Why Lennox Lewis most likely would've beaten Vitali Klitschko in a rematch

The time would speak for V. Klitschko here.

The earliest time for the rematch would have been in the spring of 2004 when V. Klitschko fought Sanders. He was still improving and reached his peak in this time.

Lewis would have been 38 1/2 years old in the spring of 2004. And since Lewis had much harder fights in his pro career as the two Klitschko brothers, his days were limited like Ali, Holmes, Tyson, etc.

Remember when Fury got into W. Klitschko´s head before their fight?

Fury: "Look in the mirror. You are an 39 years old man, you have gray hairs like my uncle and dad. Ali was destroyed when he was 39, so was Holmes. Tyson was destroyed when he was 39. Louis was also destroyed whe he was old. Do you honestly think your are better then all of them? I dont think so!"

And you could see in W. Klitschko´s head how he was thinking: "Damn he is right...i am old, i have gray hairs, the all time greats lost at that age."


Lewis is so smart an clever, in his deepest inner side he knew he could not reach his best level anymore. I cant remember where it was, but i confessed it years later in some interview.
He said something like: "At my worst i beat him at his best, so i had nothing to prove anymore. But i also felt my body was not the same after my 38th birtday in September 2003, the weight was going highter and higher, i could not train well anymore, the age was coming."

Something like that.


Buttom line:

Prime for prime -> Lewis > V. Klitschko, no doubt about that!

But V. Klitschko prime > Lewis past prime, and he would have been past prime in the spring of 2004!

Lewis knew why he retired! Yes the claim "At my worst i beat him at his best" is true! But he knows he had also some luck about that big cut, and it was him breathing very heavy after 6 rounds and not the Ukrainian.
But of course, Lewis would never admit that his stamina tank was empty and if he had not won after 7 or 8 rounds, either V. Klitschko would have stopped him via TKO in rounds 9-12 or win on points.

 

not some but this was all his luck 100%. Young lion had finished him in distance if not this cut.

Talks to sell fight. Of course he knew that 39 y.o Klitschko doesn't have anything for 36 y.o Klitshko version.
Young lion vs aged old lion.

Pro boxe is business, old lion at least gets paycheck for fight and is sitting as millionare while young lion's fans are celebrating how their new idol is and was better than old lion. Natural order of things.
Some old lions feel no need to fight anymore and retires undefeated. Doesn't much makes difference unless for fans and pundits.

 

He won the first fight by stoppage despite not being at his best....

On the flip side Vitali came in and put on a supposed career defining performance (though I'd argue hhis performance was highly overrated in that fight) and still got sliced up and sent home packing.

I'd say that that's a pretty good statement in Lewis's favor to win the rematch

 

This is exactly what I have been saying all time. Klitschko's poor eyebrow ridge structute and skin was always a problem for him and his brother. A good Jab is all that it takes to destroy it.

But Wlad had better defence with a high guard compared to Vitali's low guard lean back style optimized for praying on small and slow plodders without the reach.

Lewis had the reach and Speed needed for that job.

 

Lewis knew better - that's why he decided to retire. If he thought he would beat Vitali in rematch, why would he retire? Not only he would have gotten huge payday for rematch, he would have gotten big paydays for rematch against shot Tyson (which he was pursuing badly at the time) and possibly RJJ. And you can't say: "Oh, but he would have had to fight Wlad, who was better boxer and much harder puncher comparing to Vitali!". No, Wlad was destroyed by Corrie Sanders, he was out of the picture. So, by beating Vitali in rematch Lewis would guarantee himself at least one more easy payday - against shot Tyson, whom he already has beaten easily. But Lennox decided to retire instead of facing Vitali again because he knew he would most likely got a beating in the remtach. He decided against rematch even though he promised Vitali to give him one, and despite huge public demand. He knew better than you guys.

PS: Prime for prime would be another story, but Lewis wasn't in his prime anymore just like Holyfield was far from his prime when he fought Lewis at the same age

 

Vitali looking so sharp and devastating in his return fight against Kirk Johnson affected Lewis’ decision making imo. HBO gave him a huge offer and he had months to mull it over. If Lewis felt he had a good chance of winning the rematch he would’ve taken it.

 

Lewis would have gotten in much better shape for the rematch even past 38 years of age and he's still going to drill Vitali with those straight right hands. Lewis, even an older Lewis is a cut above the stiff Vitali

 

of course Vitali for westerners in forums was overrated, it is natural tribal reaciton.

Sure, therefore he didn't had rematch with Vitali. Even this for fans in western forums is solid proof.

Beacuse this is english languange boxing fans forum and Vitali is from Ukraine.

Damn predictable nationalistic and tribal boxing fans.

 

If Lewis thought he could have beaten Vitali in a rematch he would have rematched him. Prior to that fight Lewis was talking about how he was better than ever and going to be around for a while. Then he fought Vitali.

Instead of rematching an opponent that gave him a hell of a time, Lewis opted out of boxing altogether. He knew damn well that it would have been very difficult to continue boxing without the rematch and Vitali's shadow looming over him constantly. Even today, Lewis talks about fighting Bowe in the ring. I bet he would fight Bowe, but if Vitali said he'd face him instead of Bowe in a rematch Lewis would remember that he was retired after all.

Lewis gets very high praise from me for the stuff he did in the ring, but not rematching Vitali is a black spot, particularly when the fight ended in such a poor fashion.

It's clear to me - and to Lewis himself, I think - that Vitali would have beaten him the second time round.

 

Why not Lewis vs Klits 2 in an exhibition? Id pay for that.

 

Of course.
Lennox barely defeated Vitali in first fight.

 

That fight wasnt stopped in poor fashion man, his damn eyebrow was falling off.