Instead of arguing about their first fight for the rest of our lives, let's just speculate about what would have happened six months later, both men coming in in top shape. Who would have taken it?
Both in top shape... Lewis... obviously. Look what he did to him the first time, he looked like he'd been dragged under a bus. Although I give Vitali a much better chance than I give Wlad. When Wlad gets hurt, Lennox is going in for the kill like a lion preying on antelope. It's not a contest. There is at least a chance Vitali might survive... somehow... slim chance, but that's a chance at least. But people are so blinkered on here, Klitschko fans are the most deluded fans on the planet, they live in absolute gaga land.
Vitali for sure. He was beating Lewis like a drum and Lennox really only got into the fight when the cut started affecting his performance. Lewis still had the skills; what he didn't have was the stamina or the speed. His prime speed and timing was gone by then I would say, and that's what he needed to beat Vitali. More stamina from a better training camp just would mean a longer beating.
Lewis realized at 38 years old he was starting to seriously decline as a fighter and called it a career choosing to go out on his terms rather than out on his back like so many of his predecessors. If he was sure that he could beat Vitali again, he would've fought him again.
Vitali. It's hard to win on cuts two times in a row. And it's hard to imagine Lennox winning any other way. Vitali was always going to outland him and outscore him, and was probably not going to be kod otherwise. I'd say 40%chance of Vitali win by decision, 25% chance of Vitali win by (t)ko, 15% chance of Lewis win by cuts, 10% of Lewis win by other stoppage, 10% chance of another result (Tie, nc, or Lewis decision win all about equally likely).
If Lewis could find proper motivation to fight again he would have rolled him. Pretty sure he retired because he just couldn't find that spark anymore.
You do realize Lewis was out of shape ? If Vitali can't beat an out of shape Lewis, how would he be ale to beat an inshape Lewis? Vitali would always be caught with the overhand right cause he carries his left hand way too low.You can't take these kind of punches for 12 rounds. Lewis by stoppage, either by KO or on cuts, is the logical pick.
Lewis absolutely. A focused and in shape Lewis was one formidable opponent. In fight one he was not in shape and was over anxious to land his right which he saw Vitali was open for. He had Vitali ready to go at the end of round six via a right hook to the side of Vitalis head along with a right uppercut. In fight two Lewis shortens his right and lands it in devastating fashion. Lewis by KO in round 5.
You do realize Lewis was much more experienced and won in a very hard to duplicate way, right? Vitali would come in with more confidence, less aggression, and is the logical pick to win.