Lemmux retired at 37 - Wlad still going strong @ 38

As soon as a capable heavyweight his size challenged him, Lennox ran for the hills. The retirement hills!

Same will happen to Wladimir Klinchko! :yep

 

Lewis could have fought on into non-prime and got knocked out.
That'll just damage his legacy fighting on.

He knew when to get out. While he was still undoubtedly on top.

Retiring is not a chicken **** move. Its a damn smart move if you ask me.
That "I'm like fine wine" comment was just for show.
He knew he was losing his boxing skills. Why fight on when father time tells you not to?

 

If he retired without fighting Vitali, you can call him a coward.
The fact he did fight him shows him give the "next guy" a chance.

He never had to.
He already had 100 million in the bank.

 

I wouldn't say irrelevant, but he wasn't enough of a draw to be worth the trouble.

 

He said he'd eat Wlad for dessert also in that interview.

What's he going to say to a live audience

"No, he's not having a rematch"

At this time Lewis was done with boxing and needed motivation to fight on.
He already beat Vitali fair and square.
He tore half of his gdamn face off.

How would you motivate yourself for a rematch with somebody you TKOED already?
He had nothing to prove. He already proved it in the ring with Vitali's skin all over the floor.

 

Well to lennox credit, he was forced intoa rematch with vitali, as wlad an vitali are brothers, that would of never happened. Lennox was not going to count on the ref bailing him out for a second time....

Vitali retired lennox 03

 

Wlad wasn't irrelevant.

He wasn't enough of a draw. But was a Olympic Gold Medallist and WBO beltholder. He was #1 contender at the end of 2001 & 2002.

Yes, he was ranked higher than Rahman, Vitali, Tyson, Byrd, Holyfield, etc., until losing again in 2003.

 

Wlad was MAYBE top ten back in 2000

Lewis doesn't fight top ten fighters who've done little.
He fights the best people available.

Michael Grant who he did face was more capable than wlad at this time.



Undefeated.
Avoided.
Dangerous.

Not knocked out by B level fighter.

 

Lennox Lewis was undisputed champion, wladimir wasn't.
A Puritty,Sanders,Brewster type loser never beat Lewis.
Plus Lewis beat Holyfield,Tyson,Tucker,Bruno,v. klitschko,Tua,Ruddock,Morrison,Golota etc.
w. klitschko beat haye,byrd,leapai,thompson,wach,mormeck,peter,41 years old
mercer,povetkin and similar chickens.
The quality is much more important than the longevity.
Lewis was much more better than wladimir.

 

End of 2001 Lewis set his sights on Mike Tyson in one of the biggest fights in history.

Wlad was just an afterthought.

Vitali was more regarded than Wlad at this time.

 

You think Lewis's number one challenger for several years and and Olympic gold medalist isn't worthy?

 

The fact Wlad your hero did get his ass beat again in 2003 shows he wasn't ready for Lewis.
Wake up.

 

Probably Lewis wasn't ready for Waldo after only recovering from his devastating and brutal KO loss in 2001. Again that's likely why Lewis was only prepared to face the much worse brother.

 

By your logic, the Rahman fight never should've happened. Hasim was:

Unavoided
Defeated
Knocked out by a B level fighter
Rated fringe top 10 (lower than Wlad)


He was dangerous, I'll give you that. Also, Wlad was also comfortably top 10 in 2000.