Prime Vitali went toe-to-toe with OLD Lennox and got his a@$# kicked

[IamInuit]

Sorry I cant buy the Lennox was not in his prime. I used to argue that also but it is simply not the case. I'm a fan of Lennox and I've noticed that other fans seem to pick and choose which fights signify his prime. Almost seems to rest on whether he struggled or not. The fight was on short notice but that was still a pretty close to prime Lewis. Just because he was a little lazy and was thinking about retirement does not mean he was not still in his prime. I just don't see "prime" as being that finite with respect to this fight. Was he the best he has ever been? Was Vitali? His issues were always based on motivation. He probably picked up that trait in Canada, the procrastination capital of the planet. Personally, I don't have the time to procrastinate.

Im not looking to clash with you but surely you would agree lewis at this stage of the vitali fight was not the same stage as vitali in his career.

That was lewis last fight and no one knows when a fighters pure prime is but im sure it he was a better fighter 4-5 years ago.

No reason to clash.

Well I suppose that could be true physically and I know you mean 5 years prior to 2003 but the 2003 Lewis that fought Vitali does not get knocked out like the 2001 Lewis did against Rahman. Its a fine line this prime and less then. Purely physically speaking I would have to say his prime was between 96 and 99 but that does not necessarily mean prime as a fighter. That would discount all that he had learned in his trials and errors. Just look at Hopkins. He probably reached his physical prime by the time he was finished at middleweight. His prime as a fighter seemed to follow that today notwithstanding.

I get what you are saying and part of me agrees but prime is a tricky word in this sport. Some show an obvious decline like Martinez imo and others not so much. I mean look at Floyd. His legs are not quite what they used to be but I think he's a better fighter now then he has ever been.

Vitali was no spring chicken either. He turned pro as a kick boxer and had about 35 pro bouts before turning to boxing. I'm guessing there was probably some wear and tear present for most of his boxing career.

I just think that aspect of the fight is overplayed.