Would Vitali have beaten Lennox?

... and where's the hypocrisy?

I don't know what you mean. I'm not aware of Holyfield making any statements about kids out of wedlock.

 

I think this is true, Lewis had only 44 fights and with the exception of McCall and Rahman he really didn't have any wars. He was shook by Shannon Briggs and had competitive battles with Evander and Mercer but other than Vitali he did not get roughed up for the most part. I think a rematch would have been better than the first fight and Vitali gained the confidence to feel he would win the rematch. I would have bet a few bucks on Vitali in the rematch but Lennox and his mother had their doubts and chose to leave the sport. There was a lot of money at stake but Lennox chose to keep his legacy intact and not chance a drop. Remember Vlad is 38 right now but also has 20+ more fight than Lennox

 

And fighting Guys like Leapai, Pianeta, and Wach. Not a prime Vitali Klitschko.

 

I agree but Vlad did fight Thompson and Povetkin which is the best around and its the mandatory s of these BS orgs that dictate who he fights. I think Vlad now is boxed in to fight Pulev (who in my opinion is better than most think) and then the winner of Bertine and Wilder-dangerous match-up and if he gets past them possibly the winner of Fury-Chisora-Perez-Jennings-series at that point he will be close to or past 40

 

And RING #1 Povetkin last October, prospect killer Tony Thompson, and RING #1 Pulev this September.

Yes, they are not Vitali but that is exactly the point. Lewis wasn't retiring on a whim it was because Vitali himself was THE threat to his heatlh and his title.

 

Wlad fought the prospect killer two years ago and has yet to beat Pulev. I'll give you Povetkin, who is still no Vitali Klitscko.

 

no, Vitali wouldn't have won.

he gave it to Lewis for the first 2 rounds on the outside because Lennox just didn't seem to have it any more. he looked shot basically. but he still had the fighting spirit and pride to not lose to Vitali. after the first 2, Lewis changed up and started working up close on the inside where Vitali wasn't as good and started to pound him around the ring.

although Vitali was still in the fight for 3 and 4, Lewis really started to grind Vitali down in 5 and 6 and looked close to getting the stoppage. so if Vitali's face wasn't cut to pieces, i think Lewis would have forced the stoppage anyway in the next 3 rounds.

Lewis had taken the best of what Vitali had to offer in the beginning so wasn't going to be denied of the win after fighting back from a great start by the Ukrainian . his competitive spirit wouldn't have allowed him to lose that night. when Lewis started to dish out some of his best, Vitali started to wilt quite quickly. a few more rounds and Lewis would have got the job done without the stoppage brought about through cuts.

 

He fought Wach two years ago as well and you still brought him up.

Last year he fought a non-threat in Pianeta and the genuine top contender in Povetkin.

This year looks like a no-threat in Leapai and the genuine top contender in Pulev. No, he hasn't beat Pulev but he's set to face him is the important thing.

He may not be fighting a top fighter every fight but at least seems to be meeting his RING #1 contender on the yearly at this rate, which is historically rare in the last few decades.

 

Last time the RING recognized top heavyweight defended against two RING #1 contenders in the same reign.

Holyfield/Tyson 97
Holyfield/Lewis 99

Spinks/Holmes 86
Spinks/Tyson 88

 

Yes I brought it up because it HASN'T been two years.

Of his last four opponents he's faced one legitimate challenger. Of his last six he's faced two. Lewis's last six opponents consisted of Vitali Klitschko, Mike Tyson, Hasim Rahman, David Tua, Frans Botha and Michael Grant. An aged Tyson and Frans Botha were obviously weak opponents. But Grant, Tua, Klitschko and Rahman were better foes than Wach, Pianeta, Leapai, and Mormec. Some of them were even better than Povetkin and Thompson. Yeah I know, you'll probably mention that Lewis lost to Rahman once. But I think if we're honest, Lewis was fighting better men in old age than Wlad is, and its obvious enough to where I don't particularly think we're drawing straws. Hell Vitali may even be better than anyone Wlad's ever fought period.

 

Are you including Leapai as a legit #1 contender?

 

-It will be 2 years in a month, what's the cut off point? :rofl

-This running of opponents spans 3 years and two months when Lewis was 34-37 years of age.

Grant, Botha, Tua, Rahmanx2, Tyson, Vitali.

-To be fair this is Wlad's opponents from the age of 34-37:

Chambers, Peter, Haye, Mormeck, Thompson, Wach, Pianata, and Povetkin.

In this grouping, Lewis has the edge but the gap is not so pronounced.

At 38 Lewis is retired and Wlad is looking at Leapai and Pulev.

 

He was never RING #1.

 

Check the date again. he fought wach in November of 2012. So unless we're planning on celebrating thanks giving next month, it hasn't been two years.

So?

I think its still pretty well pronounced and since we're playing by your criteria I can also throw Evander Holyfield in there, who even at that age was leagues better than the lot Wlad has been fighting.

At 38 Lewis fought and defeated a man who in all practicality would have been a tall order for just about any ATG regardless of what some may think of his resume. Alex Leapai and Kubrat Pulev wouldn't even have my vote to beat Francesco Damiani in the era that Lewis came up in...

 

-You misunderstood. Thompson was in July 2012 fight. So It hasn't been two years yet, and should be included if two years exactly is your cut off.

-Why limit Wlad's opponent grouping to 2 years and Lewis to over 3? :think

-You cut off at Grant, Holyfield can be included. Not as pronounced as comparing the very worst in Wach, Pianta, Leapai to Tua, Vitali, Grant..etc. It's dishonest to pretend Wlad's golden years have been lined with complete no hopers.

-Lewis was not 38 against Vitali. He retired at 38. He was 37 when he faced Vitali.