Today is the 20th anniversary of Vitalli Klitschko and Lennox Lewis

he had a very formidable combination of ability, power, brains and situational awareness. his size didn't hurt him either

 

Think how @djanders feels on the anniversary every year of Sullivan-Kilrain, considering he was selling popcorn at that fight.

 

I know, right? As a zygote prodigy, I remember that fight well. The time has certainly flown by although I am really looking forward to my 21st birthday next year.

 

Seriously, that fight added to Lewis’ greatness imo. If he had lost, I don’t know how much, if at all, it would’ve detracted from his prior achievements.

A terrific demonstration of all the important intangible ATG qualities - a fight that I think can be very positively sourced from when putting Lewis into ATG, H2H scenarios.

 

The best thing about that fight for Lewis is that it helped show how tough and determined was. He was criticized for often playing it safe such as against Tua or displaying vulnerability getting sparked out by Rahman, but Lewis showed he had some dog in him in the Vitali fight (the Briggs and Golota fight too, but they weren't nearly as dramatic or impressive).

 

Exactly Cob. Strong career examples of the toughness and determination you’ve referenced in favour of Lewis go a long way in allowing hypothetical advantage in H2H matches, especially when you calculate that the given match up and outcome may just well come down to those very intangibles. Lewis’ performance against Mercer is also a fine feather in Lennox’s cap in that regard.

 

Absolutely, spot on. The victory was the icing on the career cake for Lewis.

 

He certainly capped off a great career with that fight and was then smart enough to stay retired.

 

Yes. He really showed his poise and champion experience. He really gutted it out

 

Thant's a Damnable Lie!!
DJSanders was long retired by then & you would have him some mere peon concession boy?

Maybe you confused him buying a whole orphanage boxes of popcorn & personally delivering them with him being a vendor.
Alright I guess it is just an understandable mistake...

 

Circumstances related to the fight and the fight happened as it happened. But what boxing history remembers is that Lennox Lewis defeated the champion of the next generation; in his farewell fight. This sets him apart from other heavyweight champions. What a retirement...

 

Considering that he was over the hill and overweight,this was a pretty good victory for Lennox. Vitali and his brother between them would dominate the heavyweights for quite a few years. I'm glad that Lennox got out at the top as champion.

 

When it's time to get out, it's time to get out and Lewis got out clean - and on top.

Few great fighters can say that they'd reached the end of the road but stopped their heir apparent, before parking the car and taking their long stroll into retirement.