I agree. I attended it and it never registers when recalling the great fights I've been to. Not among the top 25
Yeah, when I think of the great heavyweight fights, Lewis-Vitali never ever registers. Just as an example, Bowe-Golota II was a FAR better war than Lewis-Klit. That gets forgotten because it ended in DQ.
It’s still a memorable fight IMO, perhaps not Holyfield-Bowe or Ali-Frazier level but still a classic HW fight. Lewis’ uppercuts were vicious and Vitali just ate them. A lot of people remember it for Vitali’s efforts and Lennox being a bit lucky for the fight to be stopped on cuts. Lewis was wise to not give Vitali a rematch.
It was memorable, but I think Lewis showing up out of of shape and clearly unmotivated made it harder than it should have been. Lewis in prime form delivers a beat down to Vitali.
Lewis was horrible in that fight. Sure, it probably had a bit to do with vitaly, but it was obvious that he was undertrained
Yeah, I don't get the pro-Klit narrative of: "Lewis was lucky he never gave Vitali a rematch." No, Vitali was lucky that Lewis wasn't 4 years younger. Even still, a fat and stoned Lewis tore that incredibly overrated motherfucker's face off. Imagine what a peak Lewis would have done.
I don’t think Lewis had it in him to go through another hard training camp, so he retired accordingly. I remember after he got KO’d in Africa, Larry Merchant brought up how it can be harder for older, accomplished (and wealthy) champions to continue to get up for fights and prepare like they should. Like what Marvin Hagler said about the silk pajamas. Lewis was obviously hungry for revenge against Rahman and prepared properly, and Tyson was the biggest money fight ever at the time. It was easier to get motivated for those fights, but he once he had another “routine” title defense, Lewis made the same mistake that got him flattened 2 years earlier. He knew he would have to go prepare hard for a rematch with Vitali, and I would guess he lacked the motivation to do so. He won their fight. Yes, Bowe-Golota 2 was a classic despite the ending. Jefferson-Harris was another terrific 90s HW fight. Lewis-Klitschko was a fun but sloppy fight. Liakhovich-Brewster was three years after Lewis-Klitschko, and the best HW fight of the 21st century to me. The back-and-forth action was pretty consistent. Joshua-Wlad had a better atmosphere and terrific high points, but had nowhere near the consistent action of Liakhovich-Brewster.
It's weird how strong feelings this bout still creates, and not just on this forum. Vitali fans act as if a cuts loss doesn't count at all. Lewis fans act as if a cut caused by laces was a clear sign of superiority. Vitaly haters want to claim how Lewis was totally over the hill, despite having excellent performances in his last fights. Lewis haters want to claim how spent Lewis was in the fight, despite he actually finished stronger of the two. It was a very exciting fight with an inconclusive ending. That happens in boxing
It's true that anyone claiming that the fight was sure to end one way or the other if it wasnt for the cut is full of it. In a certain way, it probably was the best ending for boxing. Enabled lewis to keep his atg status, while not discrediting Vitaly who was the next era champion (i guess wlad also had a claim)
I think it’s funny when people downplay that cut. When your corner wipes your face and your eyelid almost comes off, it’s a good stoppage.
Some posters on ESB: “It was stopped by a racist black doctor. The cut was caused by Lewis’s hair….look at the cut, it’s just a scratch!” Some of the posters didn’t appear to be joking either.
Also in the aftermath he wouldn't know if he had to wait around as well. It's possible it would have taken a while for Vitali to get medical clearance before a rematch could happen. Probably not a major factor in his decision but something else to consider. It would have been "nicer" if there was a rematch or if the nasty laced gash didn't play a role in his win, but i don't have any issue with there being no rematch. It would be a different story if it was a bogus stoppage or corrupt decision.
The skill level in that fight was abysmal, even for heavyweights. I know that Lewis had changes in opponents and such, but it was like he forgot how to fight. That cut wasn't caused by laces- those have been covered by tape wraps for years. The cut on the outside of the left eye was caused by an accidental thumb. Lewis threw a right hand and Vitali sort of caught in on his shoulder but it glanced off and the attached thumb caught his eye.
Not sure, Bowe-Golota 2 was pretty 1 sided. Bowe literally looked like his training camp was at the neighborhood's crack house
No one sane argues that the fight shouldn't have been stopped. It's just ridiculous to see some Lewis fans (who btw, I like far more than Vitaly) gloat about this win when it was due to a freak occurrence and claim he had nothing to prove in a rematch.
I’m not sure I’ve seen that gloating on this fight as Lewis put forth a truly putrid performance. I certainly wouldn’t hold it up as something to be celebrated.
I'll kind of amend my previous post. There are some reasons for Lewis fans to gloat. An old, probably undertrained, champion fighting basically even with the future dominant champion is a tremendous achievement. We just didn't know it at the time. Still, I think anyone honest would agree that he was very fortunate to escape with the W, and I m probably in the minority but I feel it's a blemish on his otherwise tremendous legacy that he avoided the rematch
It seems Lewis often fought like a goon vs bigger opponent. Apart from this fight, he did it vs Grant and vs Akiwande (to a lesser degree). Not sure if it was a strategy or that he couldn't use his typical style as easily vs bigger opponents. On the plus side though, it kind of disprove those claiming he had no heart.
He held the title hostage for a year and then retired. He knew he was retiring and was just enjoying being heavyweight champion for as long as he could string it out for.
