Why did Lewis turn down over 20 million dollars for a rematch with Vitali Klitschko??

because unlike many fighters, he knew when to get out with his brains intact and bank account high. he must have knew he was losing motivation since he showed up in poor shape for a 2nd time in 4 fights. of course, being in poor shape, he still beat the overrated qutting juice monkey, vitali "fredo" quitschko. What he said. I would like to see more fighters knowing this as well.

He did an interview with an European tabloid where he said that he knew that at his age, he couldn’t keep up with a young Lion like Vitali, so decided that retirement was a better option than the rematch.

Lewis dominated Vitali so much that he was losing 4 rounds to 2 on EVERY scorecard. Lewis may have "technically" won, but there was no clear winner since the fight ended prematurely from a cut that might have been caused by a clash of heads. Fighting on short notice benefited Lewis much more than Vitali, since lewis had much more experience in title fights. Lewis was thinking about a rematch with Vitali and said Vitali had to fight Johnson to prove that his eye was healed enough and after seeing the beating VK put on Johnson, Lewis knew the odds were against him to beat VK legitimately. Why did it take Lewis nearly a year and a dominating win by VK over a fighter (Johnson) Lewis considered to be a legitimate contender for him to retire? Some good questions there...in my opinion Lewis thought he had achieved all that he could in his carear, he was universally recognised as the top dog in the division....Maybe Lennox felt he was out of his prime & didnt want to take tha risk (He's not a pussy, but a smart person for doing that) Lennox fought everybody taht mattered among the heavyweights(Apart from Bowe who bitched out)...i find it hald to believe that Lewis would be "scared" of Vitali, i think Lewis realised he was out of his prime whereas Vitali was in his prime so to speak, like i said poreviously Lennox retired the heavyweight champ of teh world beating every opponent he has ever faced, and made ashit load of $$$$ doing, he now commentats for HBO so he is still making money, and last time i heard he was married with kids, why jepordise that with a fighter you beat (allbeit controversually)

Pretty much. If Vitali KlitschkO had lost to Johnson or Sanders I have no doubts that Lewis would've fought again, as Lewis was considering suing Tyson to force a rematch. There was a reason Lewis was going to fight Johnson while Vitali was his mandatory and it took some coaxing by HBO to get Lewis to agree to fight Vitali (on a weeks notice with Vitali already agreeing) after Johnson got injured. Manny and Lennox knew Vitali was most likely going to beat him, so they tried to avoid him. When Lewis got a gift win by the referee not calling the accidental clash of heads in the third that would've gave Vitali a UD, Lewis knew better than to test fate a second time. Lewis even sunk to calling Johnson and Sanders to give them advise on how to beat Vitali. If either had been successful Lewis would be able to fight again without looking like a coward, which he ended up looking like anyway by retiring with unfinished business. KlitschkO/Lewis deserved a rematch since there was no clear winner (I would feel this way even if the referee called the accidental clash of heads) and neither fighter had the time to properly prepare for each other. Lewis robbed the fans and his legacy by going out like a chicken!there was no clash of heads causing any cuts in rd 3.

Lewis dominated Vitali so much that he was losing 4 rounds to 2 on EVERY scorecard. Lewis may have "technically" won, but there was no clear winner since the fight ended prematurely from a cut that might have been caused by a clash of heads. Fighting on short notice benefited Lewis much more than Vitali, since lewis had much more experience in title fights. Lewis was thinking about a rematch with Vitali and said Vitali had to fight Johnson to prove that his eye was healed enough and after seeing the beating VK put on Johnson, Lewis knew the odds were against him to beat VK legitimately. Why did it take Lewis nearly a year and a dominating win by VK over a fighter (Johnson) Lewis considered to be a legitimate contender for him to retire? Cause he wanted to keep fighting, but knew he was a shadow of himself. He took time off to sort his head out and eventually decided that he was done

Lewis whopped Vitali's bitch ass, why would he give hime a rematch??? I'm glad lennox retired when he did (As one of the best heavyweights ever) atleast he has $$$ and his brains and family intact, unlike moste most boxers who don't have a fooking clue when to quit & will end up brain dead in tha near future (Holyfield), why would Lennox accept a rematch with Vitali when he would pull out of the fight with a bruised pinky?..Lennxo took the fight on 2 weeks notice & was supposed to be fighting that scrub Kirk Johnsen, thats why he looked like shit and had no stamina...and HE STILL WON THA FIGHT!!! Lewis dominated Vitali so much that he was losing 4 rounds to 2 on EVERY scorecard. Lewis may have "technically" won, but there was no clear winner since the fight ended prematurely from a cut that might have been caused by a clash of heads. Fighting on short notice benefited Lewis much more than Vitali, since lewis had much more experience in title fights. Lewis was thinking about a rematch with Vitali and said Vitali had to fight Johnson to prove that his eye was healed enough and after seeing the beating VK put on Johnson, Lewis knew the odds were against him to beat VK legitimately. Why did it take Lewis nearly a year and a dominating win by VK over a fighter (Johnson) Lewis considered to be a legitimate contender for him to retire?

