He was 37 years old on his last leg I mean why should Lewis give vitali a rematch? But in all honesty if Lewis had fought vitali in the rematch? Lewis wins by ko. Lewis is 3-0 in rematches.
That's funny. He was involved in the biggest PPV in history at the time one fight before Klitschko. Why would he need money
Go look at when he fought a decline Tyson? Lewis didn't look like a prime fighter. His first fight vs Rahman clearly look like Lewis wasn't in his prime anymore. Lewis fought better in the rematch because he knows Rahman was way too 1 dimensional.
He did promise him one though, if it wasn't for that I think Vitali wouldn't of been like a dog with a bone..
But if you remember Lennox was chosen as a pall bearer for Ali's funeral he loved Ali. I was there when a reporter said " You have been quoted as the best HW ever Lennox how do you feel about that" ? Lennox immediately said " I do not agree Muhammad Ali is the best ever by far but I'm the closest to him " lol
Lennox defended his titles on under 2 weeks notice against his #1 contender you forget that. Name me one other champion that ever did that? Lennox had trained for a warm up against Kirk Johnson who's heart was ripped out when he was denied the WBA title by the tag team of Joe Cortez & John Ruiz. Ruiz deserved an Oscar for his acting every time Kirk landed a body blow he cried foul & instead of getting a KO win over Ruiz Kirk got DQ'd . Lennox knew this & Kirk wasn't seriously training hence he was barely 80 % . Kirk pulled out injured & to save the card from being scrapped Lennox took on Vitali.. An overweight undertrained Lennox beat a 100% ready Vitali LEGITIMATELY TKO 6
@C.J. Lewis was training for a defence against Johnson, and after he pulled out Vitali took the fight on 2 WEEKS NOTICE( so he definitely wasn't prepared fully) and still whooped Lennox Lewis! deal with it 58-56 58-56 58-56 Lewis had about 6 or 7 losses to Ex soviet union fighters in the amateurs, and was 0-1 against them in the pros because face it a 'cut' is no legitimate victory - Vitali was the real winner. Lewis ducked a rematch also. Everyone who has ever watched the Vitali-Lewis fight can see Vitali was the stronger better fighter clearly. Amazing that he did that to Lewis on 2 weeks notice and FORCED him into retirement.
There is only one person to blame for Lennox 2 losses, Rahman & McCall & that was Lennox himself. He had one fault he lost concentration in fights he knew he should easily win McCall was exactly that Oliver got lucky & nailed Lennox . A legitimate win But watch a replay of that fight Olivers eyes were closed when he threw the KO shot As for Rahman. Lennox was filming Oceans Eleven & was not training properly goofing off with Clooney & Pitt. Also he was late getting to S Africa & was not acclimatized to the thin air. Again Rahman caught him with a lucky shot. But it was a legitimate KO loss nevertheless. He certainly made amends in the rematch with a classic KO of Rahman Poor Oliver McCall should never have been allowed in the ring for the rematch. As for Bowe, Tyson & Holyfield all ducked fight s with Lennox as long as they could. Bowe forever. LOL The "draw" with Vander was a travesty to say the least Yes if he'd had better concentration he would have gone throughout his career without a loss or even a "draw" In my book only Ali is better
Lennox retired because there was no one else to beat. He'd stopped Vitali in 6 rounds when barely 80 %ready, Wlad went AWOL didn't want to know. The only man that could have given him trouble Ike Ibeabuchi was unavailable thanks to a lying Vegas hooker. Lennox wife & Mother ,both named Violet BTW, had been begging him to retire for ages. He did he retired at exactly the right time & unlike others he has STAYED retired despite many $$$$ multi mil offers Lennox is a Healthy , Wealthy, Happily married man with a beautiful wife & family. He's earned every bit of it too. Thanks for everything Big Guy
So which of Tim Witherspoon, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson & James Smith we’re poor fighters? The one who stands out as the worst of the only 4 men to beat Bruno is Bonecrusher Smith who himself went the distance with Prime Iron Mike Tyson.