Vitali retired Lewis: the truth

Excerpts from "Big fight Analysis: Lewis' retirement looms, as Vitali exposes old master":

"Vitali got untracked quickly and as early as the first had caught Lewis with the jab, and began to wade forward firing off his own big right hand. There was palpable surprise on Lewis face, as the Ukrainian teed off with impunity, and Lewis was forced to weave and cover up

"The second was more of the same, with Klitchsko, emboldened by his first round success, and Lewis' lack of accuracy, beginning to tee off on Lewis. Lewis landed scant few jabs, and to the surprise of many, Klitschko was beating Lewis to the punch, firing the right counter over the top of Lewis' somewhat languid jab.

"Lewis was in for another unpleasant surprise. Lewis has long been known for his ability to work his man on the inside, to bully and tire his opponents in the clinches. Evander Holyfield once commented that when Lewis draped himself over him, it was like being smothered with a concrete overcoat.

"However, fighting against the biggest man he had ever faced, Lewis wasn't able to outmuscle his opponent, and Klitschko more than held his own in the wrestling clinches he initiated. Lewis could find no respite, as Vitali's higher workrate, and ability to smother Lewis' own work placed the Englishman under the kind of pressure I cannot recall him being in early in a fight before.

Lewis was being outboxed and outhustled, and to make matters worse, a little over midway through the 2nd, Klitschko landed a huge right hand, which drew a sharp intake of breath from the crowd.

"Lewis, despite accusations of having china chops, took the shot well, but held on to take a breather. Lewis tried to fire back with his own big shots, as he adopted a surprisingly risky strategy, eschewing his defensive skills, and throwing big haymakers at Klitchsko.

"Lewis' lack of accuracy was very noticeable, his balance appeared poor, and as he threw the shots without leading off the jab, he was walking onto Klitchko's shots. Another big right landed, and the left hook of Vitali was also in evidence. Things were going very badly for Lewis, who for the first time since Frank Bruno gave a green fighter a boxing lesson, conceded the first two rounds to his opponent."

"The fight appeared to be at a crucial turning point, and as the bell went to end round 6, Lewis literally threw himself backward onto his stool, looking an almost spent fighter, it seemed poised for a 7th round of enormous significance, and then, suddenly, it was over, as the doctor ruled Vitali unfit to continue."

" Lewis worked the body with a huge clubbing shots to the kidney, which he drove in again and again, spearing his ribs they were of dubious legality..."

"When Lewis was announced the winner, the crown booed him"


http://www.eastsideboxing.com/boxing-news/LennoxLewis-VitaliKlitschko.php