Lennox Lewis vs Vitali Klitschko - 20 Year Anniversary

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Flo_Raiden, Jun 21, 2023.


Page 1 of 2
  1. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    16,689
    25,468
    Oct 12, 2010
    It’s been 20 years since Lennox Lewis and Vitali Klitschko fought in a classic HW brawl.

    Lennox Lewis had just KO’d Mike Tyson a year prior while Vitali Klitschko was rebuilding himself after a surprising defeat to Chris Byrd. Negotiations for a Mike Tyson rematch fell through for Lewis and Vitali was a late replacement for Kirk Johnson. Although Vitali was seen as the underdog he gave a valiant performance against the aging Lennox Lewis.

    This fight would become a transition of a new HW era in boxing. Following the fight Lewis announced retirement while Vitali Klitschko became reigning HW champ alongside his brother Wladimir to become the most dominant pair of boxing champions.

    This content is protected
     
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2023
    Flo_Raiden, Jun 21, 2023
    Flo_Raiden, Jun 21, 2023
    #1
    ikrasevic, cross_trainer, Toney F*** U and 7 others like this.
  2. turbotime

    turbotime Hall Of Famer Full Member

    42,455
    3,612
    May 4, 2012
    Great match. That cut was awful.
     
    turbotime, Jun 21, 2023
    turbotime, Jun 21, 2023
    #2
    ikrasevic, Bustajay, Terror and 1 other person like this.
  3. anthoto1

    anthoto1 Active Member Full Member

    703
    566
    Apr 13, 2013
    TKO6
     
    anthoto1, Jun 21, 2023
    anthoto1, Jun 21, 2023
    #3
    cross_trainer, MarkusFlorez99, Rubber Glove Sandwich and 2 others like this.
  4. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,959
    4,797
    Jun 24, 2017
    Lewis pass his prime, Vitali not quite at his. Lewis was wise to retire after this
     
    JackSilver, Jun 21, 2023
    JackSilver, Jun 21, 2023
    #4
    ikrasevic, cross_trainer, Toney F*** U and 5 others like this.
  5. thehook13

    thehook13 Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,897
    4,248
    Nov 2, 2011
    Classic ESB. For better or worse
     
    thehook13, Jun 21, 2023
    thehook13, Jun 21, 2023
    #5
    cross_trainer likes this.
  6. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

    396,089
    78,340
    Nov 30, 2006
    IntentionalButt, Jun 21, 2023
    IntentionalButt, Jun 21, 2023
    #6
    cross_trainer, Bustajay and thehook13 like this.
  7. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,959
    4,797
    Jun 24, 2017
    You know looking at that vid, it’s hard to see why so many people here have said on past threads that Lewis was fat an overweight? He looks massive but still he is solid and muscular It’s not fat at all. He still looks like a monster not like Ali an Holmes who were packing on a lot of fat at the same age as Lewis was in this fight.
     
    JackSilver, Jun 21, 2023
    JackSilver, Jun 21, 2023
    #7
    Spreadeagle, ikrasevic, cross_trainer and 4 others like this.
  8. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    16,689
    25,468
    Oct 12, 2010
    He was 37 years old in that fight and still looked in great shape. I think having a tough fight against Klitschko and being hit consistently gave that impression that he was fat. Slower perhaps but not fat.
     
    Flo_Raiden, Jun 21, 2023
    Flo_Raiden, Jun 21, 2023
    #8
    cross_trainer, JackSilver, NullaLexInk and 1 other person like this.
  9. Mike_b

    Mike_b Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,855
    2,473
    Jul 9, 2020
    I remember this was pitted as Gatti vs ward except at heavyweight was the ongoing theme after the fight.
     
    Mike_b, Jun 21, 2023
    Mike_b, Jun 21, 2023
    #9
    Dementia Pugulistica likes this.
  10. highlander

    highlander Active Member Full Member

    640
    622
    Sep 26, 2017
    had a party to watch this fight. has it been 20 years already? wow! where did that time go!
     
    highlander, Jun 21, 2023
    highlander, Jun 21, 2023
    #10
    Dementia Pugulistica, Salty Dog and Sinew like this.
  11. Guerra

    Guerra Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,380
    4,311
    May 23, 2020
    Instant classic, till this day every boxing fan knows what tko6 is.
     
    Guerra, Jun 21, 2023
    Guerra, Jun 21, 2023
    #11
    Smoochie likes this.
  12. It's Ovah

    It's Ovah I am very feel me good. Full Member

    14,755
    18,950
    Sep 5, 2016
    Happy 20th Anniversary TKO6!!!

    Every year Vitali's left eye sheds a little bloody tear in remembrance of the great violence done against it in the name of entertainment.
     
    It's Ovah, Jun 21, 2023
    It's Ovah, Jun 21, 2023
    #12
    Smoochie, Salty Dog and cross_trainer like this.
  13. 40ozoe

    40ozoe Member Full Member

    497
    332
    Aug 12, 2022
    My assessment of the fight is a bit different. A prime Lennox Lewis faced off against a prime Vitali Klitschko.

    Lennox started slow and Vitali had his moments in the first rounds, as the fight progressed it became a one sided beating. At the time ot the stoppage Lennox Lewis should have had a two point lead on the judges scorecards. Vitali really wasn't landing good punches on Lewis, most of the shots he threw landed on gloves, elbows and simply in the air, silly people that wanted to see Vitali win interpreted those punches rather freely however and remember them in a different way.

    Lewis retired after this fight having nothing left to prove and probably feeling a bit bad about brutalizing Vitali like that. Vitali on the other hand soon found himself dealing with injuries after this fight and had to take a long time off due to them. These injuries were ofcourse caused by Lewis. Lewis would probably have legitimately ended Vitalis life is there would have been a rematch.
     
    40ozoe, Jun 21, 2023
    40ozoe, Jun 21, 2023
    #13
    Sinew likes this.
  14. Forza

    Forza Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    17,809
    3,687
    Mar 18, 2012
    Stopping a HW title fight from a little cut like that is just criminal. LL was on his way to getting stopped again, it is what it is.
     
    Forza, Jun 21, 2023
    Forza, Jun 21, 2023
    #14
  15. ikrasevic

    ikrasevic Our pope is the Holy Spirit Full Member

    6,942
    7,381
    Nov 3, 2021
    FOTC; twenty-first century
     
    ikrasevic, Jun 21, 2023
    ikrasevic, Jun 21, 2023
    #15
Page 1 of 2