Vitali Klitschko: “I sent Lennox Lewis into retirement"

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Rumsfeld, Sep 28, 2010.


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  1. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    On how disappointed he was that he never got the rematch with Lennox Lewis after defeating Kirk Johnson:

    “It was very important for me. After the first fight against Lennox Lewis, I know everybody wanted to see the second fight. I wanted the fight very much a second time against Lennox Lewis because I had much more confidence in a second fight. I feel I had the credentials and Lennox Lewis lost his credentials. If we talk about the retirement of Lennox Lewis, I am more than sure I sent Lennox Lewis into retirement. Lennox Lewis was smart enough to make the decision to announce his retirement before somebody beat him


    The interview transcript can be seen here:

    http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=25212&more=1
     
    Rumsfeld, Sep 28, 2010
    Rumsfeld, Sep 28, 2010
    #1
  2. Boxing Girl

    Boxing Girl Guest

    Lewis knew he would lose the rematch and made the right choice to retire.
     
    Boxing Girl, Sep 28, 2010
    Boxing Girl, Sep 28, 2010
    #2
  3. Flash Jab

    Flash Jab Boxing Junkie banned

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    There was a good article in BN about this, about Klitschko was a replacement opponent, plus the fact that Lewis was hardly getting the **** kicked out of him, and arguably Vitali was taking the harder shots, and that the cuts were caused by PUNCHES. Prime Lennox? **** off Vitali, you'd get bopped about.
     
    Flash Jab, Sep 28, 2010
    Flash Jab, Sep 28, 2010
    #3
  4. Robney

    Robney ᴻᴼ ᴸᴼᴻᴳᴲᴿ ᴲ۷ᴵᴸ Full Member

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    Big Lennox fan here, but it is the truth. Even Steward admitted it.

    edit: Hey, now the header suddenly changed :roll:
    He send Lennox into retirement, that's true. But he isn't undefeated, he's unlucky but not undefeated :nono
     
    Robney, Sep 28, 2010
    Robney, Sep 28, 2010
    #4
  5. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    Vitali needed the rematch more than Lewis did.

    Lewis finished his career as an all time great having beaten every man he ever faced in his professional career, which is a strong testament to his greatness.

    I honestly felt Vitali was beginning to fade and that the momentum was clearly shifting in Lewis' favor.

    That said, I would have liked to have seen a rematch but you cannot blame Lennox for calling it a career.

    He is definitely a top 10 heavyweight.
     
    Rumsfeld, Sep 28, 2010
    Rumsfeld, Sep 28, 2010
    #5
  6. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    Where did he admit this and what did he say exactly?

    I could be mistaken, but I don't believe he ever admitted that to me.
     
    Rumsfeld, Sep 28, 2010
    Rumsfeld, Sep 28, 2010
    #6
  7. konaman

    konaman Boxing Addict Full Member

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    You can't really fall back on injuries as a valid excuse if the opponents fist caused them.
     
    konaman, Sep 28, 2010
    konaman, Sep 28, 2010
    #7
  8. Addie

    Addie Myung Woo Yuh! Full Member

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    Yeah, it's not like Lewis was old or anything...oh wait.
     
    Addie, Sep 28, 2010
    Addie, Sep 28, 2010
    #8
  9. Robney

    Robney ᴻᴼ ᴸᴼᴻᴳᴲᴿ ᴲ۷ᴵᴸ Full Member

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    I don't know his exact words anymore because it was a couple op years back already, I will look it up for you.
     
    Robney, Sep 28, 2010
    Robney, Sep 28, 2010
    #9
  10. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    Please do.

    I'm not saying you're wrong, but I've spoken to Emanuel about this fight many times and I honestly never recall him saying anything like that myself.
     
    Rumsfeld, Sep 28, 2010
    Rumsfeld, Sep 28, 2010
    #10
  11. AnthonyW

    AnthonyW ESB Official Gif Poster Full Member

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    Sent him into retirement?...not sure about that. How can losing a decision via cuts send your opponent into retirement?
     
    AnthonyW, Sep 28, 2010
    AnthonyW, Sep 28, 2010
    #11
  12. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    Well, consider these facts:

    1. Lewis promised a rematch
    2. Boxing fans wanted to see a rematch
    3. Vitali destroyed Kirk Johnson six months after the fight
    4. Lewis decided to retire a few months later rather than have a rematch

    Perception means everything, and it is entirely reasonable to believe that Vitali did indeed send Lennox into retirement.

    :smoke
     
    Rumsfeld, Sep 28, 2010
    Rumsfeld, Sep 28, 2010
    #12
  13. gooners!!

    gooners!! Boxing Junkie banned

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    I watched this fight again the other week, and something that seems to get overlooked for me, Lewis finished strongly the round before the fight was stopped, but he also exerted a lot of energy in that round, which leads me to believe he would not automatically of come out and took over the fights like many people believe, particularly when if you watch the fight, you can see his stamina level's go up and down, one min he looks tired, takes the round off, then VK comes back, it was that kinda back and fourth action.

    I think it would of been more! interesting to see what effects on Lewis stamina that round would of had in the next round, more so than fearing for what Lewis might do VK.
     
    gooners!!, Sep 28, 2010
    gooners!!, Sep 28, 2010
    #13
  14. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    Yeah, Lewis looked totally exhausted at the end of the sixth after landing that MONSTER uppercut.

    I still think Vitali's punches lacked their previous snap and that Lennox began effectively roughing him up.

    We'll never know what could have happened.

    What we do know is that Lennox was awarded the victory.
     
    Rumsfeld, Sep 28, 2010
    Rumsfeld, Sep 28, 2010
    #14
  15. AnthonyW

    AnthonyW ESB Official Gif Poster Full Member

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    Well, undoubtedly he has a strong case when he claims he sent Lewis into retirement. But at the time, and even now...I still don't believe Lewis retired to avoid a Vitali rematch. I simply believe that he lost the hunger, which is evident in the shape he turned up for that bout.
     
    AnthonyW, Sep 28, 2010
    AnthonyW, Sep 28, 2010
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