Lennox Lewis: "I Already Destroyed Vitali Klitschko. It's Time To Bury Wladimir."

[cupocity303]

I will respectfully disagree. Rematch would have been great, but Vits got his shot and couldn't capitalize. Lewis owed him nothing.

I didn't say that he owed him anything. I said that there was unfinished business, per fans demand. There was no other play but to retire, even if it was a legitimate retirement that had nothing to do with the fight against Vitali. It would've been interesting to see if he would've retired had he blown out kirk Johnson or had a much easier fight vs Vitali.

[Weltschmerz]

I didn't say that he owed him anything. I said that there was unfinished business, per fans demand. There was no other play but to retire, even if it was a legitimate retirement that had nothing to do with the fight against Vitali. It would've been interesting to see if he would've retired had he blown out kirk Johnson or had a much easier fight vs Vitali.

Exactly. Vitali scared Lewis into retirement.

[Simurgh]

Lennox is a very smart man. I respect him for that. His legacy looks so much better as his timing to retire was spot on.

Shame we couldn't have that rematch but it was way too risky for Lennox - he could have lose a lot and gain not that much.

[Daddy T]

I didn't say that he owed him anything. I said that there was unfinished business, per fans demand. There was no other play but to retire, even if it was a legitimate retirement that had nothing to do with the fight against Vitali. It would've been interesting to see if he would've retired had he blown out kirk Johnson or had a much easier fight vs Vitali.

If lewis was to come back which I can't see him doing (he's just way too old) what is worth more to him a win over Wlad or another win over Vitali? The answer is obvious ... a win over Wlad. Then he will be the only man to have beaten both brothers and will have effectively 'topped and tailed' the Klitschko era ... i.e. he beat one brother before their era began and he beat the other to end it. It would cement him as possibly number 3 ATG ... beating Vitali a second time would do no such thing.

[Tobi.G]

Following the Klitschko vs Povetkin fight Lewis was offered $50 Million by K2 Promotions to come out of retirement and fight one more time. He is holding out for the full $100 Million... This article was written a few months back but it's an interesting read.

Note: Artistic license was taken on the title, Lennox Lewis didn't use the words "Destroy" or "Bury" but the underlying sentiment remains true.


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Lennox Lewis, the former undisputed world heavyweight champion, would be happy to make a sensational return to the ring to face IBF, WBA and WBO titlist Wladimir Klitschko – but only for US$100 million (Dh367m), the biggest purse in boxing history.

Lewis, who turned 48 last month, last fought professionally over a decade ago, but told the Daily Mail he would be ready to step back into the ring with only six months of training on the condition that he is paid over double the purse that was guaranteed to Floyd Mayweather Jr in his victory over Saul Alvarez last month.

Lewis says he was offered $50m to end his retirement while he attended Klitschko’s uninspiring unanimous decision victory over Alexander Povetkin in Moscow at the weekend, but would need double that to spring into action.

“That is my price tag and it is under discussion,” Lewis told the Daily Mail. “I have told them I can be ready in six months and I am in provisional training.

“I said at the time that it will take $50m to get me out of my pyjamas but now I have to consider the value of my legacy of having retired as undisputed champion. That will cost them $100m.”

Lewis had always maintained he had no interest in making a comeback since retiring after beating Klitschko’s older brother Vitali in June 2003 in controversial circumstances, retaining his WBC title when the fight was stopped after the sixth round in Los Angeles.

The Ukrainian had a deep cut above his left eye but led on the judges’ scorecards when officials ruled he could not continue. In the referee’s opinion the cut had been caused by a punch, which meant that Lewis was automatically declared the winner.

A much-hyped rematch never materialised, but Lewis would be more focused on a fight with Wladimir should he decide to return to the ring.

“I beat Vitali so I would like to fight the other brother but we’ll see how it works out,” he said.

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This is OLD news!!! Thread CLOSED!!

[billeau2]

I didn't say that he owed him anything. I said that there was unfinished business, per fans demand. There was no other play but to retire, even if it was a legitimate retirement that had nothing to do with the fight against Vitali. It would've been interesting to see if he would've retired had he blown out kirk Johnson or had a much easier fight vs Vitali.

IMO you can reconstruct a lot about LL's decision making process regarding the Johnson fight if you look at the facts:

a) fact: Johnson was smaller, not measurably faster, not stronger than LL. In a word Johnson was a "gimme."

b) Fact: Lewis did not see the need to get into good shape for Johnson and weighed the most in his career at the time he was supposed to fight Johnson.

These two facts suggest that Lewis was not thinking of making this a seminal fight.... More likely is that Lewis was going to make this a quick fight with a KO early on....and focus on the next fight as a legacy fight. Lewis has consistantly stated that he trains very particularly depending on the opponent for each fight. When he has been critisized he has often stated that he "trained the wrong way" for a particular opponent....for example his comments after the Mercer fight.

This is what we know....what is truly baffling is why Lewis underestimated Vitali to such a degree and agreed to the substitution of Vitali for Johnson. These actions are out of whack for a guy who carefully trains for each opponent and who should have known that Vitali was a lot better opposition than Johnson.

[JAB5239]

Exactly. Vitali scared Lewis into retirement.

Lmao....thats not what he said!