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

[imp]

That was a helluva good fight, you can pile If's and maybes on anything but those two let it hang out in a way at THE top level we have grown to miss greatly.

Yeah, people just aren't content to appreciate a great scrap I guess. It's a shame. GREAT fight, gutsy performance on both parts.

It was possibly the last of the great heavyweight fights and the passing of the crown.

Any fighter could have won further along in the fight but the fight had to be stopped because lennox fists were causing too much damage to vitali face.

Lennox should have retired after that and he did.

The brothers are great champions but will never ever be ahead of lewis in any way shape or form.

[Master]

Lewis was going to smash Vitali to bits.

didn't look like that at all, and there's a good reason why Lewis retired right after and recently said it'd take 100 million to get him even interested in a rematch

Lewis should be applauded for making the right decision and retiring at the right time. He was finished at the top level and had achieved everything he wanted ti in his career. If Vitali could not beat an out of shape Lennox then a fit and motivated one would have smashed him.

[Spicoli]

Lewis was going to smash Vitali to bits.

didn't look like that at all, and there's a good reason why Lewis retired right after and recently said it'd take 100 million to get him even interested in a rematch

Lewis should be applauded for making the right decision and retiring at the right time. He was finished at the top level and had achieved everything he wanted ti in his career. If Vitali could not beat an out of shape Lennox then a fit and motivated one would have smashed him.

Agreed, peak for peak I cannot see Vitali topping Lewis. Lewis had the gears.

[El Kabong]

IF

Vitali didn't fight a PRIME Lewis, Lewis didn't fight a Vitali prepared for Lewis and vice versa.

Questions would have been answered IF there was a rematch...but there wasn't so just enjoy what happened and leave it at that

[imp]

What happened was an out of prime lewis beat a prime vitali and stopped him.

That is what the history books will say and to this day that is still the best fight that vitali had and he lost it.

Just shows how good lennox was and vitali still is.

[El Kabong]

What happened was an out of prime lewis beat a prime vitali and stopped him.

That is what the history books will say and to this day that is still the best fight that vitali had and he lost it.

Just shows how good lennox was and vitali still is.

The history books will say if not for a cut the fans would have seen who was best

TKO DOCTOR STOPS FIGHT DUE TO CUT

It doesn't say "Lennox Lewis owned Vitali" because THAT my friend is PURE fantasy

[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.

[imp]

What happened was an out of prime lewis beat a prime vitali and stopped him.

That is what the history books will say and to this day that is still the best fight that vitali had and he lost it.

Just shows how good lennox was and vitali still is.

The history books will say if not for a cut the fans would have seen who was best

TKO DOCTOR STOPS FIGHT DUE TO CUT

It doesn't say "Lennox Lewis owned Vitali" because THAT my friend is PURE fantasy

Im not going to go back and forth with you as you will always see it your way.

At least i can call mayweather a hypocrite for the catchweight issue and not be completely one sided.

Lets say this. How did the cut happen? Did a spectator throw a bottle in the ring and it caught vitali in various places.? (Look at the pic of his eye, cheekbone and lips!!! No one has done that to vitali before or since!!)

Vitalis greatest and best fight was against lennox. He lost because his punch resistance wasnt as strong as lewis thats why his face was opened up.

You cant change history and you cant change the fact that lewis power punchers were more devasting to vitalis face!

Hey, lewis looked tired. He looked in trouble at some stages. But so did vitali.

You mentioned in a previous post that it was a great fight and i agree but one fighter hit alot harder than the other even though he had grey hairs in his cornrolls!

Lewis stopped vitali and retired.
There are no ifs or buts.

[imp]

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.

[oakleyno1]

What happened was an out of prime lewis beat a prime vitali and stopped him.

That is what the history books will say and to this day that is still the best fight that vitali had and he lost it.

Just shows how good lennox was and vitali still is.

The history books will say if not for a cut the fans would have seen who was best

TKO DOCTOR STOPS FIGHT DUE TO CUT

It doesn't say "Lennox Lewis owned Vitali" because THAT my friend is PURE fantasy

Im not going to go back and forth with you as you will always see it your way.

At least i can call mayweather a hypocrite for the catchweight issue and not be completely one sided.

Lets say this. How did the cut happen? Did a spectator throw a bottle in the ring and it caught vitali in various places.? (Look at the pic of his eye, cheekbone and lips!!! No one has done that to vitali before or since!!)

Vitalis greatest and best fight was against lennox. He lost because his punch resistance wasnt as strong as lewis thats why his face was opened up.

You cant change history and you cant change the fact that lewis power punchers were more devasting to vitalis face!

Hey, lewis looked tired. He looked in trouble at some stages. But so did vitali.

You mentioned in a previous post that it was a great fight and i agree but one fighter hit alot harder than the other even though he had grey hairs in his cornrolls!

Lewis stopped vitali and retired.
There are no ifs or buts.

Just two nasty cuts!

The truth is Vitali was in his physical but not experience prime and lewis was in his experience but not physical prime - very close fight and could of gone either way - I would have thought vitali may of taken it if I had to pick - big 1sr 2nd & 5th rounds for him and 6th about even

[ykdadamaja]

Lennox may not have sparked him clean out, but definitely it was looking like what it would have happened- a STOPPAGE, either by Vitali's corner due to those cuts OR Vitali wouldn't have answered the bell in the later rounds. Basically, quit on his stool.

The punishment he was taking after the cut- which he couldn't see the punches coming anymore, at all- was enough to show me that Lennox was the better man that night.

For a fat, out of shape Lennox to come in against a guy that was preparing for him for, at least, two years, and then for that guy to get a shot on a replacement situation, where Lennox barely had him on his radar, was proof to how a bad-ass mofo Lennox was and could be once his back was against the wall.

Shame Lennox needed two fights to dispatch Hasim Rahman. But, Rahman is a more stiffer puncher and finisher.

[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.

[brocktonblockbust]

IF

Vitali didn't fight a PRIME Lewis, Lewis didn't fight a Vitali prepared for Lewis and vice versa.

Questions would have been answered IF there was a rematch...but there wasn't so just enjoy what happened and leave it at that

now he's a bloody priest

[El Kabong]

Lennox may not have sparked him clean out, but definitely it was looking like what it would have happened- a STOPPAGE, either by Vitali's corner due to those cuts OR Vitali wouldn't have answered the bell in the later rounds. Basically, quit on his stool.

Based on what? The Byrd fight? Vitali took soo much shit for that but when he tears his shoulder ligaments again vs Chisora and finishes out the fight what does he get? Does he get a pat on the back and an "atta boy" for gutting out a win? Nope people probably don't even know he fought with 1 arm that fight.

now he's a bloody priest

What in the blue blazes are you talking about?

[ykdadamaja]

Lennox may not have sparked him clean out, but definitely it was looking like what it would have happened- a STOPPAGE, either by Vitali's corner due to those cuts OR Vitali wouldn't have answered the bell in the later rounds. Basically, quit on his stool.

Based on what? The Byrd fight? Vitali took soo much shit for that but when he tears his shoulder ligaments again vs Chisora and finishes out the fight what does he get? Does he get a pat on the back and an "atta boy" for gutting out a win? Nope people probably don't even know he fought with 1 arm that fight.

now he's a bloody priest

What in the blue blazes are you talking about?

Quit from the stiff right hands he was getting to his face. With Lennox's power, it was only a matter of time. Plus, Vitali was more than tiring... he was a spent fighter and Lennox was pouring it on as the rounds progressed.

Lennox controlled the second half of that fight... dominated, actually.