How much did the VK fight hurt LL's legacy?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by 40ozoe, Oct 28, 2022.


On a scale of 1 to 10

  1. 10 after the VK fight LL became a nobody.

    1 vote(s)
    2.5%

  2. 9

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  3. 8

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  4. 7

    1 vote(s)
    2.5%

  5. 6 Hurt it a tiny bit.

    4 vote(s)
    10.0%

  6. 5 Helped it a tiny bit.

    4 vote(s)
    10.0%

  7. 4

    5 vote(s)
    12.5%

  8. 3

    6 vote(s)
    15.0%

  9. 2

    3 vote(s)
    7.5%

  10. 1 LL decisively beat the man who would rule the HW division for a decade after his departure.

    16 vote(s)
    40.0%
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  1. 40ozoe

    40ozoe Member Full Member

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    So the way some see it LL got beat from pillar to post by VK and outboxed so he was trailing on those cards but he somehow managed to get a lucky punch in there to get the official win. After this LL fled to retirement to avoid getting humiliated again and by doing so destroyed his legacy as a HW.

    Others would say that LL should have been ahead on the cards and would have koed VK in the coming rounds and destroyed his eye in the process. They might also say that it was merciful of LL to not put VK through that a second time but with VK ruling for a decade after LL was gone some might say that this was LL's career best victory and a win that cemented his legacy.

    Which story is the correct one?

    On a sidenote LL's retirement fight VK. VK's retirement fight M Charr. Which is a more glorious shield to go out on?
     
    40ozoe, Oct 28, 2022
    40ozoe, Oct 28, 2022
    #1
    Entaowed likes this.
  2. quest00

    quest00 Member Full Member

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    Lennox Lewis retirement fight against VK is a much more glorious shield to got on. Lennox lewis was well past his best and looked the worst I had ever saw him but still managed to get the TKO against a very good Long defending champion in VK.
     
    quest00, Oct 28, 2022
    quest00, Oct 28, 2022
    #2
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  3. Entaowed

    Entaowed Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    I don't think it changed things much.
    I voted hurt a tiny bit, but could be help a tiny bit.

    First off, it seems clear that Vitali likely deserved the rating all judges had it at: 56-58.
    Saying Lewis was ahead seems silly.
    Although in a short fight being behind need not be at all deterministic of the ultimate outcome.

    To me it hinges on 2 things: was the cut more a lucky happenstance that was unlikely to reoccur, or a likely result of the skill of Lennox.
    Also who might have gassed first.
     
    Entaowed, Oct 28, 2022
    Entaowed, Oct 28, 2022
    #3
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  4. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    The good old TKO6 rises yet again.

    It didn't hurt it, it's an asset.
     
    JohnThomas1, Oct 28, 2022
    JohnThomas1, Oct 28, 2022
    #4
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  5. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Helped him a tiny bit for his heart shown. Especially showing up with his dad bod.
     
    Gazelle Punch, Oct 28, 2022
    Gazelle Punch, Oct 28, 2022
    #5
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  6. Bigcheese

    Bigcheese Well-Known Member Full Member

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    It was a legit win so it helps of course.
     
    Bigcheese, Oct 28, 2022
    Bigcheese, Oct 28, 2022
    #6
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  7. Levook

    Levook Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Just a testament to Lewis' greatness. Lennox was old, out of shape and looked pretty sloppy in there, but he did what greats do - win. Like the old timers used to say; win this one and look good in the next one! If Lewis were prime, I think he stops Vitali by TKO late.
     
    Levook, Oct 28, 2022
    Levook, Oct 28, 2022
    #7
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  8. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    If you deduct from someone’s legacy for winning by stoppage at the end of your career over a guy who is going to go on and become a dominant champ … I don’t even know what to say.
     
    Saintpat, Oct 28, 2022
    Saintpat, Oct 28, 2022
    #8
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  9. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    It's really this simple isn't it.
     
    JohnThomas1, Oct 28, 2022
    JohnThomas1, Oct 28, 2022
    #9
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  10. rinsj

    rinsj Active Member Full Member

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    I believe it actually enhanced his legacy. He beat and stopped a younger, bigger, skilled heavyweight in a brawl who would go on to never lose again and defeat 15 opponents in world heavyweight title fights, and made 12 successful title defenses. And this was being out of shape and 37 years old.
     
    rinsj, Oct 28, 2022
    rinsj, Oct 28, 2022
    #10
  11. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    A lot of stuff around the attempted narrative of this fight is from people who liked VK and didn’t like Lennox so … let’s try to make it like Lennox lost and treat it that way.

    We see that here and there with certain fighters.
     
    Saintpat, Oct 28, 2022
    Saintpat, Oct 28, 2022
    #11
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  12. KernowWarrior

    KernowWarrior Bob Fitzsimmons much bigger brother. Full Member

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    For me the fight neither enhanced or diminished the legacy of Lewis.

    He found a way to win that is the sign of a champion.

    I would go as far to say the fight might well have protected his legacy, it was a very tough fight which he won, but it sent him the message that perhaps retirement at that juncture might well be wise, to go out as the champ.
     
    KernowWarrior, Oct 28, 2022
    KernowWarrior, Oct 28, 2022
    #12
  13. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Yes, how true is all that.
     
    JohnThomas1, Oct 28, 2022
    JohnThomas1, Oct 28, 2022
    #13
  14. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    He added one last great-ish fighter to the resume. Not sure how some think it hurt.
     
    catchwtboxing, Oct 28, 2022
    catchwtboxing, Oct 28, 2022
    #14
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  15. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    And had to dig damn deep right at the end of his career to do it. When you consider all the context it's one of his best wins.
     
    JohnThomas1, Oct 28, 2022
    JohnThomas1, Oct 28, 2022
    #15
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