Whose retirement "timing" is better; Lennox Lewis or Rocky Marciano?

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the facts are:
1. Lennox would earn huge money for a rematch with Klitschko. You might consider it less than Tyson's, but it's still probably Lennox's first or second salary. And certainly the greatest sports challenge
2. Many boxers talk about retirement. Tyson even said so in 1988. But before the fight with Klitschko, Lennox and Steward talked about fights with Vitali, Johnson, Roy Jones, Tyson 2. What has changed? do you have any idea? After the fight with Vitali, Lewis said that he would like to beat the other side of his face, what has changed?
3. I often hear that Lewis left no doubt, he won decisively. Is that why the WBC federation ordered a rematch? Did Tyson, after knocking out Berbick or Berbick, have to do it again? Did Lewis have to retaliate against McCall twice? It seems that apart from the mythical handful of Vitalija's fans, the boxing federation also had doubts, and world opinion shared them.

 

Hi Buddy.
Excellent post, on point and salient, pleasure to read, any poster with doubts or undecided, read above, from what I read over the decades Marcianos retirement was less to do with the grind and taking the weight off, albeit that must have had some effect on his decision for sure, moreover it was Al Weill and his percentage cut from Rocky's fights, and history has told us Marciano was a very careful man when it came to his hard earned money, funny but I was musing about the two fighters, and Lewis had a much more illustrious career, if you look closely at Rocky's, it doesn't amount to much, 40 odd plus pretty much nondescripts, then Layne and La Starza, old Louis, oldish Walcott, old Charles, fat ( but brave ) Cockell, old Moore, I mean he beat all infront of him granted, but I don't know ...... the Victor Meldrew coming out in me.
stay safe Pugguy, enjoy your posts, always have.

 

Marciano basically cleaned out the division fought his number 1 contender 5 out of 6 defenses and no $ fights on the agenda, Lennox walked away from a tremendous payday vs Vitali in a rematch. Vitali gained confidence from that fight, so I think Lennox timing was perfect. Lennox defended well avenged his 2 KO losses and the draw with Evander and felt himself slipping, Marciano had some back and management issues. Different reasons but both valid.

 

I'd pick Lennox Lewis, Beating Vitali who would proceed him as the best heavyweight while also being out of shape is a better win than archie moore who though a great fighter was moving up in class to try and take the title after earning his shot by beating numerous contenders. While both Valdes and Baker were big fellas I think Marciano would bowl them over, Floyd patterson at the time was too chinny and Sonny Liston hadn't made a name for himself. Add Rocky's declining physicality and I believe he would've lost to someone like Eddie Machen. Both basically cleared out their division but Lewis effectively proved he'd have been the best in the era that followed his while I struggle to see Marciano beating Liston.

 

Much of what you've raised here has already been addressed in my previous responses, particularly regarding the financial aspects of a Lewis-Klitschko rematch, the legitimacy of Lewis's victory, and the context of his retirement.

1. Financial Viability of a Rematch:
We've already discussed the gap between the financial potential of a Tyson rematch compared to a Klitschko rematch. While a Klitschko rematch might have been lucrative, it wouldn't have matched the unprecedented success of Lewis vs. Tyson in 2002. Speculation about this being Lewis's “biggest ever payday” lacks evidence, given the documented financial records of his fights. Moreover, the supposed "public interest" whipped up by media narratives did not guarantee it would translate into significant PPV buys.

2. "Greatest Sports Challenge":
The idea of Klitschko being Lewis's "greatest sports challenge" is subjective and depends on perspective. Statistically and historically, Lewis's victories over elite fighters like Holyfield (and even Tyson), his crushing of Razor Ruddock, his dispatching of domestic rival Frank Bruno, his grueling gut-check against Ray Mercer, and his leveling of Andrew Golota all carry far more weight in terms of legacy. Furthermore, his remarkable comebacks from defeat against McCall and Rahman solidify his place as one of the all-time greats. While Vitali showed admirable qualities in their bout, his flawed approach---particularly his inability to adjust under pressure---ultimately led to his defeat. Lewis's superior skill set and ability to deliver fight-ending damage decisively undermine the notion that Klitschko represented an unparalleled challenge in his career. The reality is, Lewis had already beaten Vitali---what more was there to prove?

3. Context of Retirement:
Talk of retirement had been ongoing for Lewis since at least the Tyson fight, if not before. The Vitali fight wasn't a driving factor in this decision---it was part of a larger context of waning motivation and diminishing financial incentives. Vitali was never meant to represent the start of a new chapter for Lewis but was merely a replacement opponent in a planned build-up to a Tyson rematch. Once it became clear that a Tyson rematch wasn't happening, there was little reason for Lewis to continue.

4. "What Has Changed?"
As for your question about "What changed?"---it's worth reflecting on how much weight should be given to comments made in the heat of the moment, often as part of fan engagement or promotion. Lewis's declaration in July or August 2003, that he wouldn't fight again that year, was a much stronger indication of his intent than any off-the-cuff remark.

5. WBC's Rematch Mandate:
The WBC's mandate for a rematch was rooted in media-fueled controversy, not in any legitimate doubts about the result of Lewis/Vitali. The fight was stopped on medical grounds due to injuries caused by Lewis's punches. The result was decisive and fair under the rules of boxing.

6. "World Opinion":
Media narratives and public reactions do not constitute "world opinion." While some fans and pundits speculated about a rematch, this speculation doesn't overwrite the official outcome or diminish Lewis's legacy. Lewis retired as the reigning champion---a rare and widely respected achievement. Media-fueled narratives, while entertaining, should not be mistaken for objective reality.

7. The Role of Media:
Articles like the one you cited are examples of boxing's natural hype machine, which thrives on speculation and drama. While they fuel discussions, they don't equate to financial viability or meaningful obligations for fighters. Speculating about what “might have been” is interesting but irrelevant to the established facts:

- Lewis defeated Vitali via TKO in a sanctioned bout.
- His retirement was on his terms, as a reigning champion.
- Any perceived “doubt” is more the product of fan nostalgia and media sensationalism than the actual events of the fight or its aftermath.

 

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But it was Wlad, not Vitali, who took over the division.