Upload: Lewis vs Klitschko (British commentary)

Great upload thanks, I'd only seen the HBO commentary version previously.
Brutal exciting fight.

 

Vitali was gone at the end of 6. 2 more rounds without the cut and it would have been over anyway. I still had Vitali up 4-2 tho`

 

At no point in the fight did Vitali drag on for dear life. Leaning on opponents is a tactic not only to soften a blow, but to tire opponents and to get a breather yourself, if your opponent is weakened like that.

Vitali has never been one to tire himself out. How he's suddenly considered that... I don't know.

Vitali to me, would have won that fight without the cut because he's looked the better fighter than Lewis in large parts of that fight. But you get cut like that, it obstructs your vision and you pay. So he deservedly lost. If there was any fight needing a rematch, it was this one. Without a rematch, I doubt there are grounds to drawing any conclusions on a possible rematch. Simply because, there are none. You can't give me solid proof of Lewis winning a 12 rounded fight. Not when Vitali himself is a reactive fighter.

BTW, Klitschko fans are no worse than the ones claiming something as audicious as "lewis would have stopped vitali in 7th" or "vitali was exhausted" or... That's plain stupid.

 

he was really letting em go in the 5th and 6th.

 

Well I think the sold profof of Lewis winning a 12 round fight in his prime can be assumed give that at the very least, an over the hill Lewis gave Vitali hell, and in fact ended up winning a very tough fight. I think both fighters deserve a massive amount of credit, it was a gutsy performance by both.

But on a slightly different topic, I don't know how anyone can watch this fight and question the chins of either fighter.

 

You have not been on ESB long enough.

 

Vitali often fights like that, open mouth, hands down. He did it vs peter and many other fights. He doesnt tire or drop though. This was the last great heavyweight fight IMO

Lewis robbed the fans of a rematch. Those who said he was overweight. He was only 6 lbs above what he was like 10 years earlier, that isnt overweight. neither guy had sufficient time to train for the other, so that is a mute point.

 

Depending on what you consider Lewis's prime. I'd say he was very much... in his prime. Just not conditioned. But Vitali wasn't conditioned either, as it was a fight on short notice.
Lewis was a late bloomer, not because he was necesarily born a late bloomer, but because he was... "taken over" by Steward at almost 30.
And Vitali wasn't in his prime either. I'd say Vitali improved quite a bit since that fight, not physically, but as a boxer. Because it's hard nowadays to ever see Vitali letting his hands go like that and exposing himself to punches, like he did in this fight. So I stand by my point.

Lewis is a greater boxer than Vitali now because of what he has achieved. Which is fair enough, but I don't consider Lewis the better fighter. I have a hard time making a decision on that.

 

whatever happened to radar?

 

Lewis won the fight no doubt about it. Like many others I would have loved to see a rematch.
Lewis was a bit pissed in the interview, but I can see why. No congrats, no "Hey good fight" something like that.He was the champ and won a tough fight, he deserved some praise in that interview.
And Lewis showed some class by picking up Vitali after they both fell down.

 

Yeah, Lewis was outrageous.

He put Ali to shame with that prediction.

Lewis was always a cocky *******. He used to always say he was confident of victory.

What a ****.

 

His had a kid and I think he just decided that this place took up too much time. I don't blame him. This place can by like smack at times.

He still lurks I believe. Hell, he may be watching us right now! :yikes

 

Actually, I don't think I made clear just how much ephasis was put on Lewis' hair. Even I'd forgotten how ludicrous this thing was.

Lewis' hair was a bigger issue than possible use of the head (as in a but). It was crazy.

 

atsch Talk about an agenda poster.

There's clear a difference between being confident of victory and refusing to acknowledge when your opponent gave you a good, tough fight and just spewing out "I'd have stopped him easy next round, he's nothing" on repeat. I'd like to say Lewis wasn't kidding anybody when he said he was a lock for a KO in the next couple of rounds, but obviously he kidded you.

 

Lewis crowned his career with this amazing win, but he pissed on his legacy and us boxing fans by his ridiculous post-fight conduct.

For months he kept hiding, had Vitali waiting while telling the world he feels he "has a few good years ahead of him" and is "talking to Roy Jones Jr. regarding a WBC/WBA unification bout". Then Vitali harpooned Johnson in two rounds and the WBC mandated that Lewis face Vitali again immediately.

What happened? Lewis went into hiding. Then retired on the very last day before being stripped by the WBC.

That was just a total lack of class. Probably still the right decision though but he could have made his mind up quicker rather than holding the belt hostage for 10 months or so.