Was Lennox Lewis anywhere near prime when he fought Vitali ?

You are off on your timescale.
Vitali was in top shape for Lewis
."After Lewis retired, Klitschko stopped Corrie Sanders in eight rounds to win the vacant WBC and Ring Magazine heavyweight titles on April 24, 2004. Klitschko's first title defense was an eighth-round TKO of Danny Williams on December 11, 2004. He was then scheduled to face Hasim Rahman on April 30, 2005, but the fight was postponed when Klitschko pulled a muscle in his upper thigh while jogging. The fight was rescheduled for June 18, but pushed back again because the thigh muscle wasn't fully healed. The next date, July 23, had to be changed after Klitschko had minor back surgery. The fourth date for the fight was November 12, but Klitschko then injured his knee while sparring and had to have surgery. Promoter Bob Arum said the fight could be rescheduled for March 2006, but Klitschko, frustrated by his injuries, announced his retirement on November 9, 2005

 

The better question is, after one of his career best performance vs Rahman, and a beat down in Tyson in the following year, did anyone think Lewis was in a steep decline? I'll say no.

 

He was past it by a few years, but since Tyson gets bashed for losing to Holyfield and Lewis when he was way past his prime, I see no problem people giving him **** for lucking out against Klitchko.

 

Love your emoji. Imagine if that had been around in John L Sullivan's day. It would have put the seal on his claim that he could lick any bum in the house.

PS no he wasn't. Not even close.

 

Well in Lewis mind he wasn't past his best until the WBC ordered the re-match. Then all of a sudden he retired.

As a fan who has seen most of his fights, Vitali was pre-prime skill wise and experience for Lewis. He took the fight on 2 weeks notice, training for a 10 round match vs a no-name

You could argue the years Vitali missed due to injury or politics would have been his absolute prime, but he was in many ways better early in his comeback than he was pre-Lennox Lewis. That's my point, and I'll stand on it.

 

Sully just had no foresight about how his comments might be taken in the future.

 

that's a different question entirely, if you want to ask another question u should start a new thread.

just to clarify for kliturds like you, "steep decline" is nowhere hear the same as "not near his prime", even if the question involves a klitshcko getting his head kicked in again.

 

The better question is, after one of his career best performance vs Rahman, and a beat down in Tyson in the following year, did anyone think Lewis was in a steep decline? I'll say no

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That is my point. No one said this here. We have archives.

It's not like Lewis was in Ali's shape at his end. He was correctly viewed as the best heavyweight in the world. Way past it guys are not.

I would also say Vitali is Lewis best victory.

 

your point was clearly that u had a different question, blatantly and clearly.
so start a new thread on it, don't continue to clog this one if u'd be so kind.

 

Considering the 32 year old Vitali managed to fight 3 times in less than 13 months, ( with Lewis being right in the middle of the 3 fights ) you would need to be either very gullible, or agenda driven to make such a claim as you have. Particularly when you take into account the younger brother also claimed to be " injured " hence Universum suing them over their contracts.

 

Of course not.

That being said, even with better prep I'd favour Vital in the rematch.

 

Is this even a question? Of course he wasn't.

 

this is generally the reason for you failing, you stand by a blatantly wrong point indefinitely.