Lewis was certainly hurt early in the fight. The question is who was ready to go as of the end of round six. Answer is Vitali. Lewis hurt him badly with a right hook and then at the bell a right uppercut. Round seven would have been Vitalis last.
Hurt him badly???? His legs were never wobbled in the fight, he was never in any serious trouble at any point in the fight. Obviously his face was a mess but nowhere near getting dropped or knocked out.
Suggest you watch the last 30-45 seconds of the final round. Look for a right hook to the side of Vitalis head and then watch as he stumbles and staggers into Lewis across the ring.
I've just watched it, he wasn't really in any trouble. I just see lots of wrestling, his legs were still underneath him.
Lewis landed a right hook and Vitali stumbles and staggers into Lewis across the ring. This was a clear cause and effect. Hard right uppercut by Lewis at the bell. Next round would have been Vitali's last.
Fighters have come back from worse between rounds. I don't think that we can say what would have happened, in terms of either fighter getting knocked out. The same goes for those who say that Lewis was getting tired. What we can say is that Vitally's cuts would have stopped the fight, if something else didn’t stop it first.
The idea is at the end of round six Vitali not only had the skin above his eye ripped to the bone he was hurt close to the bell ending that round. He would be prime for the taking at the start of round seven.
Vitali was in no trouble from the punch. He along with Lewis were both stumbling because they were grappling.
the cut was a game-changer and hard to overcome but in that fight it would depend who came out stronger both men were feeling it....but had there been a rematch I would have bet heavy on Vitali, it was the Lewis fight that gave him confidence and I feel the 2nd fight would have a good 2nd chance....I think Lewis also felt that way because he turned down a lot of money....Vitali KO 7-10 rds in fight 2
Lewis was not focused or in the best shape here. A focused and in shape Lewis in a rematch situation is a tough fighter to face.