Lewis whopped Vitali's bitch ass, why would he give hime a rematch??? I'm glad lennox retired when he did (As one of the best heavyweights ever) atleast he has $$$ and his brains and family intact, unlike moste most boxers who don't have a fooking clue when to quit & will end up brain dead in tha near future (Holyfield), why would Lennox accept a rematch with Vitali when he would pull out of the fight with a bruised pinky?..Lennxo took the fight on 2 weeks notice & was supposed to be fighting that scrub Kirk Johnsen, thats why he looked like shit and had no stamina...and HE STILL WON THA FIGHT!!!

hate to break it to you but lewis was not a shot fighter. he was coming off one of his most impressive performaces ever with a one sided beating against tyson. he started his career late and was a young 37. vitali gives any version of lewis major problems as even lewis admits to No, he would not. And if you are telling me that Lewis was not shot in that fight you are rather silly. Lennox Lewis>>>>>>>>>Quitali Bitchko

I'll tell you why...Lennox Lewis cowardly turned down over 20 million for a rematch because he is scared to death of Vitali Klitschko and he knew he would've gotten knocked out cold in the rematch. VITALI RETIRED LEWIS. Pretty much. If Vitali KlitschkO had lost to Johnson or Sanders I have no doubts that Lewis would've fought again, as Lewis was considering suing Tyson to force a rematch. There was a reason Lewis was going to fight Johnson while Vitali was his mandatory and it took some coaxing by HBO to get Lewis to agree to fight Vitali (on a weeks notice with Vitali already agreeing) after Johnson got injured. Manny and Lennox knew Vitali was most likely going to beat him, so they tried to avoid him. When Lewis got a gift win by the referee not calling the accidental clash of heads in the third that would've gave Vitali a UD, Lewis knew better than to test fate a second time. Lewis even sunk to calling Johnson and Sanders to give them advise on how to beat Vitali. If either had been successful Lewis would be able to fight again without looking like a coward, which he ended up looking like anyway by retiring with unfinished business. KlitschkO/Lewis deserved a rematch since there was no clear winner (I would feel this way even if the referee called the accidental clash of heads) and neither fighter had the time to properly prepare for each other. Lewis robbed the fans and his legacy by going out like a chicken!

Not many people I speak to seem to remember this, but Klitschko was winning on points when the fight was stopped. I don't like Lewis' absurd arrogance in his interviews so I would have loved to have seen him have a re-match with Klitschko. Obviously Lewis was terrified of a re-match or else he would not have turned down tens of millions just to avoid him.

I have not read all the pages on this.. But for fuck sake why do people call boxers cowards?? especially heavyweights!! must be the pricks who have never even sparred or taken serious punches to the head and think its all a bit of a laugh. Anyway... if the fight had gone on longer Vitali was getting sparked out. Lewis was just getting into his stride when the fight was stopped. He also didnt train that hard by the looks of it for the last couple of fights of his career. Lewis would have owned both brothers. Vitali was winning on points??? it was a 12 round fight it dont matter what the score is after 3 or 6 or 8 rounds..

Forgive me if I am confused but isn't a World Title fight fought over 12 rounds? Therefore what does it matter if Klitschko won 4 of the first 6, there were 6 rounds left and if I recall correctly VK was getting badly banged up in the last round. Also why is the cut used as an excuse, part of the object of boxing is about inflicting enough damage on your opponent to stop the fight, the cut was caused by a punch therefore how is that an excuse??? And as for the incentive to fight again, Lewis was/is a multi multi millionaire who had beaten every fighter he had ever faced albeit a couple by rematch, he beat V Klitschko legitimately but obviously realised during that fight that he no longer had the skills, strength and fitness he once had and most importantly the desire. Therefore unlike a lot of fighters i.e. Ali and Holyfield etc he got out at the top with his brains and health intact. Let it go, its old old news. Great post, I couldnt have put it any better...Especially the highlighted part, There comes a point when your body tells you enough is enough. He had nothing more to prove to anyone.

Forgive me if I am confused but isn't a World Title fight fought over 12 rounds? Therefore what does it matter if Klitschko won 4 of the first 6, there were 6 rounds left and if I recall correctly VK was getting badly banged up in the last round. Also why is the cut used as an excuse, part of the object of boxing is about inflicting enough damage on your opponent to stop the fight, the cut was caused by a punch therefore how is that an excuse??? And as for the incentive to fight again, Lewis was/is a multi multi millionaire who had beaten every fighter he had ever faced albeit a couple by rematch, he beat V Klitschko legitimately but obviously realised during that fight that he no longer had the skills, strength and fitness he once had and most importantly the desire. Therefore unlike a lot of fighters i.e. Ali and Holyfield etc he got out at the top with his brains and health intact. Let it go, its old old news.

When is ths wanker gunna get over it. ned the fight down cause he was ols and shot to shit, and vitali was so crap that he could not even beat him in that form. In shape and prime lewis would have molested Vitali all over the place. VITALI IS SHIT! hate to break it to you but lewis was not a shot fighter. he was coming off one of his most impressive performaces ever with a one sided beating against tyson. he started his career late and was a young 37. vitali gives any version of lewis major problems as even lewis admits to

it always baffles me how people like wlad owns conveniently forget that vitali took about 15 seconds to get back to his own corner at the end of the sixth! not to mention lewis was starting to take over the fight, fact. Lennox would of stopped the mentally timid vitali within 2 more rounds I love it how WLADOWNS ses the fact that Vitali ALMOST beat a shot, fat, old Lennox Lewis to mark how great his idol was. It makes me laugh like hell lol.

it always baffles me how people like wlad owns conveniently forget that vitali took about 15 seconds to get back to his own corner at the end of the sixth! not to mention lewis was starting to take over the fight, fact. Lennox would of stopped the mentally timid vitali within 2 more rounds

Long live the KING LENNOX LEWIS!! Fuck Bitchko!

When is ths wanker gunna get over it. ned the fight down cause he was ols and shot to shit, and vitali was so crap that he could not even beat him in that form. In shape and prime lewis would have molested Vitali all over the place. VITALI IS SHIT!

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o267/realpiggy/lennox.jpg

Not even Lennox could revive the HW division now, they're all just over weight slobs , Lennox proved something in his career Bitchkos have done nish