Vitali had 275 combat matches prior to facing Lewis if you include his amateur and pro careers in boxing and kick boxing. Most of Vitali's injuries are from kick boxing. iMO, it robbed him of some ability in boxing.

Lewis really wasn't punished during his career. Its not only the amount of fights, its the amount of punishment received and injuries sustained that ages a fighter.

 

Because he was starting to get hit more and more in his fights while showing up heavier and heavier. And while beating Rahman in the rematch was impressive that wasn't an opponent that he ever should have lost to in the first place. Common sense dictates that when fighters get up in age, take long periods off from the ring, get tagged more often, have trouble keeping their weight down and ultimately retire while big money fights are still there for the taking, they are finished. And one does not need to see them lose to journeyman for verification of what should be obvious.

 

Spending plenty of time in the amateurs, getting KO'd twice and fighting in battles with Evander Holyfield, Ray Mercer and spending the better part of a decade taking on big punchers is punishment enough. Did he ever sustain any major injuries? That I don't know. But the man saw plenty of wear and tear. And its also the age, inactivity and decline in conditioning which added to it.

 

Lewis went one better than rematching Vitally Klitschko.

He retired, and effectively handed him the lineal title on plate.

In the end it was Vitally Klitschko who let his lineal title claim collapse, by taking Danny Williams for his first and only title defence.

 

Nah, not really.

Lewis spaced his 44 fights out over 14 years.
Marciano fought 49 fights in 8 years.
Frazier fought 37 times in 10 years.


Lewis fought his first RING rated opponent in his 21th fight(3rd year) against Ruddock.

Frazier fought his first RING rated opponent in his 11th fight(2nd year) against Oscar

Marciano fought his first RING rated opponent in his 25th (3rd year) against LaStarza.


There's a natural balance here, depending on these men's age, stylstic demands, and amatuer experience..etc. But I believe Frazier and Marciano had more wear and tear than Lewis ever did.

 

My comment was addressing bummy's about Lewis having a short career, which I don't think he did.. And spacing his fights out or not doesn't change the fact that he had more fights than Frazier, almost as many as Marciano, fought more rated opposition and ultimately retired at a more advanced age. You also have to figure that he was a title holder for a good portion of his career which tends to limit the number of appearances that a man has.

Ring ranked? yes.. Rated in general? No. Gary Mason was top 10 by all three sanctioning bodies in 1991, was undefeated 35-0 and the British champion. Lewis had 14 fights when he met this opponent.

See above.

 

Thank you.

 

-Spacing them out at more comfortable pace and fighting a less demanding style certainly gave Lewis a longer shelf life.

-Still behind Frazier taking on Bonavena. And its not like Marciano was having a cake walk, many of these early fights are described as hard fought wars with him taking lots of punishment form vets like Muscato and Lowry.

 

He had 44 pro fights and Yes Frazier had a shorter moment of prime but other than tough moments against McCall, Rahman, Evander ( Evander only won 2 out of his next 9 starting with Lewis (2 fights) Mercer (who drew with 7-9-2 Marion Wilson and lost to 18-9 Jesse Ferguson in 2 of the 5 fights before Lewis. So I would not really describe a lot of wars for Lewis, he had some good wins Botha,Golota,Grant but in retrospect those guys were very beatable but his wins over Evander and Mercer were far less than impressive, throw Tua in and that would be his best 3 wins. Rudduck was his finest IMO but how high to we rate Rudduck?

point is I can not count too many rough fights or wars and I rate LL highly but Vitali may have been his best win over a live guy and a rematch was in order but i respect LL's opinion to get out

 

well that's different. My point is that he didn't have a "short" career. He still had more fights than Joe, almost as many as Marciano, fought more rated guys and more championship fights, and retired at a later age.. Can't ignore those facts either.

Who do you think fought a longer list of quality opponents? Marciano, Frazier or Lewis?