How much did the VK fight hurt LL's legacy?

That’s cutting it to the logical chase.

You could’ve humoured us with some off point meandering. Read some of my posts, take a leaf.

I’ll just add that Lewis was toward the natural end of his career - mind and body no llonger perfectly tuned in - but his heart and will still saw him through. An absolute + for legacy.

And, if Lennox did think well maybe that won’t go so well a second time around - so what?

That fight simply coincided with his “time” to leave - it wasn’t like he was in his prime side stepping a tough rematch.

Pundits go on about boxers fighting on too long - but some seem to perversely desire it - particularly if it’s a fighter they’re rooting against - as you already identified.

As Champs age, fights become tougher - there will almost always be that last tough match that some might claim warrants a rematch - where does that end?

Well of course we know where it will always ends if a fighter doesn’t make his due departure.

Lennox was smart enough. Brilliant resume and legacy, absolutely sound and justified decision to leave the game.

Now enjoying his retirement with all his faculties - but still keeping an eye out for crazy Riddick Bowe potentially lurking in the wings to jump out and passively aggressively bury the hatchet.

 

Vitali fans be like:

https://vlipsy.com/vlip/avengers-infinity-war-hes-never-fought-me-twice-g2tbBVew

 

A great champion who was clearly over the hill beat his no1 challenger by stoppage. That’s the bottom line. The no1 challenger who incidentally went on to win every single one of his next (final) dozen or so fights…most by KO or TKO.

Lennox Lewis’ legacy was probably only slightly enhanced due to the fact his performance was a bit sloppy and Vitali was “ahead on points” by the time he was stopped. But the fact is Lewis DID win the fight, and by TKO! He actually, because of the damage his punches inflicted, stopped the mighty VK…what a great victory to finish on.

 

Count me as someone who doesn’t care if a fighter is ahead or behind when he wins a fight by stoppage.

Boxing is unlike ball sports (baseball, football, soccer, basketball, etc.) or most sports in general that you can win at any point no matter what the score is. That’s part of the beauty of the sport … that suddenness. Those that think Dempsey or Tyson were victims of ‘long counts’ point to their knockdowns (that they claim should have been KOs) … but they were behind on points, right?

I don’t care that Alexis Arguello was trailing Bobby Chacon on two cards when he won on cuts caused by his punches. I care that he won.

 

Old Lennox beat young Vitali.
Simple s.

 

You make a good point. I suppose when it comes to Lennox people weren’t used to seeing boxers getting the upper hand on him, albeit only for a few rounds and those that have an agenda would use that to support their theory that “IF (if seems to be the most overused excuse in boxing) Vitali hadn’t been cut then the CHANCES are he WOULD (woulda coulda shoulda) have won judging by the way the fight was going bla bla bla!” All ridiculous supposition and made up scenarios.

One of my favourite boxers Herol Graham was giving Julian Jackson a lesson in hand to hand combat for a few rounds when all of a sudden Herol was knocked clean out by JJ. Now IF Herol had boxed clever and IF he had a chin of concrete and IF JJ didn’t hit him so hard………….!!

 

I see Vitali as a H2H monster. The fact is that the fight enhanced both guys. Lewis had a win over a guy that could give any boxer in history a run for their money and Vitali can't be called a quitter after wanting to fight on with his face falling off against an ATG. One of the main reasons I rank lewis as high as #3 HW is this fight. Lewis beat a lot of good, but older fighters in his career. That kinda detracts from the wins. That excuse cannot apply to this fight where he was the older guy facing a bigger younger guy.

FWIW I think Lewis was better technically but worse physically than he'd been in most of his career. I also think Vitali would have won a rematch.

 

As my father told me, ‘Woulda shoulda if he only coulda,’ haha.

 

Very good!

 

It did n't harm Lennox' legacy one iota by my reckoning. It was a tough defence in the twilight of Lewis' career,pure and simple,against one of the two men who would dominate the division after he retired. As for the fight itself,yes Lennox was behind on the cards but was starting to come into it by the time he managed to cut Vitali.

 

I do not see how beating up the division's heir apparent could be damaging to one's legacy.

I mean, what Lennox did was tantamount to an old man dragging himself off the sofa, during his Sunday afternoon nap (after having tucked away an abundant roast dinner), dragging a wannabe, recalcitrant guest into his backyard and giving him a good sonning.

Class!

 

Well considering Lewis made Vitali's face look like a pizza, and walked away with the W while not being at his best and close to 40 years old. I would say it didn't effect him at all.

Also retired with his health/wealth all intact. So I would say Lewis is living well without any regret. I wish more former greats would of took Lewis's advice.

 

Initially it hurt a bit, but no one else came close to beating Vitali afterwards and Lennox bloodied him bad.

Lennox was probably past his best against Tyson but he was shot. So it didn't show much.

Lennox was past his prime and Vitali was in his prime.

It was a fair victory what does Lennox gain by giving a rematch to Vitali ? He beats him and Vitali takes a huge hit wasn't that good etc, he loses to him which I think he would have and he takes an unnecessary loss and it would hurt him.

Vitali had 6 rounds to get rid of a past it Lennox and he failed to do it.

It actually enhanced both fighters legacies. Vitali took one of the hardest shots I've seen and didn't go down proved he would be a tough fight for any heavyweight ever.

Lennox beat arguably the best heavyweight since him and no one else got close, that fact greatly improved his legacy.

 

He legitimately landed clean punches that opened the cut on Vitalis face. Of all the times boxers have n continue to stay in too long getting washed by ppl who wouldn't hang w a younger version of them, this is one of the best ways to go out. Beating one of ur successors who went on to have a HOF career while ur pudgy n past it.


We can argue all day that Vitali was getting the better of him but he still lost clearly. Everything else is semantics.

 

It helped, but winning in a rematch would’ve helped a lot more.