apparently Lewis was in shape for the Vitali fight according to Steward

BadWlad17y ago

LOS ANGELES (June 9, 2003) – World Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis has agreed to defend his World Boxing Council/International Boxing Organization (WBC/IBO) titles against No. 1-ranked WBC contender, Vitali “Dr. Iron Fist” Klitschko, Saturday, June 21, at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. The 6-foot-8-inch Klitschko replaces Kirk Johnson, who withdrew Friday due to an injury. The 6-foot-5-inch Lewis (40-2-1, 31 KOs) made it official late Sunday night that he was going to fight the physically imposing Klitschko, a knockout artist with a record of 32-1, 31 KOs. The scheduled 12-round title bout will be televised live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Lion Promotions will present the STAPLES Center event. Tickets for the exciting seven-bout card are $950, $700, $450, $350, $250, $150 and $75, and are on sale at the STAPLES Center box office and through all TicketMaster locations. “The fight will not go the distance,” Lewis said. “I do not get paid for overtime. Klitschko has been calling me out for some time, but he is in big trouble. He should be careful what he wishes for. On June 21, he is going to find out what it is like to be in with an A-class world champion.’’ “Vitali Klitschko is the biggest man Lennox has ever faced as a professional,” said Emanuel Steward, Lewis’ trainer. “I will be looking to bring in one or two seven-foot sparring partners to get Lennox accustomed to the height. But make no mistake, Lennox is in great shape. I think he will knock Klitschko out by the fifth round.” It has been one year since Lewis solidified his standing as boxing’s premier heavyweight by knocking out Mike Tyson in the eighth round of their Memphis showdown on June 8, 2002. Now, in his first defense since putting the stamp on his legacy, Lewis takes on an intriguing challenge from Klitschko, who earned his “Dr. Iron Fist” nickname by knocking out 94 percent of his opponents. “This has been a lifelong dream of mine to fight Lennox Lewis,” Klitschko said. “I am very excited about the opportunity to fight him in Los Angeles and on HBO. It is going to be a great fight.’’ Los Angeles last played host to a world heavyweight title fight 44 years ago when Floyd Patterson defended his world crown for the third time with a 13th-round TKO over Roy Harris on Aug. 18, 1958, at the old Wrigley Field. The Lewis-Klitschko world championship also represents the biggest heavyweight bout in the City of Angels since Muhammad Ali regained the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) championship in a rematch against Ken Norton on Sept. 10, 1973, at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif. “Lennox took it upon himself to fight Vitali Klitschko on short notice, and he should be applauded for that,” said promoter Gary Shaw of Lion Promotions. “Klitschko is a legitimate No. 1 contender and at 6-foot-8-inches, is three inches taller than Lennox which should make it very interesting. It is a tribute to Lennox and his team that he was willing to fight such a dangerous opponent, but Lennox was determined to get back to business and continue to add to his legacy as one of the greatest heavyweight champions ever.’’ “We are delighted to present reigning world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis against Vitali Klitschko live on HBO,” said Kery Davis, Senior Vice President of Programming, HBO Sports. “This is a giant test for Lennox, literally and figuratively, and we all know the unpredictability of the heavyweight division. There is no question the entire boxing world is going to be focused on Los Angeles on June 21. Lewis, of London, England, is 14-2-1 in world title fights. He regained the International Boxing Federation (IBF)/World Boxing Council (WBC)/International Boxing Organization (IBO) heavyweight titles on Nov. 17, 2001, by flattening Hasim Rahman in the fourth round of their rematch in Las Vegas. The sensational knockout victory was sweet revenge for Lewis, who had been stopped in the fifth round by Rahman on April 22, 2001, in Brakpak, South Africa. Since defeating Tyson on June 8, 2002, Lewis gave up the IBF belt. A three-time WBC champion, Lewis won his initial 25 starts. He captured the WBC title the first time with a 12-round decision over Tony Tucker on May 8, 1993, in Las Vegas. Lewis made two successful defenses before Oliver McCall dethroned the champion with a shocking second-round TKO on Sept. 24, 1994, in London. Lewis regained the title by scoring a fifth-round TKO over McCall in their rematch on Feb. 7, 1997, in Las Vegas. Lewis made four successful defenses before taking on then-World Boxing Association (WBA)/IBF heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield on March 13, 1999, in New York. The majority of those watching felt Lewis had triumphed easily, but the bout ended in a controversial 12-round draw. Undeterred, Lewis rebounded to win a 12-round decision in the rematch the following Nov. 13 in Las Vegas. Lewis then successfully defended the titles three times before splitting the two fights against Rahman in 2001. Klitschko, of Los Angeles, by way of Kiev, Ukraine, is the WBC and WBA No.1 heavyweight contender. The older brother of former WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir will attempt to gain his sixth consecutive victory. In his last outing, Klitschko became the first boxer to stop Larry Donald when he flattened “The Legend” in the 10th round on Nov. 23, 2002, in Germany. Klitschko became the first heavyweight champion with a Ph.D. to capture a world belt when he won the WBO belt with a second-round knockout over Herbie Hide on June 27, 1999. On Nov. 11, 1999, the Guinness Book of World Records added Klitschko for becoming the fastest heavyweight to win 26 fights by KO in the least amount of rounds (60). Klitschko made two successful WBO title defenses before suffering his lone defeat on a ninth-round TKO to Chris Byrd on April 1, 2000, in Berlin, Germany. Comfortably ahead by the scores 89-82 and 88-83 twice, Klitschko needed only to endure three more rounds to win an easy decision and retain his crown. However, after tearing the rotator cuff in his left shoulder in the fourth round, Klitschko was not able to come out for the 10th. Since the fluke loss, he has gone 5-0 with four straight knockouts.

