Was Lennox Lewis in his PRIME when he got humiliated & retired by Vitali Klitschko?

Yes because Lennox hadnt achieved anything by then and still had lots to prove at the age of 37 atsch

 

Champion is doing good job on destroying that very little of rationality what was left on us Klitschko fans.

 

Lewis was NOT prime, nor was he humiliated. Vitali would give him fits at any age, and it would be a pick em fight at any point in either's career.

Styles make fights, and at 38, had Lewis chosen to fight on, he would have beaten Byrd, Ruiz, RJJ, Toney, or even Wlad.

The only 2 guys in that generation of fighters who could beat Lewis at 38 were Vitali Klitschko and a younger, but untested Russian giant affectionately known as Sugar

 

Lewis must have been a ****ing genius to leave the weight on for the bigger man, seeing as up until 10 days before the fight he was scheduled to fight Kirk Johnson, and Vitali to fight Boswell from memory.

 

I kind of agree.

Lewis hadn't intention of fighting anyone decent. He was purely looking for easy money.

That's why he was out of the ring for 12 months after the Tyson fight. And even then only made a fight with Kirk Johnson. The WBC almost didn't sanction that one.

He was looking for a contracted Tyson rematch to make another shitload of money all over again.

Really, he should have pulled the pin after Tyson. It was clear that he'd lost interest in boxing. He was old, comfortable and had done Everything he wanted to.

Anything else was just a half arsed attempt to make easy money.

That's not the greatest attitude, but it's an understandable one. He was more interested in making Oceans 11 than getting ready to face Rahman. And only rededicated himself after being KOd to prove a point.

He was done after Rahman 2. He'd clearly slipped in the Tyson fight, and looked like he didn't really train for Johnson (Vitali).

 

He was 38 and had achieved everything Chi.If Vitali retires after Charr and doesn't fight Haye,will you take the same position?
I have no problem with Vitali retiring tomorrow,or if he has a bad performance against a nobody like Charr.He's been a credit to the sport and like Lewis,he can't be expected to be at the top of his game at this stage.
But it double standards city with some of you lot.A lot of people don't seem able to realise that at the time,Vitali just wasn't that important.Lewis knew he'd performed poorly and still won,and because it doesn't suit Vitali fans agenda,they won't accept that all he did was listen to his mind and body and he knew the game was up.You and others say that Tyson was his best win,which is laughable.He was a million miles past his prime when he fought Vitali,and Tyson was 12 years past the START of his decline when he fought Lennox.Lewis and any other fighter is perfectly entitled to bow out at any stage because they know the hunger isn't there anymore.The truth is,Lewis and the majority of people didn't think Vitali mattered in the grand scheme of things.
You have a blind spot on this issue Chitown.You're perfectly capable of using common sense in other matters(Bute notwithstanding:hey) yet you refuse to accept the truth here because you're a Vitali fan.If it was anyone you didn't have an emotional investment in,you'd have the blinkers off and see this for exactly what it is...
Fans being incapable of accepting a loss.

 

From Lennox today.

Interesting view there Lennox.

 

Like it's been said several times,boxers are notorious for contradictory,foot-in-mouth quotes and statements.
Anyone who thinks Lewis was in his prime v Vitali probably thinks Spinks was robbed against Tyson and puts biscuits out for Santa even though they've no kids.

 

Lewis put on his best two performances, IMO, vs Vitali and Tyson. Not saying he was at his best, just saying showed the heart of a champion vs Vitali, and the skillset to beat anyone in the history of the game vs Tyson.

Yeah, past his best for sure. But I wouldnt go so far as saying he wasnt hungry prior to those fights.

And yeah, Im a Butekisser, and a Klitlicker so my judgement on these matters isnt always reliable.

 

Never been a huge fan of Lenox but I must admit the man has proven himself as one of the greatest HW in the history of the sport. I don't actually rate his win vs. a 5'10 past his prime Tyson but the work he did in their was impressive. Vitali is one tough as nails big man and Lenox (visably winded from round 1) just carved him up like a christmas pork shoulder. TKO 6

 

why are you ignoring that fighting for and winning fights for the title beyond 37 is the exception to almost the entire pantheon of HW champions in history?
Sullivan- out at barely 30
Johnson - mid30s outtage
Dempsey - out in early 30s
Tunney - out in early 30s
Louis - out in his early thirties
Marciano - out midthirties
Liston - out of title wins mid30s
Ali - out of title wins at 38
Holmes - out of titles at 37
Lewis -out of titles wins at 38

Do you see the pattern of the vast majority, almost everyone in HW history now? And now you are trying to win your argument by mentioning....ONLY Foreman and Vitali?

Why are you mentioning Holmes post championship career in discussion about defending world titles? For the love of God, we are talking about champs who retired FROM SUCCESSFUL WORLD TITLE FIGHTS, not those who fougth on for losses.

unnnhh no i didnt assert that, You assumed I asserted that. I am asserting something very different.

But thanks its awesome of you to draw up a list of fighters that proves my point - that champs/ex-champs dont defend or win titles successfully at the age of 38 and beyond! Unintended charity from you, thank you.