A great affair and one which will always hold some degree of controversy ( rightful or wrongful. ) I felt Lennox won fairly, but a great effort on both men.
I think we've all seen this thread before, but perhaps many have not seen this! This content is protected Backhands are illegal in boxing and using the underside of the gloves where the laces are an easy way to produce cuts. This is what Lewis did, the video does not lie. ***When an illegal shot causes damages that lead to a stoppage, the rule say go to the cards after 4 rounds. That did not happen here. *** The action was good. This was perhaps the last really good heavyweight fight. Well, Brewster vs Liakhovich was very good too. The rematch between Lewis and Klitschko would have been epic, but as we know Lewis who said he would give it and ran his mouth ( also was trying to make other fights with Jones and Johnson ) quickly retired once the WBC ordered it. You could say this is Lewis best ring victory, and also say Vitali who was up 4-2 on all cards and had Lewis tired at the stoppage raised his stock too.
Vitali was cut above and below the eye,the film clearly shows it legitimate punch that started the cut. I remember you trying to tell us all that Lewis was more marked up than Vitali after the fight!LOL Are you seriously suggesting that all this damage,[over 60 stitches,] was caused by a back hand/ laces foul ? This content is protected
Too bad Lewis didn't fight Wlad. If he beat him, and Wlad's career went on like it did, Lewis would have a strong case for GOAT.
Can't be arsed to watch the video but from what I can remember the cuts were caused by the laces???? Unfortunately the ref doesn't have the luxury of viewing the action in slow motion replay. Lewis technically won the fight but he blatantly ducked the rematch after promising Vitali one. He didn't owe it to us but he should have honoured his word and put the doubters to rest because the fight left a sour taste in most people's mouth.....
Or Wlad back then was in pre-prime in terms of being at his hardest to beat and could have KO'd Lewis. We'll never know. I'd slightly favor Lewis in 2003.
It's not a backhand. It's a straight punch. Vitali does a good job of ditching it but yes, the bottom of the glove catches him. It's not like Lewis went, "i know i'll graze him with this area of the glove, he shoots a straight right and what happens happens. You want referees to be cognitive of that? Jeez.
Great fight which ended with "unfinished business" Lennox Lewis promised the entire boxing world he would face Vitali in a rematch. Lewis ran off into retirement with his trousers full of brown. Lewis had boasted "One brother for breakfast, the other brother for lunch" I have little doubt Wlad would have poleaxed Lennox Lewis and Vitali would have done the same in any rematch. Lennox whole career was based on fighting has-beens and exposed fighters. Jackson, Butler, Tucker, Bruno, Fortune, Akinwande, Mavrovic, Briggs, Tua, Grant, Morrison, Botha, Golota, Mercer all Class B or C level fighters and on the slide by the time Lewis fought them. Lewis first belt was back in 1992 yet he never fought a single opponent from 92-00 who was "At the top of their Game" like Bowe, Tyson, Holyfield, Foreman, Moore, Ruiz, Byrd, Wlad, Sanders.. Lennox only agreed to fight Mike Tyson in 2002 once he heard Tyson was addicted to anti-depressants, alcohol, cocaine & canabis. Tyson was by that time a zombie compared to how he was 16yrs previous. Danny Williams & Kevin McBride both also scored wins over the zombie Tyson. Lennox Lewis greatest career victory was over Vitali Klitschko, fortunate that he was.
I think Boxing should have instant replay. This would make the results fairer and more official on foul like events that lead to a stoppage.