Your thoughts on Lennox Lewis-Vitali Klitschko?

[The Fightfan]

Just think Vitali was a back-up figter for Lennox on that night. What would have happenend if Kirk Johnson did stand in? I liked Kirk Johnson he was a very good counter-puncher but he continuosly come into fight's in poor shape and it really took a toll on him when Vitali fought him.

[Master]

Just think Vitali was a back-up figter for Lennox on that night. What would have happenend if Kirk Johnson did stand in? I liked Kirk Johnson he was a very good counter-puncher but he continuosly come into fight's in poor shape and it really took a toll on him when Vitali fought him.

Lewis would have adapted and had an easier time than he did with Vitali. Kirk blew it against Ruiz.

[Drago]

my view was always that vitali would of quit anyway he had done it before & he would of done it again! lewis never quit in his career so thats that

[DaxxKahn]

Just think Vitali was a back-up figter for Lennox on that night. What would have happenend if Kirk Johnson did stand in? I liked Kirk Johnson he was a very good counter-puncher but he continuosly come into fight's in poor shape and it really took a toll on him when Vitali fought him.

Yeah at one time I thought Johnson was going somewhere in the sport, thought he would at minimum hold one version of the titles, he was certainly an underachiever

[luvfightgame]

primitive crap.

OK so you don't when heavyweights box and use the sweet science and then you don't like it when they go toe to toe.....you are a boxing fan correct

Klitschko-Lewis was a great fight, it was an even match and both fighters came out of the gates trying to end it as fast as possible...what's not to like about it

Shame about that cut though, and that there was no rematch, but then again we all know why that was

You say that we all know why there wasnt a rematch. Would i be correct in thinking that your inferring that lewis wanted no part of it. Well i dont know myself but my guess would be that Lewis,18mths off 40yrs of age, had did everything asked of him. fought and beat every no1 contender, left his closest rival with 60 stitches inside and out side of his face, and,realising his skills were on the wane, wisely decided to call it a day having absolutely nothing left to prove to anyone. Am i close?

The cut was a fluke. Lucky for Lewis, unlucky for VK. It was caused by the thumb of Lewis catching the corner of VK's eye. Really had nothing to do with skill or "leaving his closest rival with 60 stitches".

Bottom line is there should have been a rematch. It was very close, very exciting, and finished on a fluke, not a decisive win. All the ingredients for an immediate rematch. And leaving everyone feeling like he had one more thing to prove.

[johnmaff36]

OK so you don't when heavyweights box and use the sweet science and then you don't like it when they go toe to toe.....you are a boxing fan correct

Klitschko-Lewis was a great fight, it was an even match and both fighters came out of the gates trying to end it as fast as possible...what's not to like about it

Shame about that cut though, and that there was no rematch, but then again we all know why that was

You say that we all know why there wasnt a rematch. Would i be correct in thinking that your inferring that lewis wanted no part of it. Well i dont know myself but my guess would be that Lewis,18mths off 40yrs of age, had did everything asked of him. fought and beat every no1 contender, left his closest rival with 60 stitches inside and out side of his face, and,realising his skills were on the wane, wisely decided to call it a day having absolutely nothing left to prove to anyone. Am i close?

The cut was a fluke. Lucky for Lewis, unlucky for VK. It was caused by the thumb of Lewis catching the corner of VK's eye. Really had nothing to do with skill or "leaving his closest rival with 60 stitches".

Bottom line is there should have been a rematch. It was very close, very exciting, and finished on a fluke, not a decisive win. All the ingredients for an immediate rematch. And leaving everyone feeling like he had one more thing to prove.

With respect, the fluke that you speak of must have been some thumb in the eye. He must have thumbed him in the wisdom tooth also because Vitali needed a load of stitches inside his mouth. I may be wrong here but i cant think of a fight that iv seen that a guy got 60stitches as a result of a 'flukey thumb in the eye'.

[El Kabong]

Sure Lennox opened up a couple other smaller cuts, but the main cut was due to Vitali leaning back (as he does) and Lennox's punch grazed Vitali's eyelid and that caused the main cut.

[GAME]

It wasnt a headbutt like Barrera - Khan . The fight was stopped because Vitalis face was falling to bits and it was from Lewis ' punches.

