It would have definitely done good numbers I just think at 37 he couldn't be bothered to get up for rematch with a guy he'd just beaten. Lewis was always pretty lazy so it wasn't a huge surprise to me that he opted to retire instead. I also think with his eye deteriorating the doctor saved him from potentially getting a pretty bad beating had the fight progressed. We'd then be talking about how he started well and then got beaten up. As it was he had pretty bad facial injuries and that was with it being stopped at the halfway point.
I hear you bro, but I think I said somewhere earlier great champs earn the right to go out on their terms, and if deep down Lewis felt there were too many miles on the clock (and maybe a lack of motivation too) to win a rematch, he had the right to walk off into the sunset with his legacy intact. I mean look at Vitali's brother... he doesn't want to end his career with a defeat and is carrying on to try get a belt and the 'W' before his hangs up the gloves. Lennox didn't need to do that, but he may have had to box on after a lost rematch and then you're talking about extending his career maybe into his 40s.
I don't disagree, he was winning. He just don't look like it in that picture. A classic 'you should have seen the other guy'... lol
Yeah, Lennox had every right to walk away, and in doing so left a bitter taste In alot of the fans mouth. just wish he would have given Vitali the rematch. That was one of the best Heavyweight fights I've seen in the history of boxing!
Vitali must have hit his head on the ringpost repeatedly. Because the 60 stitches were for 4 different cuts.
I think Vitali would have won a rematch. There's a lot made of Lewis being flummoxed by the late change of opponent when they fought but that cuts both ways (excuse the pun) and Vitali would have been better prepared too. I find objectivity hard to come by with regards to Lewis, but, yeah, by then he was past his best and Vitali was improving. I think Vitali beats up his brother in that fantasy match-up btw...
I always thought Vitali was not only better but more exciting than Wlad. I was there live when he whooped my Boy Arreola. Lol
It didn't seems to bother him though, if the cutman somehow can tame that chunck coming off, I think vitali will stop Lewis in the next round or so.
The very idea that we're talking about what can be described as a "chunk of flesh" hypothetically being removed from Vitali's face kind of sums it all up, though.