Lewis planed to fight Vitali, a rematch with Tyson and then fight Wladimir. Does anybody know why he retired after the Vitali fight? Boxing: Lewis drops IBF belt for lucrative sign-off. Lennox Lewis is set for a pounds 65 million career finale after relinquishing his IBF world title. The abdication, which still leaves him as WBC and IBO champion, has cleared the way for a final flourish which would cement the place in heavyweight history he desires. The plan, under his three-fight deal with American television station HBO, is for a bout with former WBO heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, a return with Mike Tyson and a showdown with the younger Klitschko brother, WBO holder Wladimir, before he retires. Article from September 2002
he escaped with a lucky W and realised that he just met a superior fighter in Vitali Klit. unlike against McCall, Rahman who just happened to knock him out with one punch because he was daydreaming in the ring, he acknowledged that he did the best he possibly could have done against Vitali and would lose a rematch..
looked old and fat at that point sorry Im not going to csll him prime just to appease some Klit fans. Vitali probably would have won the fight if it went on but even if he did it would have been called beating shot lewis. nothing against Vitali just the way boxing fans think. the same way if Vitali loses in the near future you could easily point to the fact that he's 40 years old.you will get some idiot who says thats prime for some people but really its impossible to be at your physical prime at that age.
What age would you have him retire at? He would have been 38 by the time his next fight came around. Would you prefer he kept going til he got completely shot and ended up getting beaten by an inferior fighter? Vitali couldnt beat an old,inactive, career heaviest Lewis. He had his chance,and he blew it.