If Lennox Lewis had rematched Vitali Klitschko.........

[Max Power]

I think Lennox Lewis's legacy is still in tact either way. He is still my #1!

[bigstinkybug]

[QUOTE=imp;1202461]

I dont know what you want to happen.

Its obvious vitali had lennox hurt in the fight and lewis had to dig deep but lets be clear that was the hardest fight vitali ever had.

Is it not fair to think that vitali at 8 years younger than lewis and with all lewis achievements it was the right move to call it a day.

I think its unfair to count out a much better, fitter version of lewis in a rematch to a version of vitali that would have fought exactly the same AND his greatest ever fight was against lewis.

I can clearly see that vitali was giving lewis some serious trouble and he was looking gassed but how many times in this great divison have you seen one shot change everything!

Lewis has never lost a decision and has never been beaten so badly the fight had to be stopped.

A heavyweight punch stopped lewis on two occasions in which he came back and rectified the situation in the rematch.

Why take a rematch with a guy 8 years younger than you that you already beat?

If vitali won, lewis would have rematched in a heartbeat but lewis done enough to achieve the result he wanted and i believe by the 5th round he probably decided in his mind that this was his last fight anyway with all the punishment they were both taking.

*But Lennox didn't BEAT Vitali, the fight was stopped on cuts... and Lennox was losing on points.

[imp]

[QUOTE=bigstinkybug;1202470]

I dont know what you want to happen.

Its obvious vitali had lennox hurt in the fight and lewis had to dig deep but lets be clear that was the hardest fight vitali ever had.

Is it not fair to think that vitali at 8 years younger than lewis and with all lewis achievements it was the right move to call it a day.

I think its unfair to count out a much better, fitter version of lewis in a rematch to a version of vitali that would have fought exactly the same AND his greatest ever fight was against lewis.

I can clearly see that vitali was giving lewis some serious trouble and he was looking gassed but how many times in this great divison have you seen one shot change everything!

Lewis has never lost a decision and has never been beaten so badly the fight had to be stopped.

A heavyweight punch stopped lewis on two occasions in which he came back and rectified the situation in the rematch.

Why take a rematch with a guy 8 years younger than you that you already beat?

If vitali won, lewis would have rematched in a heartbeat but lewis done enough to achieve the result he wanted and i believe by the 5th round he probably decided in his mind that this was his last fight anyway with all the punishment they were both taking.

*But Lennox didn't BEAT Vitali, the fight was stopped on cuts... and Lennox was losing on points.

Sorry big stinky, my mistake.

There i was thinking lewis punches had an effect on vitalis face.

In fact, any fight that has been stopped over the years it really doesnt count anymore.

[p4pking]

Nobody knows exactly what would have happened if the fight continued, what we do know is that Vitali had a hatchet wound on his face caused by a punch, which completely warranted stopping the fight. If Vitali took a few more good shots on that eye he may have never fought again, just look at those cuts ffs.

[imp]

Nobody knows exactly what would have happened if the fight continued, what we do know is that Vitali had a hatchet wound on his face caused by a punch, which completely warranted stopping the fight. If Vitali took a few more good shots on that eye he may have never fought again, just look at those cuts ffs.

Thats not good enough for some.

Vitali would have won if it wasnt for the lucky cuts...that seems to be there answer.

[Max Power]

No that is good enough. He couldn't finish the fight like that, his health was in jeopardy and the stoppage was warranted.

It's what would have happened were he not cut.

The problem comes about because the cuts were NOT caused by "clean punching". It happens, it's boxing and unless it's completely blatant it's not called foul. But it definitely lends to interpretation.

Viewing the event as a whole, that needed to be a rematch!

[Master]

Lennox may have lost because he was old and did not have the desire to dig deep and train hard again after all the things he had achieved. Therefore he made the right decision. That also does not mean Vitali had a greater legacy than him.

*OR, he met his match.

What do you think a prime lennox lewis would do to Vitali? The elder Klit brother must thank his lucky stars he was not around when Ike, Holyfield and Lennox were at their best.

[El Kabong]

Lennox may have lost because he was old and did not have the desire to dig deep and train hard again after all the things he had achieved. Therefore he made the right decision. That also does not mean Vitali had a greater legacy than him.

*OR, he met his match.

What do you think a prime lennox lewis would do to Vitali? The elder Klit brother must thank his lucky stars he was not around when Ike, Holyfield and Lennox were at their best.

Ridiculous nonsense

[imp]

Lennox may have lost because he was old and did not have the desire to dig deep and train hard again after all the things he had achieved. Therefore he made the right decision. That also does not mean Vitali had a greater legacy than him.

