Vitali blames no Lewis rematch on Lennox's mum, whats his motivation

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rLdggqtaWw[/ame]

 

It's been a while since I watched it - it was definitely the hand. But it makes no sense, he could have just backed off for two-three rounds and gotten a decision.

 

People seem to forget Vitali took the Lewis fight on short notice as well...so BOTH were not properly prepared. Lewis seemed to be the more gassed of the two when the cut stoppage was made.

I dont agree with people who dismiss Vitalis performance in this fight, claiming Lewis was 'old'. Lewis improved with age and had his best performances well into his 30s.

Vitali was simply his biggest test in a long time..probably since the Holyfield fight in 1999.

 

No he didn't - he was fighting on the undercard, so was as well conditioned as usual. The guy's a pro, no matter who the opponent is. Lewis, on the other hand, was expecting to batter the guy Vitali fought later: Kirk Johnson. So, they had very different mentalities going into their fights.

Vitali was still angling for a title shot against Lewis, Lewis was making beer money and planning on retiring.

Also, it's pretty clear that Lewis had diminished. It was a good performance from Vitali in some ways, but Vitali was in his prime, Lewis was past his and Lewis still won. Nothing makes me think Vitali would have done better against a younger, more motivated Lewis.

Lewis' timing, skill and punch placement would have broken Vitali apart, much as we were starting to see before the fight was stopped. Those uppercuts Lewis was landing in the last thirty seconds of the final round had Vitali's legs turning into boards. He'd smashed his face up and was starting to work him over.

A younger Lewis would have solved that problem much earlier, probably around the third.

 

The way I read it is he was being complimentary to Lewis, saying that he wanted to fight again but his mom was the one who didn't want him to fight anymore.

I think Vitali respects Lennox a lot. I have certainly not heard him say anything too disrespectful. They sometimes talk low level trash to each other, but it seems like its all in good fun.

 

I think people need to give both Lewis and Vit credit for that fight, but Lewis won in the end.

 

Remembering the time (and to be honest) it's probably true.

 

Lewis had proved he could take Vitali's bombs and was clearly landing the better and heavier shots towards the end. Lewis landed a 1,2 combo that I thought was the cause of the bad cut and fair play to Vitali for staying on his feet because Lewis had wiped out Rahman with the same combo. From what I remember Lewis was gaining a foothold and was showing the signs that he was regaining control if the fight had gone on. Even a 38 yr/old Lewis in proper shape would have won handily had a rematch been fought, he was simply a better boxer. Vitali lost to the best in a generation, no shame in that but deal with it and move on

 

Its easy to dismiss Lewis as 'old', past it or whatever. But I feel Vitali was the main factor in making Lewis look bad that night. His style is so effective Lewis was reduced to throwing wild haymakers. Props to Lewis for causing enough damage to Vitalis face to win by cut stoppage..but its a shame we didnt see a further 2-3 rounds as both men were getting tired and landing huge shots.

 

It was actually one of the best heavyweight fights i've seen..

 

I think Lewis's mum is one of the reasons he, unlike sadly too many boxers, has been able to keep financially healthy and keep a level head.

There's something to be said for being a momma's boy sometimes

 

It's hardly a dent to his legacy.

If anything, it shows that even a poor, unfit, unmotivated version of Lewis damaged Vitali, who is a tough fighter himself.

 

ive just watched the fight for the first time and in no way apart from the technicality of the result can you say that lewis won. vitali. had his number until lewis gained heart from vitalis cut - it brought lewis to life when he was looking pretty resigned. my opinion is that if it werent for that right which caused the cut (which wasnt a hammer blow from lewis by any means - more of a scratcher) vitali would have had lewis out by 5 or 6.
at the end of the fight vitali raised his hand to the crowd and they all ackoledged him as the true winner and lewis just stood there looking sheepish - no reaction - he knew he was lucky. if ever in boxing a rematch was deserved it was here.
p.s. not a klitschko fan prior to watching the fight

 

I dont see what is wrong with Lewis rematching Vitali at the time, but it is pointless now.

As for the original time of the rematch, it should have been done. Remember Lewis tried to force a rematch with Tyson after his initial victory, and even was going to the courts to make the match. Whats good for the goose.....

Thank God that the t.v. companies were not interested.