Comments (20)

Pullcounter7451

lewis weighed more that fight than he ever weighed I think. if so, he wasn't at his best.

16y ago

Lowkey

the fact of the matter is who will me remembered as a great h.w champion in the next 10,20,30,50 years the klits or lewis well ill answer it for you Lewis :boxing: lewis>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>klits

16y ago

IMDAZED

Lewis fans cant accept the fact that Lewis was in shape and still lost how can Vitali be garbage when he pwned an inshape Lewis they tried to say he was not inshape to take away from Vitali because Lewis got beat I must've missed this fight you're referring to.

16y ago

boxingp4p

anyone know where i can get some footage to rewatch this fight?!?!?! here you go mate, Part 1 Part 2

16y ago

BadWlad

anyone know where i can get some footage to rewatch this fight?!?!?! no lewis probably brought up all the copies up of his ass whoopin to Vitman.

16y ago

BadWlad

lewis was inshape and losing to a superior fighter

16y ago

BattlingNelson

I cannot be bothered to read through this tread, but has anyone mentioned that Vitali actually took the Lewis fight on less than 2 weeks notice? And why? Because otherwise Vitali would never have fought Lewis.

17y ago

T97

They were hardly going to say "Lewis is unmotivated and hasn't bothered to train properly for this. Tune in anyway though", were they?

17y ago

beez721

Lewis was past his prime and Vitali gave him a hard fight in his prime and lost and his fans talk about it like it something good. Vitali best win was a defeat no,,,his best wins were one sided destructions of kirk johnson,,herbie hide,,larry donald and corrie sanders. he looked much better in those fights than the lewis fight despite giving lewis all he could handle

17y ago

ferocity

imo, theres no doubt lewis didn't train properly, steward willl tell you he trained of course he trained but not like a defending champion should, he looked fat, and there no doubt in my mind if the fight went on lewis would of stopped klitchko and in a rematch stopped him too thats not to say vitali isn't a good heavyweight cause he is

17y ago

joseph5620

Vitali, not Lewis, took the fight on short notice. True, but they were both training for other fights. It was an equal deal in that regard.

17y ago

squealpiggy

well that makes it sound like Lewis tried to open the cut up so he could get himself out of a tight spot which is worse No, he worked on the cut to get a stoppage win, which is part of boxing. By what you're suggesting if a guy gets hit on the chin, is up at the count of nine, then it would be somehow cheating for the opponent to hit him on the chin again? Then what is the fight that has made Lennox Lewis great, if they both were not in their prime ? The difference between good and great is that good fighters have a career defining fight, great fighters have fights which define their career. LOL at the Lewis fans making excuses Vitali proved he is a better, tougher fighter than Lewis Which he proved by losing by TKO then retiring rather than face Hasim Rahman?

17y ago

Thread_Stealer

I think its great the Klichkos are still fighting and champions today, but you need new fighters to hope and beat them. I think Haye is your new hope ? Wlad is still fighting. Shitali still needs to be make it through training camp. He's 0 for his last 5. Haye is nothing special really. I expect him to get flattened by Wlad if he gets the chance at him. I guess I want him to do well since it'd be good to have a more charismatic HW champ whom the public can get behind (or hate), but I don't expect too much of him at HW really.

17y ago

Winter

Vitali proved it when? When he lost to Lewis? When he lost to Christina Tyrd? Oh yeah, Shitali beat Corrie "I haven't fought in a year but I played lots of golf" Sanders, Kirk "I trained on donuts and almost got KO'd by Ruiz" Johnson, Danny "I was getting my ass kicked for 3 rounds by an old injured Tyson" Williams, and Herbie "Riddick Bowe knocked me down 421 times" Hide. :rofl: Some resume. Klit-Lickers should hang on to Wladimir, not Shitali. Wladimir has a real resume of wins over contenders and titlists of the time. Not virtual reality wins like Shitali. I think its great the Klichkos are still fighting and champions today, but you need new fighters to hope and beat them. I think Haye is your new hope ?

