Was Lennox Lewis a coward for not rematching Klit?

[brocktonblockbust]

in hindsight I think he definitey WAS. Certainly he was aware that he got hammered hard and looked bad, and to some extent totally lucked out with that thumb that ripped open the eye at the end of that long arcing rainbow punch. If it werent for that , he was certainy behind on all cards. A true champ would not have taken the safe way out, what is there to savor with a lucky win ike that, looking like crap and the crowd booing you? A true champ wouldnt be satisfied going out like that with that dark cloud over your head in your final bout.

He should have reacthed Klit, gotten into the best shae he could, he was only 37, come on, George Foreman fought until 49. Lewis shoud have come back and knocked that jackass out like he came back and sparked Rahman. We say he always got revenge, but he didnt get revenge against Klit did he now.

Had he come back from that shoddiness with a stellar or even solid win over Klit, the world would put him at like #3 or 4 alltime great heavyweight.

[Vendettos]

He had personal issues as well, like his wife telling him she would leave him if he continued to box.

That mixed with the fact that he knew he was getting beat it hat fight and was lucky to win.

[erics44]

lewis had had an amazing career, had fought some great fighters

i really dont think he decided to call it a day because he was scared of vitali

[Silkeyjoe]

He went out on a huge win. If he didn't have the desire or feel his body could get ready for another war he was right to retire. What would a rematch and a loss have done to his legacy?

[Mark TKO]

Yes he was behind but I thought he was actually getting on top at the time of the stoppage.

Lewis a coward ? No way. I think deep down he knew he was on the slide and didn't have the hunger any more. You have to respect him for getting out at that point and securing his legacy. God knows how many million he would have got for rematch but he wasn't interested.

Vitali's face was FUBAR and he record books will always show Lewis TKO6 Vitali Klitschko

[cambay411]

Wow Brockton, I'm glad you brought this fight to my attention. Hell of a fight.


I don't think he was getting beat bad at all tho. This was a hell of a fight. Klit probably woud have won on points.


At 38-39 years old I definitely don't blame Lewis for not wanting to take another fight like this. The second fight would be similar. Lewis would have to have a high work out put to overcome Klits reach and height advantage.


A younger, better conditioned Lewis, would have the ability to put the work in. At that age he slowed down and lost just enough conditioning for Klit to utilize his reach against him and land those combos.

[El Kabong]

No he's not a coward, but let's be honest that fight MADE HIM RETIRE. He knew his time was up.

[smashup]

Never in a million years was Lennox a coward, he beat Vitalis face to a pulp and got the win.

He was def slowing down at that point of his career and he retired at the right time.

There's nothing bad anyone can say against Lennox.

Top fighter and a top role model too.

[Memphis]

Never in a million years was Lennox a coward, he beat Vitalis face to a pulp and got the win.

He was def slowing down at that point of his career and he retired at the right time.

There's nothing bad anyone can say against Lennox.

Top fighter and a top role model too.

Truly awful commentator

[ykdadamaja]

He would have gotten beaten by a younger fighter who wasn't of his era... he solidified his claims as the best HW of the 80's and 90's... who go into the 00's with younger comp that would definitely out-work him?

Worse than that- a ko one could have stomached, if he was winning technically. But he would have lost on points to Vitali. He couldn't stomach that.

[Bo-Bo24]

He retired with a win over a great fighter, why not retire on a high?

[El Kabong]

He retired with a win over a great fighter, why not retire on a high?

It was a rip off of a win

[p4pking]

I think rip off is a bit harsh, the cuts were caused by punches, lucky or not. The timing of the stoppage made it very disappointing to watch, but the doctors aren't there to root a guy on or keep score just as the ref isn't, how the fight had gone didn't matter. You could take the biggest fight in the world, have one guy pitching a shutout going into the 12th round, then say he gets tagged a few times and split open. You still can't let him continue with this shit on his face.

[imp]

I think rip off is a bit harsh, the cuts were caused by punches, lucky or not. The timing of the stoppage made it very disappointing to watch, but the doctors aren't there to root a guy on or keep score just as the ref isn't, how the fight had gone didn't matter. You could take the biggest fight in the world, have one guy pitching a shutout going into the 12th round, then say he gets tagged a few times and split open. You still can't let him continue with this shit on his face.

Game
Set
Match

Lewis would have made millions in the rematch though..but he made a smart move and called it a day.

Vitali has dominated this era and hopefully he can dominate and change the bigger issues in his country..

[El Kabong]

Ali gave Quarry a rematch when Quarry got cut during the fight.....just saying.


Also the scorecards and fan response points to a different winner: Vitali