All Klitschko losses!!!!

Then why didn't Vitali hang up the gloves a few weeks after the Vitali fight? Why did Lennox wait 12 months (!) before vacating his belt, RIGHT before he would have been stripped by the WBC because the WBC mandated a rematch after Vitali took out Johnson.

The fact is that Lewis was holding on to the belt as long as he could WITHOUT facing Vitali again. Then he retired.

 

I'm pretty sure it wasn't as long as 12 months and, besides, what's your point? It's not as if Lennox fought anyone else during that time period. I think after being champ for so long and, legitimately, defeating Vitali he was entitled to a period of reflection with regards his future. I think that whole saga is just something Klitschko fan boys hold onto to use in an argument.

 

The way I remember it (and I may be wrong here, it's been a while) is that Lewis' camp asked Vitali for medical proof first that the stitches around his eye are fully healed and there's no risk fighting before they consider a rematch. Vitali delivered proof. I remember he held a press conference in LA with some LA Doctors certifying he was fit to fight. The WBC mandated a rematch. Lewis went into hiding and then retired on the VERY last day possible without being stripped.

Lewis could have simply said "Look guys I'm calling it a day, I don't feel like going to camp again just to fight a guy that I already beat, I'm retiring". The belt would have become vacant way earlier. Nobody would have complained.

 

Yeah but who really knows the true sequence of events? If Lennox had beaten Vitali again people would have said he should have fought Wladimir and so on. He was a long reigning champ who retired at the right time. Plus it's ancient history now. I think Vitali has spent too long trying to make a name off Lennox.

 

You're dam right i do. Give back to the sport that MADE YOU. Dont carry yourself aloof in this sport when your just a classic right time right place guy. And no LL did promise a rematch. Im fairly sure there was a rematch clause in the contract as well same as there was with Rahman in the event that LL lost.

 

Give back to the sport? In what way? By going to prison or having lots of children by different mothers? The rematch clause, if there was one, would have only been relevant if Lennox had lost. You hold him to unique standards Scurla.

 

at the bookie, a DQ counts as a T/KO.

 

You know exactly what im talking about. Think about this for a minute: If Lennox had defended his title we never would have been subject to the merrigoround that happened with Ruiz & Holyfield and the WBA. If LL had defended his title we never would have been subjected to BS title defenses from Chris Byrd. IF Lennox had defended his title he would have rematched Vitali and dealt with him instead of leaving the division up in the air because he was only interested in fighting once a year against whom he saw fit. Can you believe he refused to fight Byrd or Ruiz and instead chose Kirk Johnson and then billed it as the battle for Canadian bragging rights?

The man had such an opportunistic career. He only turned pro in the UK because the depth of US heavies at the time was the best the sport had seen since the 70's. As soon as he had success he fled Britain and didnt fight here again. LL was about as British as my local Kebabish.

I prefer fighters that endear themselves to their fans. Not men who carry themself above the sport, make a career of shallow victories over a faded Tyson and Holyfield, and then wont give back to the sport so other fighters can "eat".

 

So let me guess this straight, you're defending the alphabets now? You think Ruiz was more deserving of a shot at the title than Grant? Don't forget how much sway the TV companies hold over these matters, Grant was the fighter being pushed by them at the time. Were it not for that bull**** decision he may well have had time to do his WBA mandatory. I can't believe you're pinning all that bull**** on him.

If Lennox had defeated Vitali in a rematch how would that have left the division in any better state than it was? While we're on the subject of letting other fighters "eat", why didn't your hero give Lennox a shot at the title when he was WBC mandatory? Oh that's right, he was too busy filling his pockets against Bruce Seldon and an undeserving Holyfield.

Let's not even get into the Bowe thing.

 

:good

 

What a bum Lewis is atschatschatschatschnut:nut

 

Fail thread

 

You're stand up..Thanks for explaining the situation.:good
If it wasn't in the rematch clause, then so be it.
But he waited "til the last minute, and it was probably in the clause.