17y ago

Winter

17y ago

Thread_Stealer

LOL at the Lewis fans making excuses Vitali proved he is a better, tougher fighter than Lewis Lewis turned down 25 million for a rematch because he is scared of Vitali and he knew he would get KO'd in a rematch. Vitali proved it when? When he lost to Lewis? When he lost to Christina Tyrd? Oh yeah, Shitali beat Corrie "I haven't fought in a year but I played lots of golf" Sanders, Kirk "I trained on donuts and almost got KO'd by Ruiz" Johnson, Danny "I was getting my ass kicked for 3 rounds by an old injured Tyson" Williams, and Herbie "Riddick Bowe knocked me down 421 times" Hide. :rofl: Some resume. Klit-Lickers should hang on to Wladimir, not Shitali. Wladimir has a real resume of wins over contenders and titlists of the time. Not virtual reality wins like Shitali.

17y ago

Thread_Stealer

we are not talking about his fight with Mercer ,Grant we are talking about his fight against Klitschko he came in Heavier and was still said to be in good shape by his own trainer no excuses after the fact That was in response to your laughable claim that Lewis was only heavy because he was facing a large man in Shitali. Akinwande was large. So was Grant. What were Lewis's weights in those fights? After the fact (Shitali lost), Vitali said "his condition was not good". That's not an excuse. That's a fact. There's no need for an excuse for gay Lummox. I hate that ******. But facts are facts. He hadn't fought in a year, was 37, was the heaviest weight of his career, and Vitali said after the fight that Lewis was not in good condition. And Lewis still beat Shitali. Shows you how overrated Shitali's performance is. Even Hasim "Oleg's Bitch" Rahman was able to beat an undertrained Lewis. One punch KO >>>>> Losing on cuts And after that fight, Steward and Lewis still claimed that they had prepared properly.

17y ago

Thread_Stealer

Then what is the fight that has made Lennox Lewis great, if they both were not in their prime ? I think Lennox Lewis is great. I am just upset no one is giving Vladimir the same respect as champion. Vladimir has been a champion for a long time now, and he is becoming very difficult to beat. He is the king of Heavyweight. When then will he be given respect like Lennox Lewis ? If you dont give him respect, who cares. Wladimir or his fans dont need respect. All that matters is Vladimir wins and knocks everyone out. That is our reward ! What? Are you kidding me? Mike Tyson in his prime in 2002? 2002 minus 14. Then you have Mike Tyson's prime. To quote that shitbag Bert Sugar around this time period, "Tyson is so far past his prime, he can't even see his prime in his rearview mirror". Lewis hit his prime late for a fighter. His physical prime probably ended before his overall prime. He improved with Steward in his corner and his balance and technique was better. He probably was around his prime from 1996-2000. That win was overrated for Lewis. It was just a big win over a big name in a huge event, but he has more quality wins than that version of Tyson.

17y ago

BadWlad

Typical Klit-Licker response. Brittley is 6'7, and weighed 248 for the Lewis fight. When Lewis fought Michael Grant, who is 6'7 and weighed 250, Lewis was only 247. Lewis was 256 for the Shitali fight. When Lewis fought Henry Akinwande, who is also 6'7, Lewis was only 242. "I knew his condition was not good, he's very heavy. He couldn't fight hard," Klitschko said. From Shitali himself. At least he can admit that Lewis wasn't in good condition, unlike his delusional fanboys. Lewis was involved in a very grueling bout with Ray Mercer. A prime Lewis. Mercer went an even ten on many people's cards with a prime Lewis. Shitali went a strong six with an old, undertrained, inactive for a year Lewis, and still lost. "bu, bu, but Vitali was doing well on the cards when he lost!!!" :rofl: It hurts Klit-Lickers, doesn't it? http://www.sportinglife.com/pictures/general/lewisvitali.jpg http://www.fightnews.com/1photos/lewis_klitschko_10.jpg we are not talking about his fight with Mercer ,Grant we are talking about his fight against Klitschko he came in Heavier and was still said to be in good shape by his own trainer no excuses after the fact he was tired because he was getting hit and it was the toughest fight of his career and the fastest pace of any fight he had been in at that weight

17y ago

Winter

Typical Klit-Licker response. Brittley is 6'7, and weighed 248 for the Lewis fight. When Lewis fought Michael Grant, who is 6'7 and weighed 250, Lewis was only 247. Lewis was 256 for the Shitali fight. When Lewis fought Henry Akinwande, who is also 6'7, Lewis was only 242. "I knew his condition was not good, he's very heavy. He couldn't fight hard," Klitschko said. From Shitali himself. At least he can admit that Lewis wasn't in good condition, unlike his delusional fanboys. Lewis was involved in a very grueling bout with Ray Mercer. A prime Lewis. Mercer went an even ten on many people's cards with a prime Lewis. Shitali went a strong six with an old, undertrained, inactive for a year Lewis, and still lost. "bu, bu, but Vitali was doing well on the cards when he lost!!!" :rofl: It hurts Klit-Lickers, doesn't it? http://www.sportinglife.com/pictures/general/lewisvitali.jpg http://www.fightnews.com/1photos/lewis_klitschko_10.jpg I think what hurts is Lennox Lewis' head after getting knocked out by Rahman. Give respect to the Klichkos !

17y ago