Interesting quote from Lennox Lewis

I know most are the same but it's still lame for me. If I were him I'd say:

"Well, tbh I'm nearly 40 now. I retire because I'm not at my best anymore. I've shown that even at this stage of my career I'm competitive with the best young fighters around and I think it's enough, time to step down."

Or he shouldn't promise to give the rematch in the first place.

PS. I imagine Tyson to be that honest. Not every champion is like that.

 

Nice quote, you should be his PR Agent.

Well, you know how it goes man: Boxers are not exactly the most eloquent of people, and machismo will always get in the way of humility. I agree with you about Tyson... He seems to be very honest when he reflects on his career.

Did you see the Tyson documentary they had on HBO? Very interesting stuff.

 

If you follow that logic Lewis would still be fighting now - he had to retire at some point and that was the right time - surely?

 

Great Champion Lennox Lewis one of The Best Ever
he had nothing more to Prove absolut Right.

 

The difference is Tyson retired a beaten man and Lewis retired as Champion it isn't about honesty its about perspective

 

I agree with Lennox, but i would've loved to see him KO Vitali in a rematch.

 

Funny thing is i don't even think Tyson would agree with your assessment of Lewis.

I wonder if Lewis Holyfield and Tyson have ever been asked who they rate the best of the era - anyone know?

i would include Bowe but like Tyson he ducked Lewis

i think most of the contenders from that time would pick Lewis if honest.

 

I've seen a few docs on Tyson, not sure if this one but if it's on Tyson, it's almost always interesting :good

Tyson pretty much didn't give a ... about publicity and such. He was usually just telling it as it was no matter if it was to his benefit or not. Respect.

 

All he needs to say is: "I won the fight."

 

Makes sense. But he could have made a major payday in a rematch. Most fighters are motivated by $.:smooch

 

Even around? I've probably been watching boxing before you were even born.

Everyone didn't want a rematch. Lewis obviously didn't and it's his right to retire any way he wants to..and if you want the honest truth, this rematch issue is bigger now then it was then..simply because Klitshcko fans won't let it die.

Most people who watched the fight, knew it was likely Lewis' last fight because he was extremely sloppy, his timing was off, and he'd talked about retiring since the Tyson fight. And if YOU were around back in Lewis' prime, you'd know the difference between his performance against Ruddock and his performance against Vitali. They were night and day. Just as Vitali is considerably slower than he was when he fought Lewis, Lewis was far, far slower than he was in his prime.

 

Well I'm an old timer and I'll tell you Lewis - Tyson was a way bigger event than Lewis - Klitschko ever dreamed about. Fact is and was, few outside of boxing know who Vitali Klitschko is..EVERYBODY knew who Tyson was, but the average non boxing fan didn't realize how shot he was.

 

He was paid money to step aside - sounds like a duck to me

 

hmmm, my experience is when you're scared it's not after you've almost taken someone's face off and why would Lewis be scared when he rematched both McCall and Rahman, the two fighters who KO'd him. If he was willing to step in the ring with them again, why would be be scared to fight a fighter who he already beat.

Honestly some of you Klitschko fans are dense.

 

Lewis already showed that he was the better boxer over his career. The only thing he had to gain from a rematch was yet another big payday when he was already filthy rich anyway.

It would have been a huge fight and I would have liked to have seen it, but Lewis did not need it at all. He didn't need the money and you don't get extra legacy points for beating the same guy twice. Only Klit fans moan about him retiring and all because of their own selfish reasons. Lewis didn't have anything left to prove, which part of that can't Klit fans comprehend?