Does Vitali Klitschko have what it takes to be a heavywieght Great?

So beating a completly protected Valuev, a washed up Golota (who was never great to begin with), John Ruiz, and Hasim Rahman makes you an all time great? Get outta here?!? I see your point.

I cant imagine it looking much worse than it already did!!! :eek: yeah, i can't remember ever seeing an uglier cut than that, i thought in one of the close ups when his corner was working on it i could see skull bone

That re-match would have been really nice. Too bad, we arn't going to get it.

i never said lennox was out of shape, but he wsn't prime lennox anymore by the klit fight. the bad part for frankenstein is that he landed a lot more punches than lennox did but lewis did far more damage. the klit nutlickers want to lie to themselves that it was a bad stoppage ( even though frankenstein's eye was hanging out ) and that the ref kept frankenstein from knocking lennox out. nah, lewis would have knocked frankenstein out, but probably much later in the fight. Lennox was able to put all of his 250 lbs into his right hand, even with frankenstein's chin i don't see him eating those punches for 12 rounds and ending the fight on his feet OH man I'm sorry..you sure didnt say he was out of shape! My bad :o I agree, that fight had to be stopped..no way around that cause his eye was really messed up! If I were a fan of his I'd want it stopped so that no more damage could be done and he could get it taken care of. If it had continued the wound could and probably would have been much worse, and would have taken much longer to heal. I cant imagine it looking much worse than it already did!!! :eek:

I thought Lewis came in a bit heavy, but as for out of shape I dont think so. I do agree that if the fight had continued Lewis would have finished what that massive right hand started! He may have looked very tired at the end of it all, but he was still hurting Klitschko and I just dont think Vitali could have kept taking that kind of punishment. Thats not knocking Klitschko either...most men cant take those kinds of punches all night long! i never said lennox was out of shape, but he wsn't prime lennox anymore by the klit fight. the bad part for frankenstein is that he landed a lot more punches than lennox did but lewis did far more damage. the klit nutlickers want to lie to themselves that it was a bad stoppage ( even though frankenstein's eye was hanging out ) and that the ref kept frankenstein from knocking lennox out. nah, lewis would have knocked frankenstein out, but probably much later in the fight. Lennox was able to put all of his 250 lbs into his right hand, even with frankenstein's chin i don't see him eating those punches for 12 rounds and ending the fight on his feet

against a past prime lewis big K looked great, but, and this is a big butt, lennox is a slow starter, he always looks better in the second half of the fight than the first, excpet agianst Holy in the rematch - lennox coasted in that one. had the fight gone on, it would have ben less Klit and more lennox in each round. remember how the first big right hand lennox landed nearly knocked frankenstein out - it sent him back into the ropes. however, it was the best fight lennox had in a long time and of all the tall great white hopes i've ever seen, frankenstein uses his height the best I thought Lewis came in a bit heavy, but as for out of shape I dont think so. I do agree that if the fight had continued Lewis would have finished what that massive right hand started! He may have looked very tired at the end of it all, but he was still hurting Klitschko and I just dont think Vitali could have kept taking that kind of punishment. Thats not knocking Klitschko either...most men cant take those kinds of punches all night long!

Marciano is an all time great and he beat an over the hill Louis, Moore and Charles. Would he have beat those guys in their primes? Who knows, you have to work with what you got. Time will tell If Vitali will be a great.

So beating a completly protected Valuev, a washed up Golota (who was never great to begin with), John Ruiz, and Hasim Rahman makes you an all time great? Get outta here?!? Yup... He has to do that 1st though.

Both were utterly exhausted by the end, so who knows? leewis collasped into his chair after the 6th no way he coudl wnet 1-2 more rounds

He's not superman, and he can't come into the ring out of shape and hope to come on strong past round 6. That doesn't happen...not for anyone. Both were utterly exhausted by the end, so who knows?

Great post, Stickman, great post!

I see this over and over, and it confuses me. Most big Lewis fans say the same thing..."Lewis was out of shape, that's why he was having a hard time with Klitchko", and also "Lewis was coming on, he's a slow starter and would've KO'd Vitali in another round". Well, pardon my presumptions, but I'm afraid you can't have your cake and eat it too. Was he "coming on and getting ready to KO Klithcko", or was he out of shape and destined to fade past round 6 or 7? Which is it, if you please? Look, I can understand your sticking by your man, but there's a point where you have to accept reality. Lewis was a great fighter (note the past tense) and fought an excellant match against Klitchko, and managed to open a big cut and get a stoppage on a TKO. He's not superman, and he can't come into the ring out of shape and hope to come on strong past round 6. That doesn't happen...not for anyone. An out of shape fighter fades in later rounds, water is wet, the sky is blue, etc. Had the cut not happened and the fight continued, it most likely would've ended with Lewis being on the mat a few times before the ref stopped it, especially considering what we've since learned about Klitchko's chin (made from titanium wrapped around a solid granite core, I think). I like Lewis, and I'm happy with the way the fight went. I also like Klitchko, yet I'm still happy with the way the fight went. In reality, they both came out winners. Lewis because, at the very tail end of his career, he fought better than he had in years, like a true champion, and managed a win against a young and incredibly tough opponent with the ability to bang with the best of them, and who now holds the WBC belt that he himself held onto that night. And Klitchko because, regardless of the outcome, he proved himself a very credible contender, with a helluva chin and a heart the size of a truck. Win/Win situation, for both fighers. And a rematch would've been EXCELLANT, had it happened within 9 months, with Klitchko's cut well healed and Lewis in good shape. It didn't, though, and it's too late now. Lewis was old then, but now he's just too old, and nobody needs (or should want) to see an ex-champ get embarassed in the ring, yet again. Let it go, boys, let it go :) :bowdown: wish there was a smiley for that :(

