Could Lewis beat Vitali without cuts?

I agree with all of that.

 

Exactly. We can pretend to know but the reason 'TKO 6' is still talked about today is that it was razor close (not on points but going by the momentum of the fight) and that almost anything was possible at the time of the stoppage.

 

I agree with all except the last sentence.

Did Lewis give a re-match to Bruno or Mercer? The Holyfield re-match happened because of the draw. I see nothing on Lewis resume to indicate he gives those who gave him a tough time in victory a re-match.

 

I dunno, health and safety.....

 

Never really thought of it like that. :think

 

To answer the original poster's question. Do I think Lewis would of won that night had he not opened a cut on Vitali. I would answer No. Vitali was outboxing Lewis before the cut and was able to hold his own with the cut. The cut clearly gave Lewis an opening and some momentum. However if the cut had not occurred I think Vitali would of won a UD or a late stoppage as Lewis was overweight and gassed. Vitali had a great chin so I don't see him being stopped.

As for Resume Lewis has a far superior resume to Vitali. And I will add that even if Vitali had won that bout Lewis's resume would still be better and I would still place him higher on my ATG HW list over Vitali although they would be very close together. Closer than I currently have them.

Lewis knew his number was up and retired. To me the fight enhances both men's legacy.

 

He knocked Bruno out. Yes it was close and a good fight and probably would of been a fun rematch but it's not a big missing piece on Lewis's ledger.
Mercer def deserved a rematch. Many felt he won. I think a rematch against Mercer would of been far more important than his rematch with McCall which was a farce against a drug addict that should never even had a license to fight that night.

 

He ko'd Bruno.
He rematched the two men who beat him and stopped them both.Did Wlad rematch Purrity,Sanders,?

 

The problem is its on actual Video of Vitali dominating the whole fight,and up until the final bell before the fight didn't make it to a round 7,when vitali CLEARLY landed combos backing lewis into the ropes,he tired 10 seconds left and would have came out and just repeaded what he had been doing the whole fight,unless the cut had gotten worse ,Lewis does not win that fight,Vitali took his best punch and it did NOTHING to him..it doesn't surprise me on the other hand you would disagree with actual video proof...:shock:

 

Lewis put on size,he became more durable with a 20/30 pound increase,you would have to actually follow his career to know this.

 

Lewis original opponent was Tyson in a rematch,he pulled out,so nice try trying to sell lewis wasn't in shape,Johnson and Vitali were going to be on the same card regardless,the difference is Cedric Boswell is a nobody and Tyson/Johnson are legit threats...are you trying to tell me a green Vitali with TWO weeks notice of lewis switching opponents when Vitali was going to fight him in December anyway,gives vitali the advantage of going from boswell to Lewis? lol..Mcliar exposed again!:yep

 

Kirk Johnson


,

He was nearly 38 years old.. Off for a full year.. And a career high 256 lbs. To anyone with common sense or a knowledge of his career it should be painfully obvious that this man was anything but prime.

See the above. Kirk Johnson was supposed to be Lewis's opponent that night but pulled out due to a torn pectoral muscle.

Yes.. He definitely had the advantage.. For one thing BOTH he and Lewis were subject to the inconveniences of facing each other at the last minute. And the difference in quality between Kirk Johnson and Vitali Klitscho was probably equally as great as the difference between Cedric Boswell and Lennox Lewis or certainly close enough.. Vitali gets no more of a pass for getting any last minute surprises especially given that he had been the more active of the two overall in recent times. And Klit wasn't green. with over 200 amateur fights, 34 professional bouts and being a recent world titlist, if he wasn't ready by that point he was never going to be.

 

The problem is your outrageously biased viewpoint,ie" Vitali dominating the whole fight," he was 2 points up on all cards. Just as problematical is your assertion that Lewis pulled a trick on Vitali by giving him only 2 weeks to train for the fight utter nonsense! Vitali was in training to fight Cedric Boswell on the undercard and had fought 10 rounds against Larry Donald just 7 months earlier. In contrast to Lewis who had not fought for a year and was a career high heaviest.
Everyone's got your measure now.

 

No it was Kirk Johnson who injured a pectoral muscle and cried off.

Lewis was nearly 38 years old and a career high 256lbs.
You need to do some research sh*t for brains.atsch

 

the problem is I go by facts you go by what you wish to believe..prior to Johnson,he was training for Tyson in a rematch before Tyson dropped out..this was established....



lewis himself stated he was planning on fighting twice a year before he fought Vitali...

when asked Steward had said the lay off only helped lewis and b/c his experience wouldn't hurt the ring rust,Lewis himself said he needed the lay off and he was in great shape and planned on more fights after his win over Kirk Johnson before Vitali replaced him.


" I had time to actually rest,ppl are still crying to see LL.that motivated me.I am still YOUNG.i have a couple of fights LEFT in me.PPl want to see me back in the ring.I think it is more of a drag lying around on a beach.there is still some work out there to be done and im the man for the job.I am the king right now" lennox lewis

Again facts! :smooch


Cedric Boswell?