Why did lewis retire and not rematch vitali?

after the fight,lewis never really gave vitali any credit.didn't rate him

 

He probably had in the 90s, but clearly not in 2003 anymore. In fact Vitali was beating Lewis to the punch. He was outjabbing Lewis quite easily. Lewis was faded and not as fast anymore.

Lewis has a much harder punch than Vitali. That was true in the 90s as well as in 2003, when they fought.

 

Either because he realized he was past it, or because he couldn't be bothered to keep training (didn't turn up in great shape against Vitali).

For a guy the size of Lennox you have to train pretty damn hard to stay in shape.

 

Uh oh....

 

Who the hell said "post fight interview"? Do you just randomly make **** up in order to try and save face or what? All of this is useless.... if you look on the previous page... a fellow poster already posted an interview from just before the Klitschko fight with Lennox Lewis talking about fighting Roy Jones Jr.... which completely disproves the stance that you took. Just admit that you were wrong and move on.

 

Like the fact about Lewis being in great shape, you mean?

:roll:

It's been done to death now, 50 times over - and the Klitschko fans are still very bitter and twisted about it. I actually think ESB paid Lewis £50 million not to rematch VITLAY so their site would be on fire for the next 10 years.

 

No. You didn't but Logic did and you seemed to be in agreement or do you just post smilies in response to other people's posts because you think it looks cool?

I didn't make anything up. I was looking for clarification.

The stance I was taking is that Lewis believed any bout with Jones was ludicrous. I stand by that point.

There was no way Jones was going to take that Fight and Lewis knew it. The interview you mention is sheer posturing, pretty much calling out Jones for him believing himself to be the No.1 Heavyweight at the time, on the strength of beating Ruiz. Jones knew he couldn't win either, which is why he was able to take a bout with Tarver, at 175, less than 5 months after Lewis/Klitschko.

So the interview has not disproved my stance at all. I am not wrong but you can think that if it makes you feel better. Lewis was never seriously considering Jones. Period.

 

Nice find. Lennox mentions Tyson, Sanders and Jones Jr. as potential opponents for the future.

So much for the myth "He was ready to retire anyways, he was on his way out". That's just a bunch of BS. Lennox was looking for another couple good PPV paydays against low-risk opposition.

 

because he wasnt going to get 20 million

 

He was past his best and he knew it. Still the best HW in the world and we probably won't see a better one emerge for a decade or two. But he'd beaten everyone, made tons of money and still had all his brain cells intact.

He retired just like he fought, with intelligence and dignity. Every true boxing fan misses him and that incredible right hand.

 

If he was truly looking for them, why didn't he find them?

I could understand Klits fans being upset if he fought other fighters instead of Klitschko but that never happened. He retired after a tough wiin over a pretty damn good fighter, and it wasn't so much luck as it was experience and determination. People talk about "the cut" like there was only one, there were at least 3 cuts all of which were pretty bad. I recall the announcer mentioning that he was worried about the effects of swallowing blood might have on Vitali.

 

The extent of stupidity on this matter beggars belief.

Lewis had in mind to fight Johnson, Vitali and then get Tyson in for a rematch. Johnson fell through because of injury. Tyson decided not to take the rematch and Lewis vs. Vitali Klitschko = W TKO6. It really is that simple.

 

He never said that it was in the post fight interview. If you watched the event that night. There was a big buildup package where they sat down and talked with the fighters. It was BEFORE the fight. Lewis also mentioned fighting Jones AFTER the fight as well. (I don't recall him talking about him in the ring though as that discussion was clearly focused on the fight that just took place and a rematch) However, this was just simple proof that completely destroyed your stance..... which was....

YOU WROTE:

Yet his own interview on HBO proved otherwise.... as did the interview just posted on here in which Lewis HIMSELF said....

Lewis: Vitali is definitely lunch. I have some kryptonite for the Superman, Roy Jones, for brunch.

NOTE: Roy Jones Jr was not even mentioned by the interviewer before this point. Lewis, in fact.... brought up Roy Jones Jr.

Lennox Lewis himself also went on to say....

Lewis: I was a bit surprised, but Jones is a remarkable boxer with tremendous talent. He believes he is the best heavyweight on the planet right now. When he went through a little rating system, he put me third, himself first and Holyfield second.
If he wants to be a true heavyweight, forget about Holyfield. Ruiz beat Holyfield and then Jones beat Ruiz easily. Why waste time and go with Holyfield? If he wants to be a true heavyweight, come to me. I am the king.


Now, this by itself completely contradicts your stance which I have already quoted. Yet... it still doesn't make you change your stance. I guess that says all that needs to be said about you, doesn't it? You aren't willing to believe the truth, you aren't interested in the facts, or reality.

 

I've looked through this thread but I've been unable to find any quote or link that you mention here. Would you mind posting it? I was an avid Jones fan at the time and my recollection was that the fight was a real possibility thanks to the Ruiz fight and the buzz that Jones had going for him.

 

Wait, what?

Are you saying Lewis wouldn't of made at least $20m for a rematch with Vitali?