V.Klit Vs. Lennox Lewis

One can't help but think that a prime Lewis from 1997 - 2000, would have made short work Vitali Klitschko.

 

Mute point, but I really can't see Lewis doing any better than he already did. He would always be at the mercy of Vitali's busier punching and awkward counters over the top. Its doubtful he would ever be able to spark him out like a Grant or Golota as well.

No matter what, he's going to have to make Vitali uncomfortable in the clinch, and be willing to take his punches to land more meaningful punches and break him down. Lewis' power and gritty intangibles are always going to be his true defining edge over Vitali.

 

Well I have the complete opposite view. I'm surprised the fight went on for as long as it did. As to my initial question, I was only wondering whether or not Vitali was aware of damage he sustained, because it appeared that he wasn't. In fact I didn't even really see a huge increase in aggressiveness one expects to see when a trainer says "now you've sustained a cut that could stop the fight, and so this could be your last round, go out there and knock him out". So you might not be surprised that he acted the way he did when it ended, but I was surprised that he didn't fight more aggressively after he receive the cut.

In any event, it's not an issue worth debating, cause as mentioned it was mostly an observation I kept noticing after watching the fight numerous times.

 

Well, thats kind of rewording the same view. Both of us were surprised by the delayed timing of the stoppage.

I think its irrevelant if Vitali knew how badly he was cut, he wanted to continue and thought he was doing well enough to warrant the benefit of the doubt.

Vitali knew he couldn't knock out Lennox Lewis early, he had no choice but to stick to his plan. In the post-fight interview, I believe he even stated, "He was tiring, my strategy was to take him into the late rounds."

 

I pretty much agree with this. Vitali would have hung in they longer than the likes of Golota and Grant. But it would'nt of been the tussle it was with the 2003 Lewis. Vitali would have his moments but a prime Lewis is a level above. Anyone who say's Lewis was'nt far of his best in this fight needs to give their head a rattle.
Anyway this thread is about the cuts and Vitali's reaction.
No i did'nt expect Vitali to not complain and just accept the decision, but it was obvious he was overstating his reaction to prove he was not a quitter. Like the guy who started the thread said, you'd think he must of knew that the fight was gonna be stopped. It was Vitali's corner who called the doctor over before the fight was stopped. Was that because they were concerned with the cut, or because they were worried he was tiring. It would seem to me that his corner should of been trying to keep the doctor away in order for him to continue. I find it a strange thing to do if they thought he was gonna win.

 

How do you know Vitali could not knock Lewis out early? Both McCall and Rhaman did, based on one big punch. Vitali caught Lewis with a straight shot under his guard in round two. It was not his hardest punch, but it wobbled Lewis.

 

Vitali was winning on the cards and he would have beat lewis in a rematch

 

Easy. Because he didn't.

And Rahman seems to be a more effective one punch guy than Vitali based off common opponents, dropping both Lewis and Sanders with his right cross.

 

Right. If anything he had the best Lewis to knock out even though Lewis was not in the greatest mental condition in South Africa. Lewis stood in front of Vitali and came at him more than he did Rahman.

 

Looking at that film again it was a hold and hit maneuver that opened the cut...not sure of the status of that blow

 

There was a detailed video on youtube a while back that broke it down fairly well. A glancing right cross made contact at an unusual angle as Vitali pulled back, appearing to start the tear over the eye. This was followed by an immediate clinch and clash of heads, and a "hold and hit" to the same side of his face...probably opening the cut on his cheek and further opening the tear on his eye. I've said before that Vitali's inability to defend himself in the clinch cost him the fight, he just looked totally dumbfounded and ill prepared for Lewis' "dirty boxing" Him looking to the ref and waiting for him to do something, while Lewis held him and pounded his body really stands out. Briggs even had some success at this.

 

This is exactly why I dont think Vitali stands much of a chance against any of the better champs through the 90's. Bowe, Holyfield, Tyson, and of course Lewis, were all capable of exposing that defect.

 

Holyfield and Lewis to be sure. I also think if Ruiz can stand up to Vitali's power, he would be a very frustrating match up for him.

We will disagree about 90's Tyson and Bowe however. As you know I think both had difficulty imposing their will when their opponents refused to engage them on the inside.

 

Vitali has trouble clinching, thats the whole point, he couldnt clinch or defend himself on the inside.

 

-Neither could Ruddock, and his clumsy smothering still often limited Tyson to counters and bombs over the top from the mid range. Vitali wasn't a total Bruno who froze up when tagged.

-Bowe usually took what his opponents gave him. Gonzales was clearly limited on the inside but his basic holding mostly kept Bowe in stalk and jab mode..which was enough in this case but against Vitali..I don't know.

-Lewis was often initating the clinches against Vitali, grabbing and hitting as soon as he closed the distance. Tyson and Bowe really weren't grab and hitters.