against a past prime lewis big K looked great, but, and this is a big butt, lennox is a slow starter, he always looks better in the second half of the fight than the first, excpet agianst Holy in the rematch - lennox coasted in that one. had the fight gone on, it would have ben less Klit and more lennox in each round. remember how the first big right hand lennox landed nearly knocked frankenstein out - it sent him back into the ropes. however, it was the best fight lennox had in a long time and of all the tall great white hopes i've ever seen, frankenstein uses his height the best I see this over and over, and it confuses me. Most big Lewis fans say the same thing..."Lewis was out of shape, that's why he was having a hard time with Klitchko", and also "Lewis was coming on, he's a slow starter and would've KO'd Vitali in another round". Well, pardon my presumptions, but I'm afraid you can't have your cake and eat it too. Was he "coming on and getting ready to KO Klithcko", or was he out of shape and destined to fade past round 6 or 7? Which is it, if you please? Look, I can understand your sticking by your man, but there's a point where you have to accept reality. Lewis was a great fighter (note the past tense) and fought an excellant match against Klitchko, and managed to open a big cut and get a stoppage on a TKO. He's not superman, and he can't come into the ring out of shape and hope to come on strong past round 6. That doesn't happen...not for anyone. An out of shape fighter fades in later rounds, water is wet, the sky is blue, etc. Had the cut not happened and the fight continued, it most likely would've ended with Lewis being on the mat a few times before the ref stopped it, especially considering what we've since learned about Klitchko's chin (made from titanium wrapped around a solid granite core, I think). I like Lewis, and I'm happy with the way the fight went. I also like Klitchko, yet I'm still happy with the way the fight went. In reality, they both came out winners. Lewis because, at the very tail end of his career, he fought better than he had in years, like a true champion, and managed a win against a young and incredibly tough opponent with the ability to bang with the best of them, and who now holds the WBC belt that he himself held onto that night. And Klitchko because, regardless of the outcome, he proved himself a very credible contender, with a helluva chin and a heart the size of a truck. Win/Win situation, for both fighers. And a rematch would've been EXCELLANT, had it happened within 9 months, with Klitchko's cut well healed and Lewis in good shape. It didn't, though, and it's too late now. Lewis was old then, but now he's just too old, and nobody needs (or should want) to see an ex-champ get embarassed in the ring, yet again. Let it go, boys, let it go :)

against a past prime lewis big K looked great, but, and this is a big butt, lennox is a slow starter, he always looks better in the second half of the fight than the first, excpet agianst Holy in the rematch - lennox coasted in that one. had the fight gone on, it would have ben less Klit and more lennox in each round. remember how the first big right hand lennox landed nearly knocked frankenstein out - it sent him back into the ropes. however, it was the best fight lennox had in a long time and of all the tall great white hopes i've ever seen, frankenstein uses his height the best u lewis fans blow the fight way outta porption klitschko was leaning back to avoid that right hand thats why he was near the ropes u idiot god.

NO way!! He has not proven anything yet..the only great fighter he's faced was Lewis and he lost that one! I cant believe this is even a question right now. :eek: against a past prime lewis big K looked great, but, and this is a big butt, lennox is a slow starter, he always looks better in the second half of the fight than the first, excpet agianst Holy in the rematch - lennox coasted in that one. had the fight gone on, it would have ben less Klit and more lennox in each round. remember how the first big right hand lennox landed nearly knocked frankenstein out - it sent him back into the ropes. however, it was the best fight lennox had in a long time and of all the tall great white hopes i've ever seen, frankenstein uses his height the best

I mean, he's proven himself against some of the better fighters in the heavyweight devision. Do you think it's possible he'll join some of the greats? What else does he have to do to prove himself before he joins the ranks of Lewis, Ali, ect? NO way!! He has not proven anything yet..the only great fighter he's faced was Lewis and he lost that one! I cant believe this is even a question right now. :eek:

I totally agree with you man. 3 wins over those guys and I will think of him as an all time great. So beating a completly protected Valuev, a washed up Golota (who was never great to begin with), John Ruiz, and Hasim Rahman makes you an all time great? Get outta here?!?

I mean, he's proven himself against some of the better fighters in the heavyweight devision. Do you think it's possible he'll join some of the greats? What else does he have to do to prove himself before he joins the ranks of Lewis, Ali, ect? I dont think so

nah i think klitschko is pretty much screwed atm no one to fight to make him great adn he cant have a rival cause lewis is to old. and nobody can beat him right now so there cant be a 3 fight series

Frankly no.