Lennox beat him once. He didnt need to do it again.

[johnmaff36]

Sure Lennox opened up a couple other smaller cuts, but the main cut was due to Vitali leaning back (as he does) and Lennox's punch grazed Vitali's eyelid and that caused the main cut.

If klitschko was as good a boxer as what some guys would have us believe then he wouldnt be leaning right back to begin with. That gets taught to you when your a kid. You also say that 'Sure lewis opened up a couple of other smaller cuts' as if it was of no significance and merely an afterthought. Also, whats the difference if lewis grazed him or caught him flush? He still cut him badly. Credit were credits due. He won fair and square. No point people (maybe not you personally)saying 'if this happened' or 'Vitali woulda KO'd him had it went another 2-3 rounds'. It didnt. The record books will show a Lewis victory regardless of its or buts

[littlebif]

Vitali fought his heart out that night Lewis was'nt in great shape that was his fault not Vitalis.Vitali hit Lewis with everything and lewis was still there while Vitali was cut up badly leaving the ref no choice but to stop it.

[El Kabong]

Sure Lennox opened up a couple other smaller cuts, but the main cut was due to Vitali leaning back (as he does) and Lennox's punch grazed Vitali's eyelid and that caused the main cut.

If klitschko was as good a boxer as what some guys would have us believe then he wouldnt be leaning right back to begin with. That gets taught to you when your a kid. You also say that 'Sure lewis opened up a couple of other smaller cuts' as if it was of no significance and merely an afterthought. Also, whats the difference if lewis grazed him or caught him flush? He still cut him badly. Credit were credits due. He won fair and square. No point people (maybe not you personally)saying 'if this happened' or 'Vitali woulda KO'd him had it went another 2-3 rounds'. It didnt. The record books will show a Lewis victory regardless of its or buts

....not everyone is 6'7, his style has worked for him he's lead on the scorecards (not that he's needed them) in every single fight he has been in, I don't know what you would call it but I call it success.

I reference the Ali-Quarry fight, Ali cut Quarry and the fight got stopped HOWEVER Ali gave Quarry the rematch anyway.....Lennox didn't do that, why? Well because he knew what was waiting for him. Lennox was getting older, Vitali would be just as prepared for him had they set up a rematch, Vitali had the style, chin, speed, stamina, and power to not just beat Lennox but beat him up and if they both had extra time to prepare then Lennox would have been humiliated because there was no way he could have handled it at his advanced age

You idiots think just because Vitali got cut (for the most part by accident) that he got his ass handed to him, that's fucking ridiculous. I don't make it out like Vitali won, but #1 He was up on ALL scorecards #2 Lennox Lewis was the ONLY person happy that fight got stopped "look at the state of his face, look at the state of his face!"....Lennox's face wasn't messed up but he knew damn well he was a lucky S.O.B which is why there was no rematch and Lennox has stayed retired, it's easy to stay retired when you know there is a dude waiting to kick your ass as soon as you set foot in the ring again.

Yes Vitali got cut by Lewis, the cut over the eyelid was the one that stopped the fight and that cut was a FLUKE, and if you can't accept that then fine, but Lennox Lewis was one lucky bastard that night.

[DaxxKahn]

Sure Lennox opened up a couple other smaller cuts, but the main cut was due to Vitali leaning back (as he does) and Lennox's punch grazed Vitali's eyelid and that caused the main cut.

If klitschko was as good a boxer as what some guys would have us believe then he wouldnt be leaning right back to begin with. That gets taught to you when your a kid. You also say that 'Sure lewis opened up a couple of other smaller cuts' as if it was of no significance and merely an afterthought. Also, whats the difference if lewis grazed him or caught him flush? He still cut him badly. Credit were credits due. He won fair and square. No point people (maybe not you personally)saying 'if this happened' or 'Vitali woulda KO'd him had it went another 2-3 rounds'. It didnt. The record books will show a Lewis victory regardless of its or buts

....not everyone is 6'7, his style has worked for him he's lead on the scorecards (not that he's needed them) in every single fight he has been in, I don't know what you would call it but I call it success.

