Just wondering where most posters rate this fight relative to others, such as: Louis - Schmelling; Ali - Frazier trilogy; Foreman - Ali; Foreman - Lyle; the holyfield - Bowe trilogy; Douglas - Tyson; Tyson - Spinks; Tyson - Holyfield, etc.
It was a great fight. The contraversy mostly comes from Klitschko fans who won't let it go. It was a great exit for Lennox Lewis and Vitali got some exposure.
I've seen dozens of threads on this fight, just never seen it ranked in relation to other fights before. Personally I think it was kind of a sloppy fight, but it had all kinds of drama and those big boys, were swinging for the fences. Merchant said it best, when he said it was "Gotti -Ward on the highest level" So I have it in my top 10.
Personally I dont think this fight compares to Gatti-Ward. Or many of the others listed. It doesnt have the grace and skill as the others. They were both very skilled but looked very sloppy in that fight. It was drama filled and exciting because they were throwing haymakers but it didn't have the same grittyness of the others. Maybe because it was so short too
The heavyweight division has been packed with great fight, but I think it could barely be in the top 15 if you are being generous.
I think these threads need to start going to the classic section. Even I am tired of talking about it.
Why? has this question been asked before? If not it's kind of an interesting question, and doesn't have much to do with many aspects of the fight which have already been debated. All this question does it to try and put this fight into historical context, nothing more.
I said top 15, but I can't write a top ten list of favourite HW fights without some serious thought, so it's likey higher than I'm giving it credit for. In terms of the event (I didn't want to have to use that word!) it was exceptional, in terms of the technique on display, it was very sloppy.
In terms of IMPORTANCE, the fight between Klitschko and Lewis might be in the Top20. Other fights here: Dempsey-Tunney, Louis-Schmeling II, Corbett-Sullivan, Johnson-Jeffries, Dempsey-Carpentier, Schmeling-Sharkey, Baer-Carnera, Louis-Marciano, Ali-Liston II, Ali-Frazier, Ali-Frazier III, Ali-Foreman, Foreman-Frazier, Holmes-Ali, Tyson-Douglas, Holyfield-Bowe, Foreman-Moorer, Holyfield-Tyson and Holyfield-Tyson II. Lewis-Klitschko is in that Top20 or might enter the Top15. It was the start of the Klitschko era, it told Lennox that he had to retire, it was intense, it was controversial; the rematch talks were huge for the next years and we still remember it, ten years later. If you are talking about the greatness of the fight per se, then Klitschko-Lewis might be also in the Top20, but the competition is hard: -Ali/Frazier -Ali/Frazier III -Ali/Norton -Marciano/Charles -Marciano/Walcott -Louis/Conn -Louis/Walcott -Holmes/Norton -Holyfield/Bowe -Holyfield/Bowe II -Tyson/Holyfield Lewis/Klitschko does not belong in that last group of wars. It belong more to the Top20 or Top25. So... Historical importance: Top20 or even Top15. Greatness of the fight itself: Top25.
