Manny Steward: "There’s unfinished business" between Vitali & Lennox

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=17890&more=1

Manny said more about this in another interview but I can't find the quotes right now. Basically, he said he wants to see what would happen in the final 6 rounds of the first fight and he gave VK more props.

Personally, I don't think Lewis will or should come back. I think he's too fat now, too old and never wanted a rematch in the first place after being battered in the original bout and out-thrown at a rate of near 2-to-1. It wasn't a good match-up for Lewis in the past, and it hasn't gotten any better between now and then. Like Roy Jones in the Calzaghe fight, Vitali has never before or since been cut as he was by the laces of Lewis' gloves and that occurrence is not likely to be duplicated in a rematch.

Many people wonder what would have happened had the fight continued, but I don't think it's in Lennox Lewis' best interests to sign-on for a rematch at this stage of his life.

 

No, it was the laces of his glove while following through on a right cross (hook?), I believe.

The dreadlocks thing refers to Lewis' rubbing his hair against the cut after it had been opened in order to keep the blood flowing and widen the skin tear.

*

As I said above, Lewis got as fortunate an outcome as he is ever likely to get against Vitali, and that is part of why I feel he will not make a rematch, nor does he need to. Lennox cannot rely on Vitali's being cut again, so then it comes down to his ability to keep up with Vitali's workrate (not happening) and/or hurt/put down Vitali (not happening) so as to not lose on points or be stopped.

Any way you look at it, it's a very daunting task. That is why Lennox was trailing on the cards when the fight was stopped, and it is why he went back on his word to make a rematch and instead retired. He made the right decision, and though those such as Steward will always have questions, I don't think Lenonox will, or should, make a return bout with Vitali at this point in his life.

 

Or, perhaps, helping to train Vitali? :good

Either way, Manny is seeing $$$, I agree. :deal

 

Don King said something about offering $100 million for the fight, but that's probably a bunch of BS.

Manny wants a little more retirement cash. :hey

 

:good

Lewis won the fight. The only reason he comes back now is if he wants the $$$. Otherwise, he has little to gain except maybe a return to the spotlight.

 

No. Lewis would have been stopped within 2 rounds, maximum. His nose seemed to be broken and he was totally out of gas. He couldn't do anything to Vitali (the 'super' uppercut did nothing and by the end of the round Vitali was back in control of the action), and he was physically spent. LL fell onto his stool at the end of the 6th.

That was the luckiest night of Lennox's fight career. And that is why he retired and would not make a rematch. He got his ass kicked and no one knew it better than Lennox. He couldn't keep up with Vitali, couldn't significantly hurt VK even though Vitali couldn't see his right hands coming, wasn't in a position to win on points and was 1-2 rounds from being stopped after suffering a huge beating. Lennox won the fight the only way he could, and that's why he was so ornery in the post-fight interview. He knew what happened, so did Larry Merchant and so did any objective observer of the fight. It was better for Lennox to renege on his word than have to face Frankenstein again, and so he walked away from the sport after having won his own 6 round lottery.

Smart man.

 

I agree. Lewis seems to have done well with his investments. He was an excellent fighter and I wish him well. I don't think he gains anything from making this rematch, and I don't think he will or should take it, unless an obscene amount of money is tossed his way.