Vitali Klitschko lost to the worst version of Lennox

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Joeywill, Jul 7, 2025.


  1. miniq

    miniq AJ IS A BODYBUILDING BUM Full Member

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    Lennox plodded around and best Vitali with the size of his balls alone. Sure the cut helped but that was supposed to be prime Vitali and he was blowing out against old man Lenny
     
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  2. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He was good at smothering his opponents
     
  3. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I never understood why Lennox Lewis didnt just retire after the Mike Tyson fight.
    Seemeed like a perfect time to bow out

    I know he wanted a Mike Tyson rematch but what was the point of the Kirk Johnson scheduled fight to begin with ? Just a stay busy fight
     
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  4. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Its interesting how Lewis is viewed by many as ducking Vitali in a rematch when he stopped him in 6 rounds

    Like when does a fill in opponent get a rematch guaranteed by a sanctioning body after getting stopped

    For the record, I think that Vitali Klitschko probably wouldve have won a rematch because it was a changing of the guard at the time but its just interesting at how Vitali was Lennox Lewis's mandatory
     
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  5. Jakub79

    Jakub79 Active Member Full Member

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    ok but why do you think he was in bad shape. You say he was great with Tyson but not with Vitali? it wasn't a long time..
     
  6. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He came in at a career highest weight

    He probably didn't regard Kirk Johnson or Vitali Klitschko very highly

    The Mike Tyson fight was a huge legacy fight and Lennox made sure to be on his A game
     
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  7. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He wasnt way up vs Byrd the way the judges had it. Thats another myth. Very competitive fight. Had they thought they were way up they probably wouldnt have thrown in the towel
     
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  8. Braindamage

    Braindamage Baby Face Beast Full Member

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    What does the WBC ordering Lewis to fight Vitali have to do with Lewis retiring? People trying to make it seem as if Lewis was scared and browinng his trousers at the very mention of Vitali. He could have ducked, slow played, paid step aside money to get out of of delaying the rematch. That's why I say it was more he wanted to retire than quitting out of fear of Vitali.
     
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  9. Jakub79

    Jakub79 Active Member Full Member

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    Isn't there a pre-fight interview with Vitali where Lennox talks about future fights with Roy Jones, Tyson 2, Kirk Johnson/Klitschko? Isn't there a post-fight statement where he says he'll give Vitali a rematch and break his other cheek? The chronology is - WBC orders Lewis-Vitali II fight. Klitschko is delighted. HBO is delighted. Fans are delighted. There's a lot of money on the table. Lewis announces retirement. End of story. Let everyone interpret this for themselves. Thanks for your attention.
     
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  10. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Isn't it interesting that a fill in opponent who just got knocked out got a mandatory shot at a rematch vs the champion?

    I understand the fans being into it cause the first fight was so great but on a merit level how did Vitali Klitschko get that shot ?
     
  11. Overhand94

    Overhand94 Active Member Full Member

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    Vitali destroyed Kirk Johnson - the guy Lewis was originally supposed to fight - at the end of 2003.
     
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  12. MarkusFlorez99

    MarkusFlorez99 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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  13. Jakub79

    Jakub79 Active Member Full Member

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    No one who watched that fight should have wondered why Vitali was still ranked No. 1 despite the loss. No one who watched that fight should have wondered why fans wanted a rematch. No one who saw both of them after the fight should have wondered why a "knocked-out" Vitali was still in the running.
     
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  14. Rico Spadafora

    Rico Spadafora Master of Chins Full Member

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    Steward said Vitali surprised them by how strong he was in the clinches, how good his jab was and something all Vitali opponents had problems with which was his awkward lean back style. They thought it was going to be an easier fight than it was.
     
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  15. AdamT

    AdamT Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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