Quote Originally Posted by Master View Post
This is where you make the mistake. Heavier is not better. Lennox was not at his best weight which would have been lighter.

Vitali did not improve technically that much. He always had that robotic style and like any good big brother had to bail out his younger brother when in trouble.
That last part about bailing out little brother, even if it were true, does not make Vitali's case any worse here.

Being out of shape is a disadvantage.

Being heavier is an advantage.

Of course, they often do (and in this case I agree probably did go hand in hand).

So although Lennox might have been a little slower and had a little less stamina, he theoretically would have been able to sap the stamina of VK quicker through weight. He might have had a little more thud on his punches, he DEFINITELY could take a better punch with it. So while some attributes may be worse, some may benefit.

First thing to consider is that Lennox was only 5 bloody lbs over his optimum weight! On a 250lb man this is jack shit! So REALLY we are discussing something extremely petty anyway. Lennox claimed he was in great shape and he did not look anything so soft to me which would have made any real difference to his speed and stamina.

And then I turn to the fight. Lennox was just as fast as he always was at his high 240's anyway.

I will give you that he DID seem to gas earlier than usual, but then again, in all his 43 previous fights he never had another 250lb man pushing the pace on him and smacking him around like a piniata either!

38 years old is not old at all for a modern professional HW boxer, especially with Lewis's style so let's not try to pretend he was too old either! Neither is a 1 year lay off a hinderence these days in a prepared boxer.