I reference the Ali-Quarry fight, Ali cut Quarry and the fight got stopped HOWEVER Ali gave Quarry the rematch anyway.....Lennox didn't do that, why? Well because he knew what was waiting for him. Lennox was getting older, Vitali would be just as prepared for him had they set up a rematch, Vitali had the style, chin, speed, stamina, and power to not just beat Lennox but beat him up and if they both had extra time to prepare then Lennox would have been humiliated because there was no way he could have handled it at his advanced age

You idiots think just because Vitali got cut (for the most part by accident) that he got his ass handed to him, that's fucking ridiculous. I don't make it out like Vitali won, but #1 He was up on ALL scorecards #2 Lennox Lewis was the ONLY person happy that fight got stopped "look at the state of his face, look at the state of his face!"....Lennox's face wasn't messed up but he knew damn well he was a lucky S.O.B which is why there was no rematch and Lennox has stayed retired, it's easy to stay retired when you know there is a dude waiting to kick your ass as soon as you set foot in the ring again.

Yes Vitali got cut by Lewis, the cut over the eyelid was the one that stopped the fight and that cut was a FLUKE, and if you can't accept that then fine, but Lennox Lewis was one lucky bastard that night.

Lyle I am usually (Most of the time the only one) who backs you on the Klitschko arguements but to say Lewis retired and would not come back because he was scared of Vitali is something I can not stomache.

Lewis retired because he knoew his time had come and it was the best thing to do so he would not end up another champion who "Should" have known when it was time to go.

Smart man who uses his head over his balls to make decisions.

Lewis feared no man in the ring and beat every fucking man with a chance he ever faced, he dominated the HW division....Because when he faced a man 6!!!! years younger then him and realized he was slipping did not mean Vitali was afraid of him...

Lennox won the last 2 rds of the fight so it was VITALI who was going down the tubes....

Luck on a cut is by accidental butt, glove laces etc not a punch, and Lennox honed in like a freaking scud missle on the cut once it did happen making Vitali a bloody mess and to be cut and have it opened to that extent is not lucky!!!

Yes Lennox was tired as hell but so was Vitali and Lennox came in under trained, so a rematch with Lennox in top shape things would have really favored Lennox even if Vitali took the fight on short notice.

Lennox did not fear Vitali in no way shape or form...

Sorry to light the match that burned down that fairy tale

[El Kabong]

If Lennox didn't fear him then why agree to a rematch only to back away?

Daxx, how fucking often does it happen that the thumb of a glove catches someones eyelid and rather than just poke the eye it rips the eyelid open? How many occasions have you seen a cut like that? I would guess not too often, sure you get the cuts above the eyelids from swelling, clash of heads, etc, but not from a grazing blow.

Yeah Lewis sure as hell did hone in on that cut, it was his saving grace and yes he opened up smaller cuts, but by no means was Vitali done.

[El Kabong]

...I will say this, in the 2nd round around 1:45 Lennox took one of the hardest right crosses I've ever seen him take (McCall and Rahman included) and he had to hang on for dear life and Vitali took some wicked uppercuts and had to do the same in a later round.

I think the stoppage was fine, but due to the FACT Vitali more than held his own he earned a rematch. It could have been ENORMOUS PPV $$$.

[DaxxKahn]

If Lennox didn't fear him then why agree to a rematch only to back away?

Daxx, how fucking often does it happen that the thumb of a glove catches someones eyelid and rather than just poke the eye it rips the eyelid open? How many occasions have you seen a cut like that? I would guess not too often, sure you get the cuts above the eyelids from swelling, clash of heads, etc, but not from a grazing blow.

Yeah Lewis sure as hell did hone in on that cut, it was his saving grace and yes he opened up smaller cuts, but by no means was Vitali done.

From what I remember both men were looking worse for the wear and that is leaving out the cut.

Yes I know what you mean about the glove grazing and causing a cut but NEVER have I seen a cut become so out of control from being started by a graze of the glove ...

In fucking truth is was a fight of nothing but power punches by 2 big big heavyweights that neither was prepared for, and I don't mean prepared for in the sense of training but the fact that neither had ever faced men of that sized with that skill level.

Yes Lennox fought Akinwande and Grant but we all know what they are.

It was something new for both men.

Vitali showed Lennox that he was an aging champion who was slipping and Lennox showed Vitali that heart and power alone isn't enough to win fights.

Vitali became a better fighter by 50% after that bout.