Lennox Lewis Retirement - Myth or Fact?

pathetic v-chas expert

 

Bottom line is Lennox defended his title against his #1 contender on 10 days notice. Name me one other world champion that ever did that. Lennox was prepared for a warm up against Kirk Johnson & was barely 80% fit. Vitali was 100% ready. Lewis nearly took Vitali's face off despite that. That uppercut Lennox caught Vitali with nearly took his head off & had him clinging like a leech to try to survive. If Vitali had come out for the 7th round Lennox would have knocked him out never mind the cuts.

 

Saying he took the fight on 10 days notice is completely misleading.

By that logic you could also say Lewis took the fight on 10 days notice.

They were both in training for fights on that night.

Although judging by Lewis's condition he wasnt training very hard.

Vitali had his chance to take out an old,inactive,heaviest in his career Lewis and he couldnt do it.

End discussion

 

The sensible position:

Lewis did have trouble with Vitali and did promise a rematch - which there was a good chance he could have lost.

Still fighters break promises like that all the time. Lewis was a great champion at the tail-end of his career - there was no reason for him to take more punishment and every reason for him to ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after.

Sadly those six rounds are the best gauge we have of the depth of Vitali's talent and one could only wish there were a few more good quality heavies out there to test the Klitschkos. It is both our and their misfortune that there isn't.

 

facts-------Lewis tko6 Vitali

 

Lewis DID promise a Rematch.

BUT his mom said he was not allowed to Rematch VITLAY. :deal

 

Lennox was cynical not to give the remach to Vitali, but he was in complete control of his decisions. He won the bout, fair and square. I, for one, wouldn't have felt obligated to give the remach to a guy I've already beaten. Lennox had nothing to prove. He gave one shot to the title to Vitali, by taking the fight on short notice. That was already generous of him.

In boxing, as in any other sport, you have one shot to do something great. Just One. If you blow it, you're done. That's what make heavyweight bouts so special. It's a do or die thing. Vitali had the chance that many young boxers only dream of: to fight a great champion and take his reigning position as the best heavyweight in the world. He fought well inside the first two rounds, better than anyone expected, but eventually lost because of severe cuts to his left eye. The stopage was spot on and the result of the bout was TKO win for Lennox.

Sure, I felt bad for Vitali and for his bad luck/lack of experience in big fights/shallow defence/vulnerable skin. It's always nice to believe in magical remaches, but in real world they seldom happen. This is not Hollywood fine lads! As I said, nobody does charity work. Because, no matter what everyone says, a remach with Vitali Klitscho would have been just like a birthday present from Lennox to the ukrainian. I, for one, like that feeling in boxing that, if you don't seize the moment, it will eventually fly away from you. No second chances, just take your chance and make it happen. Just like Lennox did vs. Ruddock. Vitali didn't and that won't change anytime soon.

 

One more time TKO 6 the mans eye was about to pop out just stop this ****.

 

:good

 

A very reasonable response and a good read thank you

 

“Vitali Klitschko is the best heavyweight out there right now,”


Lewis, who will be at ringside calling Vitali's WBC title fight this Saturday against Odlanier Solis from Germany, said in a conference call yesterday that he is very impressed by the elder Klitschko's accomplishments . 
“I think it stacks up very high,” Lewis said of Vitali’s heavyweight legacy.
“To come back from a layoff like he did, and to have just a tremendous fight winning the championship back again is a tremendous accomplishment. And even to continue winning at this‒at the age he's at and still have the drive that he does is amazing.”
Lewis also saluted “the Klitschko era” of heavyweight boxing, and gave his opinion on Vitali's and his brother Wladimir's Hall of Fame credentials.
“It is definitely the era of the Klitschkos,” said Lewis. “The fact is that both of them hold titles and they're really the kings of the heavyweight division right now."
“And as far as the Hall of Fame, that's an automatic question. You know whenever have we had two heavyweight brothers ever holding titles at the same time? I mean, that's an award in itself. So, yes, I would definitely induct them on just that premise alone.”

:hi:

 

TD6 Vitali.

 

Great Post. :happy

 

I voted myth, because although he said the words, a mutually agreed upon contract was never drafted and until this is signed, as was the case when Bowe ducked Lewis, it's not enforceable.

Hell anyone can say anything in the spur of the moment. For example two guys after a fight could agree to step outside and fight again, but that's not boxing and that's not an acceptable way of settling a boxing match, so words after a fight, don't really mean ****.