People talk all of this **** about Lewis being out of shape but you know what out of shape Lewis is a 10x better fighter than David Haye and every other loser out there today.
Thats the thing, Lewis was underprepared but its not like Vitali wasnt either. People act like Vitali wouldnt have trained differently if he knew he was facing Lennox Lewis versus Boswell whats his name.
Well he did say something along the lines of 'I've been training for and watching Lewis for X number of years'. Just saying. Neither of them had ideal preparation. That's my qualifying statement but Lewis was (and for all I know still is) older than Klitschko and Klitschko was in better physical condition than Lewis was, you only have to look at them to see that.
Lewis have Destroy this **** Roboter Sister Round 4-5 Lewis have Dominated Vitali . After Ali - Marciano- Luis Foreman- Tyson- Holyfield- Bowe- and More Lennox Lewis is The Last Real Heavyweight King No Doubt !!! Klitschkos Dominated a Bull**** Division and Very Very Boooring Sorry its Better To go sleep But not to see Klitschko Fights
Well i'v refrained from saying this many times before because i'v lost the article, i imagine that most will think it's bull**** and that's fine but anyways. I did have an article from that time period with Emmanual Stewart. In it he stated that Lennox Lewis in training camp (for Johnson/Vitali fight) had been breaking his own personal best records with his running, sprints, etc. According to his trainer, Lewis was in shape for that fight. I'm not saying Lennox was his best version ever, prime, or anything like that but the whole "Lennox was soft and the heaviest ever" stuff isn't accurate imo. George Foreman's comments at the beginning of the fight influence people imo. Just because Geroge said something doesn't make it truth. I wish i could find the article but i can't at the moment. Think what you want.
The same Manny Stewart who said Lewis was prime and ready for Rahman 1 without acclimatising? That the same guy? What did you expect Steward to say? "Lewis is training like ****" or how abouts, "It took him 45 minutes to run a mile today, mind you there was a McDonalds half way..." NO trainer is going to get interviewed and say their man looks like crap are they now?
I understand that but saying your guy is looking good training hard etc is one thing. Claiming that he's breaking his own personal best records is another.
Vitali trained for a 10 rounder. Lewis trained for a 12 round championship fight. Why would Lewis refuse to rematch someone, who he would have knocked out in the 7th round when he was in the worst shape of his life, for 20 million $? These interminable threads prove that there was unfinished business.
Take away Manny's words. Using our eyes did that look like a record breaking Lewis to you and I or did it look like a guy who didn't have the dedication of yesteryear. I'm not doubting Manny said those things but just cause he said it doesn't make it true.
Vitali won the early rounds, but Lewis was catching up with him. Even if the fight hadn't of been stopped because Lewis smashed half his face in, Vitali was going to get beat because Lewis was starting to get into the fight..... and this was a Lennox Lewis who wasn't in top shape.
I recall the article also Visostsky. I believe it was Insider. But it wasn't Steward who said that. The writer was asking questions with concern to another LL camp member, Harold Knight or Courtney Shand, if there was the possibility Lewis could be complacent again, as a lackluster opponent like Kirk Johnson might not be able to motivate Lewis fully. But the guy said Lewis was training harder than ever before, he was breaking records in the camp on his running and sprinting drills. He said no way Lewis was takaing the fight 110% serious and would never overlook any opponent or cut corners ever again. So Lewis was definitely in TOP shape, no doubt. But some people will never believe that. They believe what they want to believe.