*OR, he met his match.

What do you think a prime lennox lewis would do to Vitali? The elder Klit brother must thank his lucky stars he was not around when Ike, Holyfield and Lennox were at their best.

Ridiculous nonsense

Why?

Vitali did not beat an 8 year older lewis. Imagine an 8 year younger lewis.

Just be real and honest and accept it.

[C.J.Rock]

I'm not questioning his choice. Good for Lennox, sincerely.

But he did want to fight and sign his legacy which lets face it was kind of dented by Vitali a little bit, then saw the demolition job on Johnson and thought fuck that!

I really think Vitali would have won a rematch at that stage of Lennox's career. And I think virtually every non-biased watcher did.

Aww C'mon man get real. Lennox was barely 80% ready for defending against his #1 contender on 10 days notice. How many world champs have you seen do that?
Lewis TKO 6 Lennox kicked Vitali's ass Wlad hid in fear What reason was there for a rematch?
As for Kirk Johnson. I knew Kirk the whole time he was in Dallas. If that Kirk had got in the ring with Vitali he'd have had a good chance of beating him. But the overweight undertrained lethargic Kirk that faced Vitali was there purely for the paycheck. He did not even try

[Max Power]

Bullshit! Vitali demolished Kirk Johnson like he was NOTHING! That's what prompted Lennox to retire. Nobody had ever done that to Johnson.

The next big thing had arrived, Vitali Klitschko. He had this controversial thing with Lewis, then went on to smash up 3 consecutive top contenders badly!

That Johnson fought well, he was just nothing compared to Vits.

[erics44]

You might be right blockbuster. But that begs the question then... Why didn't he?

Honestly I think prime 4 prime Vitali and Lewis are about equal, but I do think the best of Lennox would get the better of Vitali and I rate him above.

Then again I can fully appreciate the other side of the coin as well. Lennox fought a lot of his great fighters when they were not prime and he had some questionable struggles against pretty average opponents, not McCall and Rahman mind you, he had difficulties against an aged, drug addicted Tucker, Frank fucking Bruno (say no more!), luckily beat Ray Mercer, couldn't KO Mavrovic and on and on.

Vitali NEVER seemed to struggle with any opponent, even Lewis himself! As another man pointed out apart from the usual pro-Vitali stuff, body language told a lot, Lewis did not want no more, Vitali wanted more!

I rate Lennox Lewis as the #1 all time but I have no issue with anybody who regards a Klitschko there over Lewis, especially Vitali!

I feel at this time, Lewis would have trained and focussed harder but Vitali would have done the same and he was so confident and so hungry for Lewis I think Vitali would have beaten him. I think Lewis knew Vitali would have got him the next time round too and that's why he retired. Especially after seeing him harpoon Johnson like he did which nobody had ever done before. The man had fire in his eyes then and he wanted Lewis bad!

A wise choice for Lennox!

Vitali UD Lennox!

The Lennox that wasted Rahman a couple years earlier than hypothetical rematch, I would edge Lennox!

your whole point cant be taken seriously because of your reference to bruno

bruno was a top class HW only losing to fighters many people rate in the top 10 HW of all time

the only 2 real off days were the second tyson fight where he was already suffering mentally and the bonecrusher smith fight where he had won 9 rounds out of 9 and then ran out of steam

even in the wytherspoon fight he was ahead by the time he was KOed, which was the 13th round, nowadays he could well have been champ

because of brunos light hearted approach and personality he is by far the most underrated fighter of all time, people dont seem to take him seriously

his biggest downfall was his stamina, if title fights were over 8 rounds he would have been a long standing HW champ and an all time great

lewis found that out the hard way

[imp]

If boxing was 6 rounds Zab judah and Jermaine taylor would would be top 5 on everyones list.

[imp]

When its all said and done.
Boxing is 12 rounds.
Thats what all boxers prepare for.

Lennox lewis against vitali in las vegas for the rematch with both fighters being in the shape of their lives would have been a superb fight!

Regardless of who would have won the rematch i honestly believe that even though vitali lost the fight he had with lewis, he can take alot of recognition and respect in saying he was the reason that lewis retired.

Lewis woke up after the fight and just thought he doesnt need to do this anymore. If he had just beat another heavyweight easy he would have continued...but being 8 years older and being hurt and tired at various points of the fight..he called it a day.

Cant be mad at lewis for that.
But vitali does deserve some kudos.

[El Kabong]

Vital I never looked sharper than he did immediately after the Lewis fight. Johnson, Sanders, Williams...not on Lennox's level but I think Old Lennox would have been beaten up.

Lennox is your GOAT? There's only 1 GOAT and his name is Joe Louis!